In the LDS.org Gospel Topic Essay called “Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham” there are numerous explanations and quotations provided to support the scriptural authenticity of the Book of Abraham and the legitimacy of Joseph Smith’s claims to have produced it through the means of translation.
Header for the Gospel Topic Essay.
One of the quotes is by John Whitmer who claimed that “Joseph the Seer saw these Record[s] and by the revelation of Jesus Christ could translate these records.” – this quote is then followed by a reference to footnote #31. Examining that footnote reveals something which reflects the scholarly character of the essay. Here is the footnote:
Footnote 31
You can see that after the correct citation for John Whitmer’s quote an additional supporting quote is provided from one of Joseph’s Scribes, Warren Parrish:
“I have set by his side and penned down the translation of the Egyptian Hieroglyphicks as he claimed to receive it by direct inspiration of Heaven.”
-Warren Parrish (letter to the editor, Painesville Republican, Feb. 15, 1838 SidneyRigdon.com)
This quote, as presented, appears to give a solid endorsement of Joseph’s gift as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator. Brother Parrish is presented as Joseph’s faithful scribe and any reader casually perusing the footnotes would find this to be an affirming testimonial.
But…
If you take a look at the full contents of the letter itself, then you find that this one quote is actually part of a long list of accusations of fraud, deception and conspiracy which the disaffected Parrish was laying out in a letter to the newspaper editor. For example, the very next paragraph reads as follows:
Click to view the scanned copy of the original published letter, 1st column, mid-page.
“I have set by his side and penned down the translation of the Egyptian Hieroglyphicks as he claimed to receive it by direct inspiration of Heaven. I have listened to him with feelings of no ordinary kind, when he declared that the audible voice of God, instructed him to establish a Banking-Anti Banking institution, which like Aaron’s rod should swallow up all other Banks (the Bank of Monroe excepted,) and grow and flourish and spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth, and survive when all others should be laid in ruins. I have been astonished to hear him declare that we had 60,000 Dollars in specie in our vaults, and $600,000 at our command, when we had not to exceed $6,000 and could not command any more;also that we had but about ten thousand Dollars of our bills in circulation, when he, as Cashier of the institution, knew that there was at least $150,000. Knowing their extreme poverty when they commenced this speculation, I have been not a little surprised to hear them assert that they were worth from three to four hundred thousand Dollars Cash, and in less than ninety days after, became insolvent without any change in their business affairs. But such has been the audacity of these boasting blasphemers, that they have assumed the authority to curse, or to bless, to damn, or to save, not only this Church but this entire generation, and that they hold their destinies in this world and that which is to come. And such has been their influence over this Church in this place, that they have filched the monies from their pockets and obtained their earthly substance for the purpose of establishing a Bank and various wild speculations, in order that they might aggrandize themselves and families, until they have reduced their followers to wretchedness and want. For the year past their lives have been one continued scene of lying, deception, and fraud, and that too, in the name of God.”
-Warren Parrish (letter to the editor, Painesville Republican, Feb. 15, 1838 archive.org)
The letter goes on and the accusations do not abate.
The quote is used in the Gospel Topic Essay to bolster the claims of Joseph Smith’s abilities as a translator, while the quote in context is actually intended to expose Joseph as a charlatan. By using the quote in a manner which is the opposite of that intended by the original author, the Gospel Topic essay is specifically and deliberately misleading its readers by not providing the context of the excerpt – nor are they mentioning that the quoted individual previously served as Joseph’ scribe, but at the time he provided the quote – he was working to expose what he saw as criminal behavior by Joseph. He was not Joseph’s scribe when he wrote this letter, and he was not defending or confirming Joseph’s ability as a seer – contrary to what the footnote implies.
This is a clear and unambiguous example of cherry picking quotes to serve a whitewashed narrative of Joseph Smith’s record.
The church is cherry picking quotes, providing them out of context and using them contrary to their intended purposes. This is dishonest. It is disrespectful to the members who rely on the church for open accounts of its history which are faithful to the actual individuals and events of that history. The men and women who devote their lives to this faith deserve better.
Related Links
- There is a thread discussing this post at the Mormon Discussion web forum.
- Further discussion at Mormon Dialogue web forum.
- Discussion in the r/Mormon subreddit.
- Discussion in the r/exmormon subreddit.
