The Hurlbut affidavits

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Criticism

Many of Joseph Smith’s friends and neighbors signed affidavits that accused him and his family of being lazy, indolent, undependable treasure-seekers.

Source(s) of the criticism

• Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1945), 17–18.
• Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, OH: Telegraph Press, 1834)
• Grant Palmer, An Insider's View of Mormon Origins, (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2002), 228.
• Dan Vogel, Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet, (Salt Lake City, Utah; Signature Books, 2004)

Response

Many critics cite a collection of affidavits from Joseph Smith’s neighbors which claim that the Smith family possessed a number of character flaws. These affidavits were collected by “Doctor” Philastus Hurlbut, who had been excommunicated from the Church on charges of immorality. Hurlbut sold this material to Eber D. Howe, who published it in his anti-Mormon book ‘’Mormonism Unvailed’’ in 1834.

Conclusion

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Endnotes

None

Further reading

FAIR wiki articles

• Joseph Smith and money digging

FAIR web site

• FAIR Topical Guide: