111:, where Smith had lived when Mormonism was developed and obtained affidavits from people who were familiar with the Smith family. His journey was done for the purpose of "collecting statements disparaging to the Smith name." One modern Latter Day Saint author states that Hurlbut's task was to "obtain information that would show 'the bad character of the Mormon Smith Family,' divest Joseph of 'all claims to the character of an honest man,' and place him at an 'immeasurable distance from the high station he pretends to occupy.'" One Presbyterian historian has speculated that the gathering of the affidavits was "revenge" by the three local Presbyterian leaders for a claim made by Joseph's mother,
249:, p. 72. According to Matzko, "Lucy later claimed that the three Presbyterians had conspired to destroy the Book of Mormon, although Church records note only that the Smiths 'did not wish to unite with us any more.' The Presbyterians more than had their revenge. In 1833, when D. P. Hurlbut busied himself collecting anti-Smith affidavits from Palmyra residents, at least ten Presbyterians, all members of the local elite—including Henry Jessup—swore that 'Joseph Smith, Senior, and his son Joseph in particular,' were 'entirely destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits.'"
225:, p. 7 Winchester states, "I would here observe, that while he was in connexion with the church of Latter Day Saints, the preachers and priests of the different denominations heaped their calumny upon the Society for fellowshipping him; and made a stumbling block of him, and said there was no mark of a Christian about him. But no sooner had he made his appearance, as the champion of sectarianism, and the assailant of Mormonism, than churches, chapels and meeting houses were crowded to hear him."
97:, Hurlbut had been expelled from his Methodist congregation for "unvirtuous conduct with a young lady." As a member of the Latter Day Saint church, Hurlbut "immediately commenced his old practices, in attempting to seduce a young female.... or this crime he was immediately expelled from the church." In response to his expulsion from the church, Hurlbut "now determined to demolish, as far as practicable, what he had once endeavoured to build up."
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The origin of the
Spaulding story, concerning the Manuscript Found; with a short biography of Dr. P. Hulbert, the originator of the same; and some testimony adduced, showing it to be a sheer fabrication, so far as in connection with the Book of Mormon is concerned. By B. Winchester, minister of the
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In June 1833, Hurlbut was excommunicated from the church on charges of sexual immorality. A contemporary author discusses
Hurlbut’s background by noting that prior to joining the
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In 1834, Hurlbut was arrested for allegedly threatening Smith's life. A judge released him on his own recognizance and ordered him to keep the peace. Hurlbut later moved to
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To accomplish his task, Hurlbut traveled in Ohio, New York, and
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Adams, Dale W. (2000). "Doctor
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dissenter. Hurlbut is best known for his collection of affidavits which in 1834 were published in
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The myth of the "Manuscript found," or the absurdities of the "Spaulding Story"
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Philastus Hurlbut, The Joseph Smith Papers (accessed January 6, 2012)
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The Papers of Joseph Smith: Autobiographical and
Historical Writings (Vol. 1)
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Hurlbut began travelling throughout the country, giving lectures against
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People excommunicated by the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)
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22:(February 3, 1809 – June 16, 1883) was a 19th-century
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