Mormon History

One of the more common charges against the Church is that the Church "hides its history". In this post, and future posts I will take on one controversial issue at a time and address whether the Church is dishonest (because that's what the subtle charge is in reality) or not.

Lets start with the charge that Joseph Smith was a money digger. This was found in the Ensign of February 2001, on page 42.

An enterprising farmer by the name of Josiah Stowell came 30 miles from his farm in Bainbridge Township, Chenango County, New York, carrying a purported treasure map and accompanied by a digging crew. The company took their room and board with the Hale family. On the crew were Joseph Smith Jr. and his father. Lucy Mack Smith records that Josiah “came for Joseph on account of having heard that he possessed certain keys, by which he could discern things invisible to the natural eye.” The Smiths had initially refused Josiah’s invitation in October 1825. However, the reality of the family’s difficulty in meeting the $100 annual mortgage payment on their farm and Stowell’s promise of “high wages to those who would dig for him” finally persuaded them both to join in the venture.

This arguably unflattering charge is hardly hidden if it is published in the #1 LDS Church magazine, a magazine sponsored by the Church, and whose First Presidency and Council of Twelve Apostles endorse. A true charge would be that Joseph Smith worked for awhile as a "money digger". That is true. But we have not hidden it.