EIGHT
(1813)
In the words of the resurrected Joseph, details of his childhood “do not matter.” What does matter is a better
understanding of his mission. This requires a true and clear understanding of the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
Also, a clear understanding of the intent of these books, as utilized by the advanced human beings who called
Joseph to perform the role of “Moses” in the latter days, is vital to a transparent understanding of this role.Details That Don’t Matter
Historians dabble in details. “Well-written” and “well-documented” records
equate to acclamations and awards in secular circles that are made up of people who are
self-prejudiced because of the praise they bestow upon themselves as “historians.” The
whole of history is based upon opinion, speculation, and more often than not,
secondhand information that is highly susceptible to human imagination and invention.
However, what if the means were available to achieve absolute truth in a past record of
events? What if paradigms and pride were shattered in favor of real truth? Never before
in recorded history has such a “story” been made possible as it is now presented
through this authorized and official biography. The important details of this biography
(at least those that are personally important to its primary subject) are given from a
firsthand perspective. They come by way of a known mortal from beyond the grave and
by the person around whom the story centers—even Joseph Smith, Jr.
Moreover, what if it were not a “story” at all, but a real history as it fits into an
eternal perspective? Such is this biography of Joseph Smith—one of “four and twenty
elders” (true messengers) spoken of by John in his Revelation.^1 Of course, Joseph never
revealed this about himself while mortal. Taking a glance into the profile of one of these
“elders” is a beginning to understand them all; for all have fulfilled multiple incarnations
and have been known to the world through historical accounts by various names. As we
shall discover, it made perfect sense for Joseph Smith, acting in the role of a true messenger
without disclosing his true identity, to translate “Mormon’s” record, and for it to be
delivered to him by Moroni.
This notebook of Joseph’s life is that glance into a true messenger unlike ever before
granted by advanced beings. It is being given for the sake of the over 15 billion humans
assigned to this solar system who are temporarily limited to earth while they go through the
mortal stage of their eternal development. The “story” of this earth and its inhabitants is
much the same as it is of every other world ever created—“worlds without end.”
Let us take a case in point as to the imperfect relation of insignificant “details.” Some
biographers have fixed the account of Joseph’s leg operation as late as the fall of 1813, just
before Joseph turned eight years old. Others claim that it occurred years earlier. Supposedly,
so claim these biographers, Joseph dictated to Willard Richards in December 1842, “When I
was five years old or thereabouts, I was attacked with the typhus fever.”^2 This would make
the occurrence much earlier, during the year 1811.
Many events surrounding Joseph’s childhood have been reported erroneously by
countless biographers in the annals of history. As mentioned, Lucy Mack Smith’s interviews