Eighteen (1823)and the true reality of all things that Joseph had shared with him just before he died. Alvin’s life
was taken so that Joseph could be true to his mission, something that, otherwise, would have
brought much undesirable discussion and division between the two. Alvin’s final words to
Joseph, at times, gave the beleaguered prophet much-needed strength to carry on. In those
times, Joseph had hopes that at least someone, anyone, would one day know the things that he
knew...
...things that made the eighteen-year-old young man the most knowledgeable and
informed, fully mortal person upon the earth.
NOTES
(^1) Psalms 82:6.
(^2) See BOM, 2 Nephi 2:26.
(^3) Compare BOM, Helaman 16:22.
For one of many examples, see DHC, 2:307, emphasis added. “He [Robert Matthews, alias
Robert Matthias, alias Joshua the Jewish Minister] said that he possessed the spirit of his fathers, that
he was a literal descendant of Matthias, the Apostle, who was chosen in the place of Judas that fell;
that his spirit was resurrected in him; and that this was the way or scheme of eternal life—this
transmigration of soul or spirit from father to son. I told him that his doctrine was of the devil, that
he was in reality in possession of a wicked and depraved spirit, although he professed to be the Spirit
of truth itself; and he said also that he possessed the soul of Christ.”
LDS apologists use this journal entry to argue against any claims about the doctrine of
multiple mortal probations as being false. Upon taking a close look at what Joseph Smith said, it is
not logical to conclude that he was saying the belief in reincarnation was the deception of the “devil,”
but rather that Robert Matthew’s vain and foolish imagination (his flesh/Lucifer) had deceived him,
thus the use of the words “his doctrine.” This man was claiming to possess two souls, his own and that
of Christ’s. This was part of this minister’s deception, not the belief in reincarnation. Joseph Smith
never said Robert Matthews was possessed by a spirit outside of his own; he said this man was “in
possession of a wicked and depraved spirit, ” which happened to be his own vain and foolish
imaginations. Free agency would not be the paramount “law in heaven” if demons/devils/evil
spirits were allowed to possess and control the body of a human. The other part of the deception
regarding this matter is that, unless Heavenly Beings remove the veil of forgetfulness that we are all
born with, we do not have the ability to remember the experiences of past lives.
(^4) See John Taylor, “The Organization of the Church,” Millennial Star 13 (Nov. 15, 1851): 339.
(^5) See n. 4 above.
(^6) See n. 4 above.
(^7) D&C, section 124 introduction; DHC, 1:426–40.
(^8) D&C, 1:16.
(^9) See D&C, 6:7; 11:7.
(^10) See D&C, 38:39.
(^11) PGP, Articles of Faith 1:2.
(^12) SNS, 21, 23–4.
(^13) Genesis 1:26.
(^14) SNS, 31.
(^15) SNS, 35.
(^16) HR, chapter 3.
(^17) BOM, Moroni 7:16–17.