Joseph Smith Biography

Twenty-Eight (1833)

Joseph: If you had seen the gold plates and an angel, and I gave you the

Urim and Thummim to work in your hands, then you would not act

mean. Is that correct?

Hurlbut: (No response.)

Joseph: And if you did not act mean, none of us here would have had the

privilege to know the true Brother Hurlbut; and you, yourself, could not have

known that you could be such a mean person.

Hurlbut: (Rising up into Joseph’s face, he said nothing.)

Joseph: Now do you see, dear Brother, why God and his angels do not show

themselves to the world? If they did, we could not know the full extent of our

own wickedness. Well was it said, it is “a wicked and adulterous generation

that seeketh for a sign.”^95 And you, Brother Hurlbut, are one of the most

wicked and adulterous among us.^96

A Chance to Prove Our Humanity

Joseph knew that one of the main purposes of our mortality was for us to observe
how we would act if we did not know there was a “God” around watching us. He knew
that because mortals did not know anything about advanced humans, or the “miracles” of
their technology, they would, at times, act contrary to the humanity established within
themselves, not knowing that they were constantly being watched. Any human who
willfully demeans, disparages, mocks, ridicules, becomes angry with, or in any other way
violates the free will of another, will never be trusted with the power of a “God.” Joseph’s
enemies and critics proved their own true humanity, as will any man or woman who
“seeketh for a sign.”
After this exchange with Joseph, Hurlbut lunged at him and knocked him to the
ground. Joseph, who at times was playful but was otherwise renowned for his physical
skills, did not fight back on this occasion, as he knew he was in public and had made his
point. He waited until others took the man away, cursing and threatening to kill Joseph if he
ever saw him again. The fight ended in charges being filed against Hurlbut for assault, and
eventually a restraining order being placed against him.^97

Persecution of the Mormons in Missouri Understandable, but Inexcusable

In November of 1831, the desires of the Church leaders led to the discussion of
creating a compilation of Joseph’s “revelations” and early prophecies. Many of these
revelations had already been published in the Evening and Morning Star since September. W.
W. Phelps continued to print many of the revelations until the Book of Commandments was
first published in the summer of 1833.^98 Once the public was informed that the Mormons
intended to make it a commandment that all of the lands in Jackson County and the
surrounding areas would become part of the Mormon “city of Zion,” they felt they didn’t
have much choice but to take immediate action. The citizens organized themselves, tarred