Without Disclosing My True Identity
Hyrum’s Weaknesses
Only Joseph understood the critical nature of Hyrum to the overall work that Joseph
started, and so a statement as to some of what was happening to Hyrum should be included
here. For example, it is important to note the reason Hyrum was sent to a different school
than the rest of his siblings. While most LDS historians have never questioned why, others
have known but did not want to diminish the image of Hyrum any more than they did of
Joseph. The only mention of the Smith children attending school was in Coray’s interview
notes with Lucy Mack Smith. She reported:
And as my children had been deprived of school, we made every
arrangement to supply the deficiency. Our second son, Hyrum, we
established in the academy in Hanover. The remainder who were old enough
attended a school nearby.^14Because this is Joseph’s biography and not Hyrum’s, the facts will be abbreviated as
they were: As mentioned previously, Hyrum was a very slow learner, even bordering on
mild retardation/autism, so it seemed in his younger years; and he also suffered from social
anxieties similar to what modern psychologists have termed agoraphobia.^15 As Hyrum grew
older, he was able to overcome many of his learning disabilities and eventually matured
into a very rational thinker; however, he never lost his anxiety of large crowds or of any
situation that focused on him as the center of attention.^16
The only sure way to alleviate Hyrum’s anxiety was for him to be in Joseph’s
presence. Whenever he was with Joseph, he showed none of his usual signs of social
anxiety; in fact, quite the opposite, he became profoundly secure in his ability to deal both
socially and intellectually with others. On the other hand, whenever he was away from his
younger brother, Hyrum was like a fish out of water. For a great future purpose, Hyrum
was given these emotional weaknesses. Because of the inflictions, Joseph kept Hyrum close
by his side, as much as possible, throughout their lives.
Weaknesses Given for a Purpose
While we now know that the Joseph known to his peers was not what the world
would expect of the image of a “prophet of God,” it is also important to understand that
advanced monitors were there to make sure that none of Joseph’s mortal work was ever
viewed as larger than mortal. In fact, they actually intervened—causing Joseph to suffer even
more extreme effects of the same disease (typhoid fever) than that with which the other
Smiths were stricken in the fall of 1812. They have always chosen as their true messengers
those whom the world would not see as the most favorable choice.^17 To keep the true
messengers humble and to help the people concentrate more on the message than the
messenger, these chosen ones are afflicted with “weaknesses.”^18 Advanced human beings
wanted to make sure that Joseph never forgot “that it [was] by his [God’s] grace, and his
great condescension unto the children of men, that [Joseph had] power to do these things.”^19
Our advanced human monitors also subtly devised Hyrum’s weaknesses, making
him dependent upon Joseph throughout his life. They wanted him close to Joseph so that he
would understand Joseph’s role better than anyone else alive—for it would be a future