Twenty-One (1826)to his uncle while growing up in Bainbridge. When he visited his uncle, he became
concerned with the prospect that his part of the Stowell inheritance was quickly dwindling.
After hearing what his aunt and others had to say about his uncle’s favorite laborers,
Bridgman took it upon himself to protect his uncle’s interests (or rather, his own). He
convinced a couple of other family members to file a complaint against Joseph as an
impostor trying to defraud Josiah Stowell.
This started the first of many legal suits filed against Joseph throughout his life,
which ultimately hardened his heart against lawyers and judges. This particular case went
as far as a preliminary hearing (March 20, 1826); but, because no sound evidence could be
presented (especially because Josiah Stowell, Sr. refused to participate in the charge), the
case was dismissed.
So it was at that time that one person’s story fueled the rumor for another’s until
many of those in the community in that area (during the years of 1823 to 1827) had turned
against Joseph and his family. LDS/Mormon apologists have attempted to make something
out of the affidavits and stories that came out of that time period, but all of their
assumptions and “facts” are just as misleading as those of the Mormon critics. The real truth
is that Joseph did not obtain the Urim and Thummim (the so-called “looking glass”) until
September 22, 1827. The rumors started because Joseph was being taught what the Urim
and Thummim was and how it worked, and he shared some of this information with his
family. His mother, disregarding her son’s counsel, shared her convoluted perception with
other ladies, who then shared their distorted opinion of Lucy’s imagination with their
husbands and others. Before long, fantasy fueled by rumors became “historical facts.”
The Love Interests of the Smith Brothers
Before he died, Alvin had his eye on a young lady, a much younger lady than he,
whom he had met during his travels throughout the local area. He worked with a young
man named Seth Barden. During the course of their work time, Alvin was invited to the
Barden home for lunch and rest. While at the Barden home, Alvin began an innocent
flirtatious affair with Jerusha, one of Seth’s sisters.
Meanwhile, Joseph’s mother had begun a close relationship with Mrs. Barden, due to
their mutual contact with the Stowells. The Stowell family was respected in the community
due to their wealth and prestige. Not to be outdone, Lucy began to divulge things about her
own family, especially about her son Joseph and the special mandate he had received from
the Lord himself. Mrs. Barden, along with many of the other women in the local community,
listened to Lucy with some respect, but with much reservation. It wasn’t hard for the local
women to see that Lucy just wanted to fit in and be valued by others.
As time went on, Alvin longed deeply for Jerusha, who, along with her brother, Seth,
often visited the Smith residence. Alvin revealed his affection towards Jerusha to his kid
brothers, Hyrum and Joseph, who, as brothers do, mocked Alvin for his interest in such a
younger girl. After Alvin died, the lot fell to Hyrum to tell the Bardens of his death.
During Alvin’s graveside services, the distraught Jerusha gently reached out for the
hand of the shy Hyrum, not in any desire for him, but for solace and comfort. From that time
forward, Hyrum began to have special feelings for Jerusha, which he often shared with Joseph.
Joseph didn’t see anything wrong with the feelings and encouraged Hyrum, who otherwise
wouldn’t have pursued any of his feelings because he was often socially introverted.