Twenty-Four (1829)Based on Jesus’ definition of a “mother” and “brethren” being those who “do the
will of my Father,” Joseph’s only true “family” consisted of the Three Nephites )and John
the Beloved, with his wife, father, Hyrum and Samuel acting as loyal distant cousins, in
relative terms.
The Brothers’ Identity Was Hidden
Lucy’s history, however, unknowingly provided some interesting clues to some
details that Joseph was not allowed to tell anyone. Many of the “strangers” involved
indirectly with her son that she mentions in her biography were actually one or more of the
Brothers. What the world doesn’t know is that every moment that Joseph had the plates in
his possession, there were “two ‘Injuns’ and their white owner”^9 lurking in the woods
nearby. As an example of Lucy’s discrepancies, whenever Joseph was finished working with
the plates, he did not, as she reported,^10 “hide them in a barrel of beans,”^11 or “in a box
underneath the fireplace hearth,”^12 or anywhere else according to her accounts. In fact, he
always gave them back to the Brothers for safekeeping, who had hiding places of their own.
Of course, Joseph did invent some of the stories concerning where the plates and
Urim and Thummim were kept, to throw others off—including his enemies, family, and
friends; but most importantly, he did this to protect the identity and existence of the Three
Nephites. Instead of his enemies looking for two “Injuns” and a white man who had
possession of the plates, they were kept busy ripping up boards, tearing out closets, digging
at holes, and plotting all kinds of schemes to find “Joe Smith’s golden bible.”^13
There wasn’t and isn’t a mortal on the planet with the kind of training and expertise
that the Brothers have in hiding themselves and keeping their true identities from being
discovered. Even in modern times, advanced technologies and information resources will
never discover their true whereabouts or identities. Although these resources will continue to
advance, none will come close to what advanced humans have at their disposal to protect
their chosen servants as they continue to oversee the Marvelous Work and a Wonder®.
Attempt as they may to find them, the Brothers will continue to “be among the Gentiles, and
the Gentiles shall know them not. They will also be among the Jews, and the Jews shall know
them not.”^14 But Joseph, and later, his reincarnated brother Hyrum, “have seen them, and they
have ministered unto [them].”^15
Hyrum’s Role in Continuing Joseph’s Work, the “Work of the Father”
Hyrum’s role in the Marvelous Work and a Wonder® was briefly revealed to Joseph
by Christ when he was fourteen, and would later be discussed in more detail as part of
Joseph’s education during his four years of training. Joseph was taught the role his brother
would play in the continuation of “the Father’s work.”^16 For this reason, Joseph kept Hyrum
close and allowed him to observe and learn human nature. Joseph did not disclose to
Hyrum exactly who he would one day become and what role he would one day play in
publishing the sealed portion of the gold plates; however, neither was Joseph told
everything that would transpire before Hyrum’s day would come. Had Joseph known
everything, his love for his brother would not have allowed him to let Hyrum be murdered
at his side. Nevertheless, Joseph put Hyrum in situations throughout their lifetimes that
accentuated his learning and gave him important experiences that Hyrum would need to
fulfill his own later role among the people.