Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Use of sources/The Wrestling Prophet


Joseph's "Grandiose Sense of Self Importance"
A work by author: Richard Abanes
 America's Fighting Prophet

Chapter 9, March to Martyrdom: The Wrestling Prophet

The Quote

One Nation under Gods, page 178 (hardback and paperback)

In the History of the Church, for example, under the date of March 13, 1843, we find this entry: "I wrestled with William Wall, the most expert wrestler in Ramus, and threw him."34

The Reference

Endnote 34, page 544 (hardback); page 542 (paperback)

34. HC, vol. 5, 302.

The Problems

The above is quoted by the author as an example of Joseph Smith "boasting of his violent deeds." [1] Such a reference is evidently intended to support his thesis found in the subtitle of Chapter Nine; that Joseph was "America's Fighting Prophet." [2]

Not surprisingly, however, the author is once again guilty of attempting to mislead his readers. The truth of the matter is that the words make no reference at all to fighting, nor an attempt to harm another individual. On the contrary, the quote is simply speaking of the recreational sport of wrestling.

George Q. Cannon spoke of the occasion, saying,

On Monday, the 13th day of March, 1843, Joseph met William Wall, the most expert wrestler of Ramus, Illinois, and had a friendly bout with him. He easily conquered Wall who up to that time had been a champion. [3]

I am aware of no other account describing this event as being anything other than that of fun and games. The quote the author cites is certainly of no exception. The snip comes from Joseph's journal, and all he writes is,

Monday, 13.--I wrestled with William Wall, the most expert wrestler in Ramus, and threw him. [4]

That is it. Joseph then records the other events of the day (i.e., Almon W. Babbitt was appointed as a Presiding Elder, 27 children were blessed in the evening, weather in Nauvoo was very cold… etc.).

Nothing else was said of the wrestling match.

Endnotes

  1. [note] Richard Abanes, One Nation under Gods (New York: Four Walls eight Windows, 2002), 178.
  2. [note] Ibid.
  3. [note] George Q. Cannon, The Life of Joseph Smith, the Prophet (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1986), 431, emphasis added.
  4. [note] Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vol. 5 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1978), 302.

Further reading

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