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Difference between revisions of "Question: Did Brigham say "We shall pull the wool over the eyes of the American people"?"
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| − | + | FairMormon has been unable to find a legitimate source for this purported quotation from Brigham Young. It was quoted at the Reed Smoot hearing report, but the source is only given as E.A. Folk, editor of the ''Baptist and Reflector'', a Nashville, Tennessee paper published by the Tennessee Baptist association.<ref>See "[http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnnews/brmain.htm Baptist and Reflector]," ''rootsweb.com'' (accessed 15 December 2007). The Smoot Hearing report cites this author with his editorial title in volume 1, page 15.</ref> | |
A citation generally given for Brigham Young's remarks is from the Church's English publication: "The Manifesto," ''Millennial Star'' 52 (24 Nov. 1890): 744. | A citation generally given for Brigham Young's remarks is from the Church's English publication: "The Manifesto," ''Millennial Star'' 52 (24 Nov. 1890): 744. | ||
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Later authors have continued to repeat the "quotation" from Brigham, and provide the citation to the E.A. Folk's ''The Story of Mormonism'', or the ''Millenial Star'' in their footnotes. However, these authors do not seem to have verified the original. They are likely simply repeating the claim from previous authors without checking: | Later authors have continued to repeat the "quotation" from Brigham, and provide the citation to the E.A. Folk's ''The Story of Mormonism'', or the ''Millenial Star'' in their footnotes. However, these authors do not seem to have verified the original. They are likely simply repeating the claim from previous authors without checking: | ||
| − | * {{CriticalWork:Abanes:One Nation | + | * {{CriticalWork:Abanes:One Nation|pages=281}} |
* {{CriticalWork:Erickson:As a Thief in the Night|pages=chapter 8, footnote 118}} | * {{CriticalWork:Erickson:As a Thief in the Night|pages=chapter 8, footnote 118}} | ||
Since the Smoot Committee hearings "quotation" of Brigham came from an apostate Mormon, it's possible that this witness provided false testimony (either unwittingly or intentionally). The prestige of a U.S. Congressional document has led subsequent writers to trust this witnesses' account without verifying the source for themselves. | Since the Smoot Committee hearings "quotation" of Brigham came from an apostate Mormon, it's possible that this witness provided false testimony (either unwittingly or intentionally). The prestige of a U.S. Congressional document has led subsequent writers to trust this witnesses' account without verifying the source for themselves. | ||
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Revision as of 19:51, 2 June 2014
- REDIRECTTemplate:Test3
Contents
Did Brigham say "We shall pull the wool over the eyes of the American people?"
Questions
I'm told that Brigham Young made the following statement:
- "We shall pull the wool over the eyes of the American people and make them swallow Mormonism, polygamy and all."
Critics say this shows the fundamental dishonesty of LDS leaders. What can you tell me about this?
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
Answer
As far as we can determine, this quotation is a fabrication. We cannot locate it in any LDS source, and those non-LDS sources who provide a reference are in error.
If any reader has further information, please contact us. At present, however, the best assumption seems to be that the quote is a fabrication.
Detailed Analysis
FairMormon has been unable to find a legitimate source for this purported quotation from Brigham Young. It was quoted at the Reed Smoot hearing report, but the source is only given as E.A. Folk, editor of the Baptist and Reflector, a Nashville, Tennessee paper published by the Tennessee Baptist association.[1]
A citation generally given for Brigham Young's remarks is from the Church's English publication: "The Manifesto," Millennial Star 52 (24 Nov. 1890): 744.
However, an examination of this reference shows no sign of the quote in question—see PDF scan of the original here.
Later authors have continued to repeat the "quotation" from Brigham, and provide the citation to the E.A. Folk's The Story of Mormonism, or the Millenial Star in their footnotes. However, these authors do not seem to have verified the original. They are likely simply repeating the claim from previous authors without checking:
- Richard Abanes, One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church (New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 2003), 281 ( Index of claims )
- Dan Erickson, "As a Thief in the Night": The Mormon Quest for Millennial Deliverance (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1998), chapter 8, footnote 118.
Since the Smoot Committee hearings "quotation" of Brigham came from an apostate Mormon, it's possible that this witness provided false testimony (either unwittingly or intentionally). The prestige of a U.S. Congressional document has led subsequent writers to trust this witnesses' account without verifying the source for themselves.
Notes
- ↑ See "Baptist and Reflector," rootsweb.com (accessed 15 December 2007). The Smoot Hearing report cites this author with his editorial title in volume 1, page 15.