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*Critics charge that Joseph Smith joined the Methodist, Presbyterian, or Baptist churches between 1820 and 1830—despite the claim made in his 1838 history that he was forbidden by Deity (during the 1820 First Vision experience) from joining any denomination.{{ref|fn1}} | *Critics charge that Joseph Smith joined the Methodist, Presbyterian, or Baptist churches between 1820 and 1830—despite the claim made in his 1838 history that he was forbidden by Deity (during the 1820 First Vision experience) from joining any denomination.{{ref|fn1}} | ||
*Critics conclude that Joseph's alleged actions argue strongly against the reality of any encounter he might have had with God in the Sacred Grove. | *Critics conclude that Joseph's alleged actions argue strongly against the reality of any encounter he might have had with God in the Sacred Grove. | ||
− | *Critics claim that "at some point between 1821 and 1829," after the First Vision, that Joseph served as “a very passable exhorter” ''at Methodist camp meetings'' being held “away down in the woods, on the Vienna Road.” Since one could not be a licensed "exhorter" at such meetings unless one were a member of the Methodist church, critics therefore claim that this indicates that Joseph became a church member. | + | <!--*Critics claim that "at some point between 1821 and 1829," after the First Vision, that Joseph served as “a very passable exhorter” ''at Methodist camp meetings'' being held “away down in the woods, on the Vienna Road.” Since one could not be a licensed "exhorter" at such meetings unless one were a member of the Methodist church, critics therefore claim that this indicates that Joseph became a church member.--> |
*Critics charge that Joseph became a member of Emma Hale Smith's Methodist congregation in 1828. | *Critics charge that Joseph became a member of Emma Hale Smith's Methodist congregation in 1828. | ||
{{CriticalSources}} | {{CriticalSources}} | ||
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It is telling, though, that as soon as Joseph Lewis learned that Joseph had attended, he quickly took steps to disassociate the church from a person he saw as an imposter: note too that Lewis describes himself (rather than Joseph) as one "of the official members." A study of Methodist procedure makes it extremely unlikely that Joseph could have been a member of the Church, especially for only three days. | It is telling, though, that as soon as Joseph Lewis learned that Joseph had attended, he quickly took steps to disassociate the church from a person he saw as an imposter: note too that Lewis describes himself (rather than Joseph) as one "of the official members." A study of Methodist procedure makes it extremely unlikely that Joseph could have been a member of the Church, especially for only three days. | ||
− | {{Main|Joseph Smith's First Vision/Joseph Smith joined other churches/Methodist membership procedures and Joseph Smith|Methodist membership procedures and Joseph Smith}} | + | {{Main|Joseph Smith's First Vision/Joseph Smith joined other churches/Methodist membership procedures and Joseph Smith|l1=Methodist membership procedures and Joseph Smith}} |
====Anderick - 1887==== | ====Anderick - 1887==== |
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To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
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No critic who has charged Joseph Smith with joining a church between 1820 and 1830 has ever produced any authentic denominational membership record that would substantiate such a claim. Eyewitness reminiscences and contemporary records provide strong evidence that this claim is not valid and, therefore, does not reflect historical reality.
Three of the primary sources that charge Joseph Smith with joining sectarian churches between 1820 and 1830 were produced in the latter part of the nineteenth century. None of the three are contemporary records; the earliest one was written 50 years after the First Vision took place:
Fayette Lapham claimed to have interviewed Joseph Smith Sr. in 1829-30, and published a report forty years later. In it, he reported:
Joseph and Hiel Lewis were cousins of Emma Hale Smith; they would have been aged 21 and 11 respectively in 1828:
Note that Joseph did not inscribe himself, but the Methodist minister added Joseph's name to the class book. It is not surprising that Joseph might have attended Methodist services: Emma's family was involved in Methodism, she was related to Methodist ministers, and Joseph at this period was living on the Hale family's farm. The Hales had serious reservations about their new son-in-law, who claimed by this point to have the Book of Mormon plates in his possession. It would be natural for him to attend worship services with them if only to reassure them that he was not hostile to religion.
It is telling, though, that as soon as Joseph Lewis learned that Joseph had attended, he quickly took steps to disassociate the church from a person he saw as an imposter: note too that Lewis describes himself (rather than Joseph) as one "of the official members." A study of Methodist procedure makes it extremely unlikely that Joseph could have been a member of the Church, especially for only three days.
As Dan Vogel notes, "Because Lucy Smith and three of her older children joined the Presbyterian Church, together with the possibility that Joseph Jr. may have attended some meetings with other family members, some observers may have assumed Joseph Jr. was also a member."[5] (Vogel notes that Lorenzo Saunders claimed in 1884 that he attended Sunday School with Joseph at the Presbyterian Church, and so that attendance (without formal membership) may be the source for this reminiscence.[6])
The three sources are all late, and all from hostile voices.
We must note too that none of these sources confirms the others—they all discuss different denominations and different time frames. Thus, the stories are not mutually reinforcing.
We turn now to the many sources (both friendly and hostile) that claim that Joseph had no formal affiliation with any religious denomination during this period. Critics typically leave these sources safely unmentioned.
The eyewitness sources that follow below indicate that up until the time that Joseph Smith announced the existence of the golden plates of the Book of Mormon to his family (23 September 1823) he was not formally attached to any church, but had instead publicly rejected all of them and manifested his desire NOT to join their ranks. Some are contemporaneous, others are later remembrances, but the hostile and friendly voices are clear that he had no denominational affiliation.
As can be seen by the continuing chronological sources which follow, Joseph Smith and his associates were teaching from 1825 to 1832 that the Prophet did not belong to any church between the years 1825 and 1827.
== Notes ==
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