Doctor Philastus Hurlbut
Encyclopedia
Doctor Philastus Hurlbut (February 3, 1809 – June 16, 1883) was a 19th-century Latter Day Saint dissenter. Hurlbut is best known for his collection of affidavit
s which in 1834 were published in Eber D. Howe’s anti-Mormon
book Mormonism Unvailed
. The purpose of these affidavits was to produce damaging evidence related to the character of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement
, Smith's family, and his associates.
Hurlbut had previously been excommunicated from the Latter Day Saint church on charges of sexual immorality. A contemporary author discusses Hurlbut’s background, noting that, prior to joining the Mormon
s, he was a member of a Methodist
congregation but was “expelled for unvirtuous conduct with a young lady.” As a member of the Latter Day Saint church, Hurlbut “immediately commenced his old practices, in attempting to seduce a young female …. [F]or this crime he was immediately expelled from the church.” In response to his expulsion from the church, Hurlbut “now determined to demolish, as far as practicable, what he had once endeavoured to build up.” Hurlbut began travelling throughout the country giving lectures against Mormonism
.
At the request of an anti-Mormon Ohio committee, Hurlbut traveled to Palmyra, New York
, where Smith had lived when Mormonism was developed, and obtained affidavits from people who were familiar with the Smith family. His journey was done a for the purpose of “collecting statements disparaging to the Smith name.” One modern Latter Day Saint author states that Hurlbut’s task was to “obtain information that would show ‘the bad character of the Mormon Smith Family,’ divest Joseph of ‘all claims to the character of an honest man,’ and place him at an ‘immeasurable distance from the high station he pretends to occupy.’ One Presbyterian historian has speculated that the gathering of the affidavits was "revenge" by the three local Presbyterian leaders for a claim made by Joseph's mother, Lucy Mack Smith
, that they had "conspired to destroy the Book of Mormon." To accomplish his task, Hurlbut traveled in Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania collecting statements disparaging to the Smith name.”
When Hulbut read the Spaulding manuscript, he said, “I obtained a manuscript … which was reported to be the foundation of the Book of Mormon
… when upon examination I found it to contain nothing of the kind, but being a manuscript upon an entirely different subject.”
Affidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
s which in 1834 were published in Eber D. Howe’s anti-Mormon
Anti-Mormon
Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed at members of the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
book Mormonism Unvailed
Mormonism Unvailed
Mormonism Unvailed is an anti-Mormon book published in 1834 by Eber D. Howe. The title page proclaims the book to be a contemporary exposé of Mormonism, and makes the claim that the historical portion of the Book of Mormon text was based upon a manuscript written by Solomon Spalding.The...
. The purpose of these affidavits was to produce damaging evidence related to the character of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, Smith's family, and his associates.
Hurlbut had previously been excommunicated from the Latter Day Saint church on charges of sexual immorality. A contemporary author discusses Hurlbut’s background, noting that, prior to joining the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s, he was a member of a Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
congregation but was “expelled for unvirtuous conduct with a young lady.” As a member of the Latter Day Saint church, Hurlbut “immediately commenced his old practices, in attempting to seduce a young female …. [F]or this crime he was immediately expelled from the church.” In response to his expulsion from the church, Hurlbut “now determined to demolish, as far as practicable, what he had once endeavoured to build up.” Hurlbut began travelling throughout the country giving lectures against Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
.
At the request of an anti-Mormon Ohio committee, Hurlbut traveled to Palmyra, New York
Palmyra (village), New York
Palmyra is a village in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 3,490 at the 2000 census. The village, along with the town, is named after Palmyra in present-day Syria.The Village of Palmyra is in the Town of Palmyra...
, where Smith had lived when Mormonism was developed, and obtained affidavits from people who were familiar with the Smith family. His journey was done a for the purpose of “collecting statements disparaging to the Smith name.” One modern Latter Day Saint author states that Hurlbut’s task was to “obtain information that would show ‘the bad character of the Mormon Smith Family,’ divest Joseph of ‘all claims to the character of an honest man,’ and place him at an ‘immeasurable distance from the high station he pretends to occupy.’ One Presbyterian historian has speculated that the gathering of the affidavits was "revenge" by the three local Presbyterian leaders for a claim made by Joseph's mother, Lucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith was the mother of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. She is most noted for writing an award-winning memoir: Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations. She was an important leader of the movement during...
, that they had "conspired to destroy the Book of Mormon." To accomplish his task, Hurlbut traveled in Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania collecting statements disparaging to the Smith name.”
When Hulbut read the Spaulding manuscript, he said, “I obtained a manuscript … which was reported to be the foundation of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
… when upon examination I found it to contain nothing of the kind, but being a manuscript upon an entirely different subject.”
External links
- D. P. Hurlbut Chronology by Dale R. Broadhurst