Scott and Maurine. Am I correct in deducing that this is the same as the Liverpool edition? If so, I am impressed with you willingness to let facts, even though they may be recollections, speak for themselves. Too many times the church is hurt by past and present authors leaving out or altering "Statements that seemed unfavorable to the image of Joseph Smith or the Church were omitted". I believe honest will get us through and any attempt to with hold items just gives detractors the things needed to tear down.
Scot ProctorFebruary 2, 2017
Our version (The Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by his Mother) is the closest thing to what you are asking. If you want to go into the original manuscript, it is available to anyone through the Joseph Smith Papers website here: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/1 We worked with that very manuscript for many, many months typescripting it completely. This was before the Internet.
Scot ProctorFebruary 2, 2017
There are two or three redundancies we left out and I believe we cut a very small part of the description of the atrocities of the Missourians. That's all that I can remember we cut. The entire original manuscript, though lost for 120 years, is now available to anyone at the Joseph Smith Papers website. Here is a link: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/1
MaryanneFebruary 2, 2017
I greatly appreciate the effort you made to explain the history behind the changes. Does the Proctor's book restore all of Lucy Mack Smith's writings or are some still left out?
Laura Harris HalesFebruary 2, 2017
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing this.
Roo PhillipsFebruary 1, 2017
Is it possible to find the original unaltered version by Lucy Smith?
Andre MostertFebruary 1, 2017
I enjoyed learning from this article. I was surprised however that no mention was made about the edition of Mother Smith's book published by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of LDS (now known as the Community of Christ). The first time my family visited Nauvoo in 1947, we bought a copy of that book in the little bookstore they had on the first floor at the rear of the Joseph Smith home. We were led to it by our guide after touring the rest of the house. My bookcase now contains a copy of the revised and enhanced book as published by the Proctors in 1996. It is also not mentioned by name here. There is really not a great deal of differences between any of them. I was amazed at Mother Smith's surprising memory, except for a few names and many dates that were close.
GoldminerFebruary 1, 2017
All I can say is: WOW!!! Great article and I AM going to read the book!
Tom JohnsonFebruary 1, 2017
Thank you for this valuable history and analysis.
Glen DanielsenFebruary 1, 2017
So grateful that Scot and Maureen undertook this great and hugely meaningful project. I can't wait to grab up the book itself.
Charles McClellandFebruary 1, 2017
Thank you, Scot and Maurine, for a very clear explanation of the fascinating history of this important manuscript.
Comments | Return to Story
MSFebruary 2, 2017
Scott and Maurine. Am I correct in deducing that this is the same as the Liverpool edition? If so, I am impressed with you willingness to let facts, even though they may be recollections, speak for themselves. Too many times the church is hurt by past and present authors leaving out or altering "Statements that seemed unfavorable to the image of Joseph Smith or the Church were omitted". I believe honest will get us through and any attempt to with hold items just gives detractors the things needed to tear down.
Scot ProctorFebruary 2, 2017
Our version (The Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by his Mother) is the closest thing to what you are asking. If you want to go into the original manuscript, it is available to anyone through the Joseph Smith Papers website here: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/1 We worked with that very manuscript for many, many months typescripting it completely. This was before the Internet.
Scot ProctorFebruary 2, 2017
There are two or three redundancies we left out and I believe we cut a very small part of the description of the atrocities of the Missourians. That's all that I can remember we cut. The entire original manuscript, though lost for 120 years, is now available to anyone at the Joseph Smith Papers website. Here is a link: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/1
MaryanneFebruary 2, 2017
I greatly appreciate the effort you made to explain the history behind the changes. Does the Proctor's book restore all of Lucy Mack Smith's writings or are some still left out?
Laura Harris HalesFebruary 2, 2017
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing this.
Roo PhillipsFebruary 1, 2017
Is it possible to find the original unaltered version by Lucy Smith?
Andre MostertFebruary 1, 2017
I enjoyed learning from this article. I was surprised however that no mention was made about the edition of Mother Smith's book published by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of LDS (now known as the Community of Christ). The first time my family visited Nauvoo in 1947, we bought a copy of that book in the little bookstore they had on the first floor at the rear of the Joseph Smith home. We were led to it by our guide after touring the rest of the house. My bookcase now contains a copy of the revised and enhanced book as published by the Proctors in 1996. It is also not mentioned by name here. There is really not a great deal of differences between any of them. I was amazed at Mother Smith's surprising memory, except for a few names and many dates that were close.
GoldminerFebruary 1, 2017
All I can say is: WOW!!! Great article and I AM going to read the book!
Tom JohnsonFebruary 1, 2017
Thank you for this valuable history and analysis.
Glen DanielsenFebruary 1, 2017
So grateful that Scot and Maureen undertook this great and hugely meaningful project. I can't wait to grab up the book itself.
Charles McClellandFebruary 1, 2017
Thank you, Scot and Maurine, for a very clear explanation of the fascinating history of this important manuscript.
ADD A COMMENT