Irene L H. (NonExistence) -
Helpful Score: 2
The leadership wanted to make sure the dates and activities that were recorded, since they were coming from her memory - not from her diaries - were correct. This book is a spoken history, recorded by an assistant, not direct from her diaries. When the dates and stories were later confirmed, the manuscript was released again for publication. Where there are differences in dates and names (not many), the differences are noted. There are NO differences in the facts of these stories with official church doctrine.
Now, if you wish to read the "original" manuscript-the preliminary manuscript; Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, by LAVINA FIELDING ANDERSON, ed., Signature Books (May 2001), ISBN: 1560851376. If you wish further information on Mother Smith's History and the manuscripts of her history, the current volume does give much information to this and its publication history, and the authors do site the following article, Richard Lloyd Anderson, "The Reliability of the Early History of Lucy and Joseph Smith," in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 4 (Summer 1969).
Reading Lucy Mack Smith's first-hand account of the trials and tribulations of the Smith family was a great reminder of the importance of family sticking together. Mother Smith's account provides some important spiritual insight that you just won't get in the typical historical books of the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. One story that was the time Joseph Smith's dad was thrown in jail for 30 days for a minor debt he owed. They told him they would let him free if he would just deny his testimony. He stayed in prison the whole 30 days and converted another person while in jail. Mother Smith's writings capture the urgency of the work, and the constant movements of a family repeatedly persecuted and driven from their home by mobs. It's just a wonderful book.
They put their trust in the Lord and used constant prayer to solve many of their problems.
Now, if you wish to read the "original" manuscript-the preliminary manuscript; Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, by LAVINA FIELDING ANDERSON, ed., Signature Books (May 2001), ISBN: 1560851376. If you wish further information on Mother Smith's History and the manuscripts of her history, the current volume does give much information to this and its publication history, and the authors do site the following article, Richard Lloyd Anderson, "The Reliability of the Early History of Lucy and Joseph Smith," in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 4 (Summer 1969).
Reading Lucy Mack Smith's first-hand account of the trials and tribulations of the Smith family was a great reminder of the importance of family sticking together. Mother Smith's account provides some important spiritual insight that you just won't get in the typical historical books of the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. One story that was the time Joseph Smith's dad was thrown in jail for 30 days for a minor debt he owed. They told him they would let him free if he would just deny his testimony. He stayed in prison the whole 30 days and converted another person while in jail. Mother Smith's writings capture the urgency of the work, and the constant movements of a family repeatedly persecuted and driven from their home by mobs. It's just a wonderful book.
They put their trust in the Lord and used constant prayer to solve many of their problems.
