--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Wells, Junius F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 16 number: 4 published: 1913-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Wells, Junius F., "Scholars Disagree," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 4 (February 1913): 341–343.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1604unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1604unse start_page: 341 end_page: 343 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1604unse publication_year: 1913 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1913, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Scholars Disagree "JOSEPH SMITH, JR., AS A TRANSLATOR" 339 purification. Suppose that it is rec- to be finally adjudged upon the outognized that autointoxication may re- come of only one point. It asks, it desult from intestinal putrifaction. mands, a complete investigation. Suppose that scientists insist that Anything short of this would result the proteids contained in meat givs unfairly. To illustrate. Suppose that rise to this autointoxication. Suppose the first inquiry result in proving that that it is quite generally agreed among Joseph Smith was, in that instance, scientists that the American people wrong. Or suppose that chance deare eating altogether too much meat. signed that in the first instance he was Suppose that it is shown that the in- found to be right. These facts prove gestion of large quantities of meat is two things only; in the first instance responsible for numerous ailments. he was wrong, and in the second in- Suppose that it is declared by author- stance he was right, nothing more. ities that meat is more obnoxious in They prove absolutely nothing with warm weather than in cold. Suppose respect to other of his operations. It that is shown in the experience of is true, however, that if he be found the United States army that the death wrong in instance after instance, inrate among soldiers is very greatly ferential evidence would lead one increased through eating much meat to believethat he was wrong in warm weather. Suppose that it is in the majority of cases. (This announced by the acknowledged great- rule will work both ways). But in order est bacteriologist in the world that to prove that he was entirely wrong purification in the intestines is large- and that the "whole body of belief" ly responsible for old age and that should be repudiated, every case must through the elimination of this in- be examined upon its own merits. testinal purification old age may very In the opinion of the writer, the Latmaterially be deferred. ter-day Saints should not, and for that In a word let it be assumed that matter do not, maintain that Joseph scientists have completely vindicated Smith was infallible. He was human the claims of the Word of Wisdom. and possessed human weaknesses and What then will be the duty of the human faults. Being such, he was unworld with respect to Joseph Smith? doubtedly here and there mistaken. His The method employed by Dr. Spald- followers claim, however, that his ing would require that mankind not weaknesses were few and his virtues only accept the Word of Wisdom but many. According to Christian belief, everything else which Joseph Smith the Son of God was the only perfect claimed to have received through rev- man to grace the earth by his presence. elation. And, furthermore, those who If then, because of his weaknesses, we did not join in this general acceptance dismiss Joseph Smith, the prophets of would, by him, be classed among the ancient times must likewise go. thoughtless and dishonest. Shall it be argmd that because a With this singular reasoning adopted man receives divine help at one time by our reverend friend the Latter-day that he is always inspired? or the Saints are forced to disagree. They converse, that because he may at one have nothing inground into their na- time have been led by Satanic intures more deeply than the statement fluences that he is always evil? If so, of the Apostle Paul, "Prove all things; the virtues of Christianity are at an hold fast that which is good," "Mor- end. Does it follow that because a monism" does rot feel that in justice man thinks that he is right at one time, it can ask the world to accept all of and so proclaims himself, but is later its claims because a single point has shown to be wrong, that he is invariateen demonstrated. Some individuals bly wrong? We do not judge temrequire more evidence than others. AH poral things In that manner. No Christhat "Mormonism" can ask is an un- tian ever lived who was guided in every biased investigation. It does not want act of his life by divine effulgence. And 340 IMPROVEMENT ERA occasionally he was wrong when he And so we ask the question, "What thought that he was right. has Dr. Spalding's inquiry shown?" If through future investigation, there- The incompleteness of the inquiry was fore, it can be shown that Joseph Smith pointed out early in this paper, but if was absolutely wrong in his transla- the argument be accepted as complete tion of the characters reproduced in and final, what then does it show? It the Pearl of Great Price, shall we say gives an illustration of ONE case in that his other works of translation are which Joseph Smith was wrong. It wholly wrong? Or shall we be justified shows that he was not infallible, a in going so far as to state that the re- condition long held by the Latter-day maining part of the Book of Abraham Saints. He was mortal and his followis wrong? In the judgment of the writ- ers knew it. They asserted, however, er, reason scoffs at the intimation of an that his strength very greatly predomaffirmative reply. inated over his weaknesses. If this The best men the world has ever case proves to be one in which Joseph known have here and there made mis- Smith was mistaken the Latter-day takes. There have been no exceptions. Saints want to know it, and further- Scientists, philosophers and religionists more they will assist in investigating alike have all erred. Would it not be it. They have not thought of this parsuicidal to repudiate the work of man- ticular instance as being a mistake, kind because of these occasional mis- but if final investigation so proves it, takes? Yet the method of sweeping they can accept the conclusion without denunciation advanced by Dr. Spald- in any way disturbing their confidence ing would require that it be done, and in the multitude of cases in which they that all who would refuse to follow in know that he was right. They have apthis senseless slaughter would be pealed to the world to investigate the branded as ignorant and dishonest. claims of their religion, and stand From the writer's point of view it Is ready to accept the results. But, mark not only probable but possible that the you, these results must not be based world's greatest prophets have now and upon the kind of reasoning employed again made mistakes. Prophets are by Dr. Spalding. human beings whose minds are illum- The inquiry ends, therefore, with the inated by divine intelligence, the de-- case in hand. It cannot be considered as applying to the text of the gree of illumination varying with the responsiveness of the human spirit. Book of Abraham, to say noth- Some prophets have approached perfec- ing of the Book of Moses also contion much closer than others, but abso- tained in the Pearl of Great Price. The lute perfection for a lite time is never absurdity of making sweeping conclurealized in the flesh. sions has already been pointed out. The And so it should not only be con- hope of testing the translation of the ceded but urged that Joseph Smith may Book of Mormon by this particular inhave made mistakes. (Whether mis* quiry has led Dr. Spalding far afield. takes were made in the translation of It would be a very grep. t source of the Egyptian characters as reproduced pleasure to the Latter day Saints if in the Pearl of Great Price is not un- the world would appoint a committee der discussion here.) Any other atti- consisting of wisa and honest men tude would argue for his infallibility, a whose duty would be prayerfully and condition which the present writer does impartially to investigate the claims not accept, either for Joseph Smith or of "Mormonism." The committee for the prophets of old. If the works of could pass on each claim independent- ly, until the list was exhausted. Then Joseph Smith were being investigated with fairness equal to that employed summaries could be made and the verby the examiner in the college, or the dict rendered. The Latter-day Sainfs, jury in the court, he would not be I am convinced, would be more than adjudged a failure or convicted because willing to submit their religion to a single error might have been found. such a test. They would not, how- — "JOSEPH SMITH, JR., AS A TRANSLATOR" 341 ever, be willing to have It. declared the author stated that if it could be wholly wrong because of a very small shown that Napoleon had made a misnumber of errors. (Exists there a take in one battle all other claims rereligious body who would?) No just lating to his generalship would thereand impartial judge would require it by be destroyed. To the pamphlet of them. They themselv-js do not were appended the statements of a look upon it as being faultless. It has number of competent officers to the cr me from God through human hands. effect that Napoleon had made a mis- They claim that it came as a revela- take at Waterloo. The author then tion of God to man, and that here called upon all men to repudiate Naand there within it there are probably poleon not only at "Waterloo but elsethe finger prints of mortality. If man, where, and Anally branded all who the medium through which it came, would not do so as ignorant and dishad been perfect, the religion would honest. have been perfect. The Latter-day Reader, what would be the nature Saints do claim, however, that "Mor- of the reception of this pamphlet? monism" is the most nearly perfect' Would the reasoning of its author religion upon the face of the earth, convince mankind that Napoleon was far from excepting that espoused by not a general in any sense of the term the writer of the pamphlet under ques- and should be repudiated, or would the tion. author of the pamphlet be regarded The reader is now asked to imagine with some degree of pity and quickly the publication of a pamphlet bearing forgotten? the title "Napoleon Bonaparte, as a (Note: The present writer is by no General; an Inquiry." The first pages means convinced that Joseph Smith told of the sincerity of the general and incorrectly translated the Book of the devotion of his followers. It also Abraham. An article dealing with spoke of their fairness and integrity. this phase of the subject will follow And near the close of the argument later.) Scholars Disagree. BY JUNIUS F. WELLS [On December 19 the following a ppeared in the Deseret News, which the author has permitted the Era to reprin t. The Editors.] Editor Deseret News: tigators in the field of archaeological — Dear Sir I read with deep interest research, and who took a keen the editorial review in Tuesday's paper interest in matter, the I had the of Bishop Spalding's treatise upon the Pearl of Great Price, containing cuts of the original drawings of the these cuts and Joseph Smith, the Book of Abraham and was particularly Prophet's interpretation of t hem pleased with your wise and clever com- sent first to Sir Flinders Petrie, who, ments upon the discrepancies and dif- however, being away from London, ferences of the world's eminent savants could not then be reached, and secondin their respective interpretations of ly to Dr. Henry Woodward, F.R.S., the Egyptian hieroglyphics and hypo- who, after examining it himself, passed cephali that have been so variously it on to the very celebrated Dr. E. A. and learnedly deciphered by them. W. Budge, head of the Department of It reminded me of an inquiry I had Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities of the opportunity of instituting while in the British Museum for many years; London in 1903. Through the favor of the author of a voluminous History of Hon. James W. Barclay, M.P., a publi- Egypt; of the Dictionary of the Book cist of considerable note and friend of the Dead, and of numerous works of many of England's foremost inves- upon the language, religion, poetry and