In the last post I discussed Oliver Cowdery's Letter II. Here's we'll discuss Letter VIII.
As a reminder, during Joseph Smith lifetime Church members were familiar with Oliver's eight letters because they were published and republished in the Church official newspapers, including the Messenger and Advocate (Kirtland), the Millennial Star (England), the Gospel Reflector (Pennsylvania), the Times and Seasons (Nauvoo) and The Prophet (New York City).
They were also copied into Joseph Smith's own journal, where you can read Letter VIII here:
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/93
Oliver wrote Letter VIII in his capacity as Assistant President of the Church. It was first published in the 1835 Messenger and Advocate.
The first part of Letter VIII discusses Cumorah. I posted that on the LetterVII blog, here:
https://www.lettervii.com/2025/08/olivers-description-of-stone-box.html
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The second part of Letter VIII discusses Joseph's character. Here is an outline of that part.
- Divine
Instruction and Vision
- Angel’s
explanation: plates contain the fullness of the gospel, to be translated
by God’s power.
- Vision
of good and evil forces, teaching Joseph to discern between God’s spirit
and Satan’s influence.
- Prophecy:
the gospel will spread globally, face opposition, but grow stronger,
leading to the restoration of Israel.
- Defense
of Joseph Smith’s Character
- Refutation
of slanderous claims of laziness and immorality, supported by testimonies
of honest associates.
- Defense
of the Smith family’s integrity, emphasizing their industriousness and
virtue despite poverty.
- Mention
of Joseph’s brief legal trouble, resulting in acquittal due to lack of
evidence.
- Joseph’s
Early Life and Employment
- Employment
by Josiah Stowell in Chenango County for treasure-hunting based on a
Spanish legend.
- Acquaintance
with the Hale family, marriage to Emma Hale, and defense of her character
against slander.
- God’s
Wisdom in Preparing Joseph
- Explanation
of why Joseph’s initial failure was divinely orchestrated to teach him
discernment.
- Importance
of experience to prepare Joseph for the trials of translating the Book of
Mormon.
- Conclusion
- Gratitude
for the fulfillment of God’s promises through the gospel.
- Commitment
to continue the narrative in future letters, closing with brotherly
affection in faith.
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Here is the text of the second part of Letter VIII.
From this time to September, 1827, few occurrences worthy of note transpired. As a fact to be expected, nothing of importance could be recorded concerning a generation in darkness.— In the mean time our brother of whom I have been speaking [Joseph Smith, Jr.], passed the time as others, in laboring for his support. But in consequence of certain false and slanderous reports which have been circulated, justice would require me to say something upon the private life of one whose character has been so shamefully traduced.
By some he is said to have been a lazy, idle, vicious, profligate fellow. These I am prepared to contradict, and that too by the testimony of many persons with whom I have been intimately acquainted, and know to be individuals of the strictest veracity, and unquestionable integrity. All these strictly and virtually agree in saying, that he was an honest, upright, virtuous, and faithfully industrious young man. And those who say to the contrary can be influenced by no other motive than to destroy the reputation of one who never injured any man in either property or person
While young, I have been informed he was afflicted with sickness; but I have been told by those [p. 99] for whom he has labored, that he was a young man of truth and industrious habits. And I will add further that it is my conviction, if he never had been called to the exalted station in which he now occupies, he might have passed down the stream of time with ease and in respectability, without the foul and hellish tongue of slander ever being employed against him.
It is no more than to be expected, I admit, that men of corrupt hearts will try to traduce his character and put a spot upon his name; indeed, this is according to the word of the angel; but this does not prohibit me from speaking freely of his merits, and contradicting those falsehoods—I feel myself bound so to do, and I know that my testimony, on this matter, will be received and believed while those who testify to the contrary are crumbled to dust, and their words swept away in the general mass of lies when God shall purify the earth!
Connected with this, is the character of the family: and on this I say as I said concerning the character of our brother—I feel myself bound to defend the innocent always when opportunity offers. Had not those who are notorious for lies and dishonesty, also assailed the character of the family I should pass over them here in silence; but now I shall not forbear.
It has been industriously circulated that they were dishonest, deceitful and vile. On this I have the testimony of responsible persons, who have said and will say, that this [is] basely false; and besides, a personal acquaintance for seven years, has demonstrated that all the difficulty is, they were once poor, (yet industrious,) and have now, by the help of God, arisen to note, and their names are like to, (indeed they will,) be handed down to posterity, and had among the righteous.—
They are industrious, honest, virtuous and liberal to all. This is their character; and though many take advantage of their liberality, God will reward them; but this is the [p. 100] fact, and this testimony shall shine upon the records of the saints, and be <recorded on the archives of heaven to be> read in the day of eternity, when the wicked and perverse, who have vilely slandered them without cause or provocation, reap their reward with the unjust, where there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth!— if they do not repent.
Soon after this visit to Cumorah, a gentleman from the south part of the State, (Chenango County,) employed our brother as a common laborer, and accordingly he visited that section of <the> country; and had he not been accused of digging down all, or nearly so the mountains of Susquehanna, or causing others to do it by some art of necromancy, I should leave this, for the present, unnoticed.
You will remember, in the mean time, that those who seek to vilify his character, say that he has always been notorious for his idleness. This gentleman, whose name is [Josiah Stowell], resided in the town of Bainbridge, on or near the head waters of the Susquehannah river. Some forty miles south, or down the river, in the town of Harmony, Susquehannah county, Pa. is said to be a cave or subteraneous recess, whether entirely formed by art or not I am uninformed, neither does this matter; but such is said to be the case,— where a company of Spaniards, a long time since, when the country was uninhabited by white settlers, excavated from the bowels of the earth ore, and coined a large quantity of money; after which they secured the cavity and evacuated, leaving a part still in the cave, purposing to return at some distant period.
A long time elapsed and this account came from one of the individuals who was first engaged in this <mining> business. The country was pointed out and the spot minutely described. This I believe, is the substance, so far as my memory serves, though I shall not pledge my veracity for the correctness of the account as I have given.—
Enough however, was credited of the Spaniards story, to excite the belief of many that there was a fine sum of the precious metal lying coined in this subteraneous vault, among whom was [p. 101] our employer; and accordingly our brother was required to spend a few months with some others in excavating the earth, in pursuit of this treasure.
While employed here he became acquainted with the family of Isaac Hale, of whom you read in several of the productions of those who have sought to destroy the validity of the book of Mormon.
It may be necessary hereafter, to refer you more particularly to the conduct of this family, as their influence has been considerably exerted to destroy the reputation of our brother, probably because he married a daughter of the same, contrary to some of their wishes, and in connection with this, to certain statements of some others of the inhabitants of that section of country.
But in saying this I do not wish to be understood as uttering aught against Mrs. Smith, (formerly Emma Hale.) She has most certainly evinced a decidedly correct mind and uncommon ability of talent and judgment, in a manifest willingness to fulfill, on her part, that passage in sacred writ,—“and they twain shall be one flesh”,—by accompanying her husband, against the wishes and advise of her relatives, to a land of strangers: and however I may deprecate their actions, can say in justice, her character stands as fair for morality, piety and virtue, as any in the world.
Though you may say, this is a digression from the subject proposed, I trust I shall be indulged, for the purpose of satisfaction satisfying many, who have heard so many slanderous reports that they are <led to believe them true because they are> not contradicted; and besides, this generation are determined to oppose every item in the form or under the pretense of revelation, unless it comes through a man who has always been more pure than Michael the great prince; and as this is the fact, and my opposers have put me to the necessity, I shall be more prolix, and have no doubt, before I give up the point, shall prove to your satisfaction, and to that of every man, that the translator of the book of Mormon is worthy the appellation of a seer and [p. 102] a prophet of the Lord.
In this I do not pretend that he is not a man subject to passions like other men, beset with infirmities and encompassed with weaknesses; but if he is, all men were so before him, and a pretense to the contrary would argue a more than mortal, which would at once destroy the whole system of the religion of the Lord Jesus; for he anciently chose the weak things to overcome the strong, the foolish to confound the wise, (I mean considered so by this world,) and by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.143
On the private character of our brother I need add nothing further, at present, previous to his obtaining the records of the Nephites, only that while in that country, some very officious persons complained of him as a disorderly person, and brought him before the authorities of the country county; but there being no cause of action he was honorably acquited. From this time forward he continued to receive instructions concerning the coming forth of the fulness of the gospel, from the mouth of the heavenly messenger, until he was directed to visit again the place where the records was deposited.
For the present I close, with a thankful heart that I am permitted to see thousands rejoicing in the assurance of the promises of the Lord, confirmed unto them through the obediance of the everlasting covenant.