Joseph Smith vs. James Arlington Bennet

While doing my Master's program I came across a letter published in the Times and Season's that I felt captured the essence of Joseph Smith's personality so well that I decided I needed to include it as a link on my blog. I have read many people's descriptions of him, including critics, skeptics, and undying friends and supporters. Nothing, in my mind compares to a candid letter straight from the mouth of Joseph Smith to someone who has been trying to use and abuse him.

A little background info on James Arlington Bennet. He was baptized a member of the Church in 1843 (though his baptism by Brigham Young seems to have been purely for political reasons as noted by his mention about a "frolic in the ocean" with B. Young). The Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History says, "When Joseph asked him to be his vice presidential running mate, Bennet declined. After the martyrdom of the Prophet in 1844, he left the Church. A year later, however, he visited Nauvoo and declared his intentions to go west with the Saints. He aspired to be leader of the Nauvoo Legion, but when Brigham Young turned him down, Bennet disassociated himself from the Saints and spent the rest of his life in the eastern United States."

Lyndon W. Cook writes, "An apparent unscrupulous opportunist, Bennet had fantasies which included fame as an author, governor of Illinois, general of the Nauvoo Legion, and successor to Joseph Smith."

Check out the letter by clicking on the following link:

http://www.pukrufus.com/downloads/JABennetLetter.pdf

ENJOY!