Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith
En Vino Veritas
(In wine there is truth)
Nearly all Mormons know about the “noble’ young Joseph Smith who suffer a leg ailment at the age of eight, the result of typhus fever. The doctors had decided to amputate the leg but his mother pleaded that one more attempt be made to save it. Joseph declined to be bound to the bed. When offered brandy to numb the pain he declined it as well as the wine that was offered.
Lucy Mack Smith, his mother, thus tenderly recorded the courage of her third son, in a time of childhood crisis in New England. Upon reading the stoic incident a century later, a prominent biographer made this caustic observation: “It is a pity for his reputation among the straight-laced of the community with whom he was compelled to associate, that as a young man the Prophet did not continue to practice the abstinence from liquor with which he is so heroically credited as a boy of eight, for, if we can believe the testimony of his neighbors, the Prophet was frequently seen about Palmyra drunk.” (1)
It’s not like Joseph was raised in such a sterile environment. It is historically evident that drinking and drunkenness was a problem going back at least three generations on both sides of his family. While denying in script and diary, they practiced drinking openly and were observed many, many times in a drunken state.
It is obvious that Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith inherited a taste for sparkling vintage and certainly influenced Joseph Jr.’s formation of habit and his character. His maternal grandfather, Solomon Mack was a soldier, teamster, sutler, and privateersman, Solomon was also a sailor. He often lamented the drunken state he found himself in.
Joseph Jr.’s father too came from a long line of drinking men. Even though he worked for a time in New England as a school teacher, Dr.’s McIntyre and Williams of Palmyra left unflattering comments on Joseph, Sr.’s habits as did neighbors Martin Harris, and the Safford brothers, and others.
The elder Joseph was a descendant of John Baker, a freeman of Ipswitch, England, who in 1664 was listed as an innkeeper licensed to sell beer, wine, and other spirits. He was also the nephew of a certain Eunice Duty of whom it was said that she was sufficiently doughty that she could “take up a barrel of cider and drink out of the bung.”
A certain I. Sherman reported that “the father of the prophet Jo Smith was called the patriarch. He used to consecrate a barrel of whiskey and then say, ‘Drink of it and no harm will be yours.’” (41)
Barton Stafford testified: “Joseph Smith Sr. was a noted drunkard and most of the family followed his example and Joseph Jr. especially, who was very much addicted to intemperance….Even since he professed to be inspired of the Lord to translate the Book of Mormon, he one day, while at work in my father’s field, got quite drunk on a composition of cider, molasses and water. Finding his legs to refuse their office he leaned upon the fence and hung for sometime; at length recovering again, he fell in scuffling with one of the workmen, who tore his shirt nearly off from him. His wife who was at our house on a visit, appeared very much grieved at his conduct, and to protect his back from the rays of the sun, and conceal his nakedness, threw her shawl over his shoulders and in that plight escorted the Prophet home. As an evidence of his piety and devotion, when intoxicated, he frequently made his religion the topic of conversation.” (46)
Many years later another family member, C.R. Stafford added this bit: “I saw old Jo Smith, his wife and Mrs. Rockwell baptized by prophet Jo Smith. I have seen Jo in drunken fights; father and son were frequently drunk.” (46)
Danford Booth and others of Palmyra presented statements to the effect. “I knew Joe Smith personally to some extent, I saw him frequently, knew well his reputation, he was a lazy drinking fellow, and loose in his habits in every way.” (49)
Too often the affidavits collected by the detractors of Joseph Smith are approached with either relish or hostility. One who looked quite soberly at the depositions was Professor Turner. He accepted them as genuine, denying a confederacy of interest on the part of the deponents. Said he: “The citizens of Palmyra and Manchester, where the Smiths formerly resided, then for the first time felt it to be their duty to make some effort to expose his real character, that the world might see it as it is. A large number of the most respectable citizens, who had known Smith from a boy, appeared before the proper tribunals, and gave testimony, upon solemn oath, before God, of what they themselves personally knew of Smith and his family, touching their previous character and conduct…. Lawyers, physicians, clergymen, civil magistrates, farmers, mechanics, Episcopalians, Quakers, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, elders, deacons, etc. etc., all are represented upon the list of names.” (48)
Thus one can see the influence that Joseph’s parents and grandparents had on him and his lifestyle. Though he preached temperance and demanded it, based on a “revelation,” to be practiced by his followers, he never lived it nor did his parents. Each of them owning bars and taverns to provide for themselves and others the liquid of intemperance.
From the minutes of the First Presidency, High Council, and Bishop’s court we find the following recorded on July 26, 1838 in Far West:
“Sixth (item of business) That we use our influence to put a stop to the selling of liquors in the city of Far West, or in our midst, that our streets may not be filled with drunkenness; and that we use our influence to bring down the price of provisions.”
See the following photos as to who owned a tavern in Far West.
Footnotes
**For additional documentation on this
subject, read, Hearts Made Glad, by LaMar Peterson.