As in a counterfeiting pretender churning out bogus bills of illegal tender?

--Joseph Smith the Counterfeiter: Some Say You Can Bank On It. Others Insist that Oliver Cowdery was the Conniving Mind Behind the Fake Money

Under the headline, "Oliver Cowdery's Excommunication" (12 December2006), former RfM poster Jim Huston writes:

"In 1836, the Kirkland Safety Society Bank was formed. Orson Hyde was sent to the legislature to try to secure a charter and Oliver Cowdery was sent to secure printing plates for the bank. The charter was denied, so the bank reorganized as an anti-bank or quasi banking organization in 1837. Joseph Smith used boxes full of rocks with a layer of coins on top to show the bank assets in order to get people to deposit money. In reality most of the assets of the Mormon Church and the members was in land.

"At that time there was a great deal of land speculation in Ohio, Michigan and Missouri. This drove the land prices from around $7.00 per acre to around $44.00 per acre. Joseph Smith used the money that the bank did have to speculate further. By 1839 the price of land fell to the $17.00-$18.00 per acre. The bank and the Church had invested $60,000 in land and no longer had funds to cover its obligations. Oliver Cowdery was the vice-president of the anti-bank and signed most of the bank notes. Joseph Smith made himself cashier rather than an officer.

"At the same time, Joseph Smith started down the road to polygamy. Oliver did not support polygamy.

"Late in 1837, Joseph Smith wrote the following in the newspaper:

"'I am disposed to say a word relative to the bills of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank. I hereby warn them to beware of speculators, renegades and gamblers, who are duping the unsuspecting and the unwary, by palming upon them, those bills, which are of no worth, here. I discountenance and disapprove of any and all such practices. I know them to be detrimental to the best interests of society, as well as to the principles of religion.'

"Joseph Smith also gave the following testimony:

"'He [Smith] claimed that a non-member of the Church by the name of Sapham had told him in Kirkland that a warrant had been issued against Oliver "for being engaged in making a purchase of bogus money and dies to make the counterfeit money with."

"'According to the Prophet, he and Sidney Rigdon went to visit Oliver concerning the matter and told him that if he were guilty, he had better leave town; but if he was innocent, he should stand trial and thus be acquitted. "That night or next," the Prophet said, Oliver "left the country."'

("A History of the Latter-day Saints in Northern Missouri from 1836 to 1839," p. 146).


"Sidney Rigdon testified:

"'After Oliver Cowdery had been taken by a State warrant for stealing, and the stolen property found . . . in which nefarious transaction John Whitmer had also participated. Oliver Cowdery stole the property, conveyed it to John Whitmer . . . Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Lyman E. Johnson, united with a gang of counterfeiters, thieves, liars, and blacklegs of the deepest dye, to deceive, cheat, and defraud the saints out of their property. . . .

"'During the full career of Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer's bogus money business, it got abroad into the world that they were engaged in it. . . . We have evidence of a very strong character that you are at this very time engaged with a gang of counterfeiters, coiners, and blacklegs, . . . we will put you from the county of Caldwell: so help us God.'

(Sidney Rigdon, 1838 quotation published in: "US Senate Document 189")


"Oliver Cowdery purchased the [money-printing] plates and signed most of the notes from the Kirkland Anti-Bank when there was no acceptable collateral to back up the notes. This was considered to be counterfeiting. Joseph Smith directed him to sign notes, then accused him of counterfeiting when there was a break.

"In the excommunication hearing. Point 8 was his involvement in 'bogus business' as described in a common report. The common report was the newspaper article written by Joseph Smith, Jr. The testimony against Oliver Cowdrey on the subject was provided by Joseph Smith and circumstantial evidence.

"Another point in the excommunication was that Oliver had sold a piece of his own land without the approval of Joseph Smith.

"Apparently there was an additional problems between Joseph Smith and Oliver. In his reply to the Church concerning his excommunication, he complained about the theocratic rule that Joseph Smith had instituted. Oliver Cowdery responded to the excommunication in part by saying:

"'The very principle of which I conceive to be couched in an attempt to set up a kind of petty government, controlled and dictated by ecclesiastical influence, in the midst of this national and state government. You will, no doubt, say this is not correct; but the bare notice of these charges, over which you assume the right to decide, is, in my opinion, a direct attempt t--to the correctness of which I cannot in conscience subscribe--I believe the principle never did fail to produce anarchy and confusion.'

"'This attempt to control me in my temporal interests, I conceive to be a disposition to take from me a portion of my Constitutional privileges and inherent right--I only, respectfully, ask leave, therefore, to withdraw from a society, assuming they have such right.'

"Here is a summary of charges against Oliver Cowdery and his response to the Mormon Church.

http://lds-mormon.com/oliver.shtml . . .


"On January 12, 1838, faced with a warrant for his arrest on a charge of illegal banking, [both]Smith and Rigdon fled to Clay County, Missouri, just ahead of an armed group out to capture and hold him for trial."
_____


--Piling on Oliver Cowdery

As noted by authors Jerald and Sandra Tanner, co-Mo Cult creator Cowdery was viciously assailed by Smith's supporters (including Smith's brother Hyrum, Sidney Rigdon and several members of the Far West, Missouri, High Council), who accused him of lying, stealing and counterfeiting, as well as denounced him for leading a gang of "scoundrels of the deepest degree.” Ultimately Cowdery and other Church dissenters, together with their families, were driven from town under threat of death if they returned.

(see Jerald and Sandra Tanner, book review, “The Changing World of Mormonism: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Changes in Mormon Doctrine and Practice” [Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1980-81]; and Tanners, “Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?” [Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1987])
_____


--Evidence, Please: Were the Smiths Themselves Involved in Counterfeiting?

While Joseph Smith claimed that Oliver Cowdery was the guilty one involved in churning out bogus bills, it appears that this may be a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Or, at least, perhaps. a case for calling Joseph Smith, Sr. on the carpet for counterfeiting.

Here's a critical summary of the accusations in the regard, as made by former Mormon Kathleen Kimball Melonakos, in her newly-released book:

"Kathleen Kimball Melonakos' [book], 'Secret Combinations: Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting 1800-1847,' appears to be the source of such charges. . . . [I]t is mostly [to be] a credible work . . . [but] [s]he does spend way too much time using conjecture for my taste.

"The core claims against Smith. Sr. involves a case in Vermont. In that case a Joseph Smith in Vermont gets involved in a counterfeit ring. He eventually turned state's evidence and himself gets off scott free.

"Melonakos attempts to tie this to our [Mormon] Smith Sr., but the evidence is circumstantial at best. And many of the details don't match up. The counterfeiter is known as Joseph Smith of Bethel, a place that our Smith Sr. never lived.

"Likewise, the counterfeiter Smith was supposed to have seduced a woman in Mohawk River that he then ran away with to Canada, something Smith, Sr. never appears to have done. My conclusion was that the counterfeiter likely was a different Joe Smith. The name wasn't uncommon for the time or place.

"Still, the book is an interesting read. I do think it likely that Smith's money-digger friends included counterfeiters. Likewise it's a possibility that the Smiths were at least peripherally involved in counterfeiting in Vermont and New York. The author is reaching quite a bit to try and tie this counterfeiting to early pre-1830 Mormonism,"

{"Was Joseph Smith, Sr., a Counterfeiter?," by "Quickspore,"at "r/exMormon," https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/68xszl/was_joseph_smith_sr_a_counterfeiter/)
_____


--The Case or Pointing the Finger at both Joe, Jr., and Ollie Cowdery


A positive review of the book declares the following:

"Kathleen Kimball Melonakos [has] announced publication of a non-fiction work on the early history of the Mormon (LDS) Church, which presents evidence of counterfeiting money by Church founder Joseph Smith and other early Church leaders beginning with Joseph Smith Sr., father of the Mormon Church founder.

"The inner-circle secret counterfeiting affected the fate of the Smith brothers and the Mormon migration to Utah. . . .

"This is the first book documenting this aspect of Mormon history. It contains over 1,400 footnotes and 100 photos and illustrations.

"Book Synopsis: 'Using original documents and on-site research in Vermont, New York, Missouri, Michigan, Illinois and Utah, this book begins with figures in 18th- and 19th-century America who developed secret networks to promote counterfeiting and other illegal schemes and often used religion as a cover.

"'Kathleen states, "The historical record indicates how Joseph Smith, Sr., father of the Mormon Church founder, was involved in counterfeiting and how this involvement was passed on to Joseph Smith, Jr. and was practiced by Mormon leaders throughout the development and migration of the early Church."

"The pre-publication version has received enthusiastic reviews from such leading historians of Mormonism as Sandra Tanner, Will Bagley, Charles Larsen and Dr. James Beverly, Professor of Religion at Tyndale Seminary. The book is described as riveting, fast-moving and revealing on an 'explosive topic.'"

("New Expose on Mormon Church Claims Joseph Smith Ran a Counterfeiting Ring," 5 October 2016, "Charisma News," https://www.charismanews.com/us/60354-new-expose-on-mormon-church-claims-joseph-smith-ran-a-counterfeiting-ring)


As indicated above, the Tanner website gives the book credence:

"[It] chronicles the evidence that early Mormon leaders--starting with Joseph Smith Sr.--dealt in counterfeit money beginning in Vermont, and continuing throughout Joseph and Hyrax's careers.

":It places the Smith brothers in the early American context where counterfeiting networks and some of their CEO-like bosses posed as preachers.

"It is the only book of its kind that uncovers the problems counterfeiters caused in early America and what really happened before, during and after the Book of Mormon appeared on the scene.

"Both fact-based and fast moving, supported by more than 1400 footnotes and over 100 photos and illustrations. Based on nearly 10 years of research, conducted in Vermont, New York, Illinois, Missouri, and Utah."

("Secret Combinations: Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting 1800-1847," by Kathleen Kimball Melanakos [Lyrical Productions, *Note: The book may actually be self-published, according to Mormon Church member/apologist, Daniel Peterson, shttp://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2016/11/was-joseph-smith-a-criminal-counterfeiter.html]; reviewed at http://www.utlm.org/booklist/titles/secretcombinationsevidenceofearlymormoncounterfeiting_xb367.htm)


From the the publisher's website promoting the book:

"This is a groundbreaking work–the only book that investigates counterfeiting in the Joseph Smith family and early Mormon Church.

"This book chronicles and examines the evidence that the early Mormon leaders, including founder Joseph Smith and brother Hyrum, engaged in counterfeiting money, before, during, and after the publication of the Book of Mormon.

"The story of counterfeiting within secret, oath-bound networks begins with Smith’s parents in Vermont, and continues all the way to the Utah exodus.

"The historical context reveals that there were other lesser-known figures of the 19th century who counterfeited money while posing as Christian preachers.

"This book includes over 100 black-and white-illustrations and photos, and over 1400 footnotes.

"The reader can examine the evidence and make an informed decision about the history and origins of Mormonism. This book fills in many of the blanks left out by every other history of this major religion.

"Book excerpt from 'Introduction to Secret Combinations Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting 1800-1847':

"'Joseph Smith Jr. felt his heart begin to pound and cold, clammy sweat made the gun in his hand slippery. His usual fearlessness vanished as his life flashed before him and he began to shiver, though it was a warm summer day in Illinois. The thundering sound of horse hoofs in the distance grew steadily louder. Who was coming? Was it his own trained and loyal soldiers, the Nauvoo Legion, about to rescue him from this paltry jail? Or was it his hated enemies? If it were his enemies, what would they do? Shoot him and Hyrum in cold blood while cornered and defenseless?

"How did it ever come to this horrid pass? He had escaped disaster so many times before. How would he escape from this one? It was June 27, 1844--a fateful day in the lives of thousands of Americans. The events that took place at Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, stimulate debate even now, more than one hundred and seventy years later…

"'So. who was Joseph Smith?

"Was he the direct mouthpiece of the Almighty God of the Bible as he claimed, who endured unspeakable persecutions because he had brought forward the restored gospel of Christ in its pure form, after it had become corrupted?

"Had he, as he claimed, been given a divine commission to bring forth golden plates containing the ancient record of the Native Americans, who were descendants of the Hebrews of Jerusalem, thereby showing that the Old World was connected to the New World in a continuous thread of redemptive history?

"Was it God himself speaking when Smith proclaimed, 'Thus saith the Lord,' and then revealed such fascinating mysteries as the three levels of heaven in the afterlife, or even more compelling to his believers, the part each of them would play in the 'Kingdom of God' on earth that he was building? If he were not these things, then how had so many come to believe that he was? . . .

" . . . [D]raw your own conclusions about this extraordinary leader who started an important American movement."

("Mormon Counterfeiting," http://mormoncounterfeiting.com/)

**********


There you have it: Were Joseph Smith, Jr.--along with dear ol' dad Joseph Smith, Sr.--criminally-conspiring, perfidious partners in producing bogus dough for deity?

Inquiring counterfeiters want to know.

In that vein, the following promotional is brought to you by this year's Ex-Mormon Foundation conference organizers:

"If you want to hear information about the counterfeiting that Joseph and many others in the group were involved in, come to the Exmo Conference and listen to Kathleen Melonakos on Saturday afternoon. 99.9% of Mormons know nothing about this chapter of the history."

("Re: Proof that Joe Smith was a Knowing, Impious Fraud: His Kirkland Bank Scam," posted by "sue," on "RfM" discussion board,
16 October 2017, http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,2032215,2032476#msg-2032476)



Edited 9 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/2017 10:26PM by steve benson.