Appendix 2, Document 3. Stick of Joseph, 1844

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Appendix 2, Document 3. Stick of Joseph, 1844
Source Note

The Stick of Joseph, Taken from the Hand of Ephraim, broadside, [
New York City
Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...
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, NY: Prophet, 1844], one page. The copy used for transcription is held at CHL; includes file notes.

File notes on verso in ink in unidentified handwriting: “
Mrs. Hyrum Smith
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”; “Vault | Nq | M222 | 5854 | 184-?”; “1844 | Placard | Stick of Joseph”; “Book of Mormon | Characters”; and in handwriting of
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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: “This was formerly owned by
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by...
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sent to the Historian office March 22, 1860, by his son Joseph <F.> Smith”.
1
The broadside could not have been owned by Hyrum Smith, since it was published after his death.

Printed sheet measuring 14⅝ × 11⅞ inches (37 × 30 cm). Gold leaf printing on paper coated in black. Border around the text block measures 10⅞ × 8⅞ inches (28 × 23 cm), composed of various designs. Text set in various typefaces and sizes. Includes three sets of characters enclosed in separate borders. This copy of the broadside has multiple folds.
Footnotes
[1]
The broadside could not have been owned by Hyrum Smith, since it was published after his death.
Historical Introduction
This broadside is the first known published copy of characters reported to have been taken from the
gold plates
A record engraved on gold plates, which JS translated and published as the Book of Mormon. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an American prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni. The plates were...
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. The Prophet, a church-affiliated newspaper in
New York
Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...
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, printed it to help cover its publication costs and to memorialize “the wisdom that inspired our martyred Prophet.” In December 1844, it advertised, “We have published a very neat specimen of the original characters or hieroglyphics that were copied from the plates which the Book of Mormon was
translated
To produce a text from one written in another language; in JS’s usage, most often through divine means. JS considered the ability to translate to be a gift of the spirit, like the gift of interpreting tongues. He recounted that he translated “reformed Egyptian...
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from.”
1
“The Words That Were Delivered to the Learned, Isaiah 23;11,” Prophet, 14 Dec. 1844, [3]; see also “The Stick of Joseph Taken from the Hand of Ephraim,” Prophet, 21 Dec. 1844, [2].
Comprehensive Works Cited
The Prophet. New York City, NY. May 1844–Dec. 1845.
Although the three lines of characters reproduced here closely resemble the characters in
John Whitmer
27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...
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’s copy, his document could not have served as the source for this 1844 publication. Following his 1838 excommunication, Whitmer left the church and took his papers, including his copy of the characters, with him.

See also Appendix 2: Copies of Book of Mormon Characters, Introduction.
Footnotes
[1]
“The Words That Were Delivered to the Learned, Isaiah 23;11,” Prophet, 14 Dec. 1844, [3]; see also “The Stick of Joseph Taken from the Hand of Ephraim,” Prophet, 21 Dec. 1844, [2].
The Prophet. New York City, NY. May 1844–Dec. 1845.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Appendix 2, Document 1. Characters Copied by John Whitmer, circa 1829–1831 *Appendix 2, Document 2a. Characters Copied by Oliver Cowdery, circa 1835–1836 Appendix 2, Document 2b. Writings and Characters Copied by Frederick G. Williams, circa Early to Mid-1830s *Appendix 2, Document 3. Stick of Joseph, 1844
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Appendix 2, Document 3. Stick of Joseph, 1844
ID #
7595
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:365–367
Handwriting on This Page