Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet, left behind an important history of the life of Joseph Smith. In her history she describes young Joseph giving the Smith family “amusing recitals” on the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. Some have used this to portray Joseph as having a wild, vivid imagination that lent itself to the composition of the Book of Mormon. A closer look at Lucy’s history, however, undermines this line of argumentation. Read in context, her history strengthens faith in her son’s claims.

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