Our experiences, good or bad, play a role in our formation. What we learn, how we react to outside influences or adverse circumstances, not only demonstrate our character but contribute to our continued development.
An investigation of Joseph Smith must necessarily include at least a basic understanding of his life experiences as a child. And as we consider not only him, but his family, we get a clearer picture of the influences that shaped him.
Surgery on Joseph’s leg
Joseph Smith Jr. was born on December 23, 1805, while his family lived in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont.1 In 1811, the family moved to Lebanon, New Hampshire.2 While there, all the children contracted “typhus fever.”3 Lucy doesn’t mention Joseph’s experience with the fever, but states that shortly after he recovered, he experienced a severe pain in his shoulder, which moved into his leg.4
Although Lucy referred to the illness as “typhus,” modern physicians believe it was typhoid fever.5 A significant difference is that according to modern medical literature, typhoid can “spread to the bone,” which is what happened to Joseph Smith.
The story of the surgery on Joseph’s leg is fairly famous among members of the church. Lucy’s account shows Joseph’s pain, his resilience, and the love of his family. I love hearing the story in Lucy’s words:
“His leg soon began to swell and he continued to suffer the greatest agony for the space of two weeks longer. During this period I carried him much of the time in my arms in order to mitigate his suffering as much as possible; in consequence of which I was taken very ill myself. The anxiety of mind that I experienced, together with physical over-exertion, was too much for my constitution and my nature sank under it.
“Hyrum, who was rather remarkable for his tenderness and sympathy, now desired that he might take my place. As he was a good, trusty boy, we let him do so, and, in order to make the task as easy for him as possible, we laid Joseph upon a low bed and Hyrum sat beside him, almost day and night for some considerable length of time, holding the affected part of his leg in his hands and pressing it between them, so that his afflicted brother might be enabled to endure the pain which was so excruciating that he was scarcely able to bear it.
“At the end of three weeks, we thought it advisable to send again for the surgeon. When he came he made an incision of eight inches, on the front side of the leg, between the knee and ankle. This relieved the pain in a great measure, and the patient was quite comfortable until the wound began to heal, when the pain became as violent as ever.
“The surgeon was called again, and he this time enlarged the wound, cutting the leg even to the bone. It commenced healing the second time, and as soon as it began to heal it also began to swell again, which swelling continued to rise till we deemed it wisdom to call a council of surgeons; and when they met in consultation they decided that amputation was the only remedy.
“Soon after coming to this conclusion, they rode up to the door and were invited into a room apart from the one in which Joseph lay. They being seated, I addressed them thus: ‘Gentlemen, what can you do to save my boy’s leg?’ They answered, ‘We can do nothing; we have cut it open to the bone and find it so affected that we consider his leg incurable and that amputation is absolutely necessary in order to save his life.’
“This was like a thunderbolt to me. I appealed to the principal surgeon, saying, ‘Dr. Stone, can you not make another trial? Can you not, by cutting around the bone, take out the diseased part, and perhaps that which is sound will heal over, and by this means you will save his leg? You will not, you must not, take off his leg, until you try once more. I will not consent to let you enter his room until you make me this promise.’
“After consulting a short time with each other, they agreed to do as I had requested, then went to see my suffering son. One of the doctors, on approaching his bed, said, ‘My poor boy, we have come again.’ ‘Yes,’ said Joseph, ‘I see you have; but you have not come to take off my leg, have you, sir?’ ‘No,’ replied the surgeon, ‘it is your mother’s request that we make one more effort, and that is what we have now come for.’
“The principal surgeon, after a moment’s conversation, ordered cords to be brought to bind Joseph fast to a bed-stead; but to this Joseph objected. The doctor, however, insisted that he must be confined, upon which Joseph said very decidedly, ‘No, doctor, I will not be bound, for I can bear the operation much better if I have my liberty.’ ‘Then,’ said Dr. Stone, ‘will you drink some brandy?’
“‘No,’ said Joseph, ‘not one drop.’
‘Will you take some wine?’ rejoined the doctor. ‘You must take something, or you can never endure the severe operation to which you must be subjected.’
“‘No,’ exclaimed Joseph, ‘I will not touch one particle of liquor, neither will I be tied down; but I will tell you what I will do—I will have my father sit on the bed and hold me in his arms, and then I will do whatever is necessary in order to have the bone taken out.’ Looking at me, he said, ‘Mother, I want you to leave the room, for I know you cannot bear to see me suffer so; father can stand it, but you have carried me so much, and watched over me so long, you are almost worn out.’ Then looking up into my face, his eyes swimming in tears, he continued. ‘Now, mother, promise me that you will not stay, will you? The Lord will help me, and I shall get through with it.’
“To this request I consented, and getting a number of folded sheets, and laying them under his leg, I retired, going several hundred yards from the house in order to be out of hearing. The surgeons commenced operating by boring into the bone of his leg, first on one side of the bone where it was affected, then on the other side, after which they broke it off with a pair of forceps or pincers. They thus took away large pieces of the bone. When they broke off the first piece, Joseph screamed out so loudly, that I could not forbear running to him. On my entering the room, he cried out, ‘Oh, mother, go back, go back; I do not want you to come in—I will try to tough it out, if you will go away.’
“When the third piece was taken away, I burst into the room again—and oh, my God! what a spectacle for a mother’s eye! The wound torn open, the blood still gushing from it, and the bed literally covered with blood. Joseph was pale as a corpse, and large drops of sweat were rolling down his face, whilst upon every feature was depicted the utmost agony! I was immediately forced from the room, and detained until the operation was completed; but when the act was accomplished, Joseph put upon a clean bed, the room cleared of every appearance of blood, and the instruments which were used in the operation removed, I was permitted again to enter.
“Joseph immediately commenced getting better, and from this onward, continued to mend until he became strong and healthy. When he had so far recovered as to be able to travel, he went with his uncle, Jesse Smith, to Salem, for the benefit of his health, hoping the sea-breezes would be of service to him, and in this he was not disappointed.
“Having passed through about a year of sickness and distress, health again returned to our family, and we most assuredly realized the blessing; and indeed, we felt to acknowledge the hand of God, more in preserving our lives through such a tremendous scene of affliction, than if we had, during this time, seen nothing but health and prosperity.”6
Modern opinions about the leg surgery
The miracle of modern medicine has allowed scholars, historians, and medical professionals to re-evaluate Joseph’s illness and his leg surgery. A brief article on this topic can be found on the Church History Topics website.7 The doctor who performed the surgery, Nathan Smith, was ahead of his time, and was “possibly the only surgeon in the United States in 1813 capable of saving Joseph’s leg.”8 Even though his leg was saved, the experience had a lasting effect on Joseph: “Dr. Smith removed nine large pieces of infected bone, and fourteen other fragments worked their way out of Joseph’s leg before it finished healing. Recovery took years. When his family moved to New York four years later, Joseph still used crutches, and he carried a slight limp into adulthood.”9
The Smith family travels to New York
In approximately 1816, the Smith family was living in Vermont.10 For two consecutive years, their crops failed. We now know that it was due to the eruption of the volcano Tambora in Indonesia.11 The impact of the massive eruption was felt world-wide, including Vermont, resulting in the year without a summer, and the statement by Lucy that “an untimely frost destroyed the crops.”12 After several years of failed crops, the family decided to move, and Joseph Sr. started out for Palmyra first, with Lucy and the family staying behind to complete preparations and bring the family. When Lucy finally left with the children, they were aided in their journey by a “teamster,” and Lucy describes his poor treatment of Joseph:
“Having traveled a short distance, I discovered that Mr. Howard, our teamster, was an unprincipled and unfeeling wretch, by the way in which he handled both our goods and money, as well as by his treatment of my children, especially Joseph. He would compel him to travel miles at a time on foot, notwithstanding he was still lame. We bore patiently with his abuse, until we got about twenty miles west of Utica, when one morning, as we were getting ready to continue our journey, my oldest son came to me and said, ‘Mother, Mr. Howard has thrown the goods out of the wagon, and is about starting off with the team.’ Upon hearing this, I told him to call the man in. I met him in the bar-room, in the presence of a large company of travelers, both male and female, and I demanded his reason for the course which he was taking. He told me the money which I had given him was all expended, and he could go no further.
“I then turned to those present and said, ‘Gentlemen and ladies, please give your attention for a moment. Now, as sure as there is a God in heaven, that team, as well as the goods, belong to my husband, and this man intends to take them from me, or at least the team, leaving me with eight children, without the means of proceeding on my journey.’ Then turning to Mr. Howard, I said, ‘Sir, I now forbid you touching the team, or driving it one step further. You can go about your own business; I have no use for you. I shall take charge of the team myself, and hereafter attend to my own affairs.’ I accordingly did so, and proceeding on our journey, we in a short time arrived at Palmyra, with a small portion of our affects, and barely two cents in cash.”13
So What?
Why are these stories relevant? As we consider Joseph Smith and his claim of being called of God as a prophet, how does his childhood and his family have a bearing on the truthfulness of his message? I love these stories, because they show us much about the personality and influence of his mother.
Yes, we see Joseph’s personal strength during the leg surgery. But hearing Lucy’s words show us her love and devotion to not only him, but to her family. I love the image of Lucy standing up to a rough teamster to protect her family. Her story is one of strength, conviction, and faith. A simple article discussing her life, with additional references, is on the Church history website under the topic “Lucy Mack Smith.” As I’ve mentioned, I love her book, and I plan on writing a lot more about her perspective in regard to Joseph’s call as a prophet. I see her strength, tenacity, and her religious convictions, and I imagine that she passed on those traits to her children.
When Joseph claimed he had been called by God as a prophet, Lucy believed. Her belief is a significant factor for me in weighing the evidence of Joseph’s testimony. She would not have been intimidated. She would not have followed blindly. What Lucy did, she did on purpose and with vigor. Her support of Joseph is a significant factor in my evaluation of the evidence.
References
- Lucy Mack Smith, The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, ebook published by Zions Camp Books, chapter 13.
- Smith, The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, chapter 13.
- Smith, The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, chapter 14.
- Smith, The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, chapter 15.
- Nathan R. Welch, “Joseph Smith’s Childhood Illness,” Religious Educator 10, no. 3 (2009): 131–136, https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-10-no-3-2009/joseph-smiths-childhood-illness.
- Smith, The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, chapter 14.
- “Joseph Smith’s Leg Surgery,” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/joseph-smiths-leg-surgery?lang=eng.
- “Joseph Smith’s Leg Surgery,” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/joseph-smiths-leg-surgery?lang=eng.
- “Joseph Smith’s Leg Surgery,” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/joseph-smiths-leg-surgery?lang=eng.
- Smith, The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, chapter 16.
- Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, Volume 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846, pages 3-4, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1/01-ask-in-faith?lang=eng.
- Smith, The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, chapter 16.
- Smith, The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, chapter 16.