Jason Bourne wrote:Today I found another bit of historical distortion. This is not in the official Church History. It has to do with the succession of BY and the 12. I am sure most of you know the story of August 8, 1844 when Rigdon and Young both spoke to a large gathering of saints regarding succession issues. Rigdon made his play there but was very well defeated by Brother Brigham. While the 12 did not take immediate control of the Church that day it was the beginning of that happening and certainly the beginning of the end for Rigdon.
Later accounts of that day talk about the transfiguration of Brigham into Joseph. Some claim that when Brigham spoke it was the voice of Joseph Smith and even some thought BY looked like Joseph Smith. This has been accounted as a miracle that confirmed to many that Brigham was indeed the successor to the Prophet.
Interestingly Van Wagner notes that there were no contemporary accounts of this transfiguration and they were all recorded later, in Utah, by Utah saints. But the doozer for me is that some two of the most express accounts were given by Orson Hyde. The big problem is this. Orson was out of town on August 8, 1844. He did not arrive in Nauvoo until August 13,1844. But he testified to having witnessed this event, that he heard Joseph's voice come from Brigham and even saw Joseph's face.
Now, interpolations to the historical record are one thing, and not too good of a thing in my opinion. But Orson, well he flat out fabricated and lied about this event as far as his personal experience with it goes.
You know, this is pretty sad for me. Growing up in the Church I always thought the story of Brigham sounding like Joseph was pretty cool. Now, I can add this to the growing pile of things that just may not be the way I was taught it was.
If I was to put on my apologist thinking cap, I think a good explanation is Orson Hyde saw the transfiguration through revelation. There isn't any official church approved document that says he didn't see it through revelation, so it could be possible. Even if his statements make it sound as if he were there, he was mistaken. It's okay, it happens, everyone makes mistakes. Since we know that Orson Hyde saw the transfiguration, and we know that he was not in Nauvoo when the transfiguration took place, the only possible explanation is Orson Hyde saw the transfiguration through the power of god, through revelation, far away from the actual event. Rather than damage your testimony, this miraculous event should strengthen it, because it makes the miracle of the transfiguration even more miraculous.
Lucky for me I don't have to come up with excuses like this with a straight face, but I must admit, it's kinda fun and surprisingly easy.