Episode 85 – Joseph Smith is a Mormon

In honor of pioneer day and related Mormon history, Bobby and Jordan devote this episode to a discussion of the recently discovered daguerreotype photograph that has surfaced purporting to be a likeness of Joseph Smith. The discussion culminates in interesting commentary on counterfeits and the dog days of summer.

Some people like to listen to us faster… (We sound smarter.):
Change playback speed real time: 1x – 1.25x – 1.5x – 1.75x – 2x

Referenced in this Podcast

Mormon founder Joseph Smith’s photo discovered by descendant after nearly 180 years
At long last, a photo of Mormon founder Joseph Smith emerges
What Did Joseph Smith Really Look Like? 8 Images That Provide Us With Clues
The post Joseph Smith “Adoption Craze” – Article by Gordon Irving
Wilford Woodruff 1894 Talk Kicking off Geneology
LDS Church statement on Joseph Smith Daguerrotype
Farmer’s Almanac on the Dog Days of Summer
Alexander Stuart
Freedom Forum thread showing many of the possible pictures and renderings of Joseph.
Overview Sources on Early Mormon “Magical” Practices
- John L. Brooke – the Refiner’s Fire
- D. Michael Quinn – Early Mormonism and the Magical World View
Analysis of Senators based on their Faces
https://stellarium-web.org/

Animated version of daguerrotype:

This website and podcast contains some quotations and excerpts from copyrighted material. These uses fall well within the copyright doctrine of "Fair Use."

Section 107 of the United States Code, Title 17, specifies the conditions under which, "the fair use of a copyrighted work . . . for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching . . ., scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright." It provides four considerations for determining fair use: (1) The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes, (2) The nature of the copyrighted work, (3) The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and (4) The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work.

The use on this website and podcast of other material is primarily for criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship or research and teaching. (1) (a) The "purpose and character" of the website, podcast and any derivative book(s) are not commercial. (b) The overwhelming majority of the material is the authors' original work. It is in no way a mere collection of others’ copyrighted works, nor competitive with those sources. (2) The nature of the copyrighted work quoted is often "news" or "history," categories given lesser protection in fair use cases than works of fiction. (3) Most uses involve excerpts rather than entire works.

Because the adverse financial impact on copyright owners is central to the purpose of copyright law, and the analysis of alleged violations, it’s relevant to note that, under factor (4), (a) no one in search of the quoted material would substitute this website, podcast or related book(s) for the original source, (b) it is highly unlikely this website, podcast, or book(s) created from it will ever have more than a de minimis impact on any of the copyright works’ potential market, and (c) to the extent it might do so, it would be far more likely be a positive, rather than a negative, impact (by drawing attention to the work, crediting it, and providing a source where it may be found).

4 Comments

Pepé Le Pew July 28, 2022

My 1st reaction to the headline and photo was …meh!! Probably photoshop 😉 ! Why? When I lived in NYC during my teen years and took the subway between Grand Central Station and Times Square, I used to see this group of blank people with robes that had tables with aromatic reed diffuser sticks and images of a black Jesus and his black apostles (for sale, of course !!! LOL). They argued heavily that Jesus and his apostles came from Africa. Therefore, they were black! I thought to myself….whether Jesus and his Apostles were black or white (skin color), Does the message change? Nope!!! So, does it really matter? I guess for some people. I just stick to the message. Love the this episode! As always, very informative which I really like because…I’m learning!!!

- Pepé Le Pew July 28, 2022
  
  You know, is there and edit option when commenting? I feel a bit embarrassed about my spelling and grammar that after I checked my comments several times before posting, there is a word/phrased wrongly written that sneaked through! Immediately my best impression of Homer Simpson is exclaimed! 🙂
  
Dr Nick Riviera July 28, 2022

I think it’s a cool photo, and may indeed be a member of the Smith family. Personally, I’m not persuaded it’s Joseph, but that’s just me.

- Whitaker July 29, 2022
  
  I agree. It looks like a Smith but not Joseph. The biggest thing I point to is the eye size. The painting could have made his eyes look bigger than they are but the eye socket size from the death mask seems to match the painting but not this picture. Probably Samuel Smith or something.