[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] [Brigham Young] spoke upon the subject of the Book published by Mother [Lucy Mac] Smith Called Joseph Smith the Prophet. He said he wished us to take up that work & revise it & Correct it that it belonged to the Historians to attend to it that there was many fals statements made in it and he wished them to be left out and all other statements which we did not know to be true, and give the reason why they are left out. ... That Book makes out William Smith according to Mother Smith's statement to be full of the Holy Ghost & the power of God while at the same time I herd him say in the presence of Heber C. Kimball while Joseph Smith was a prisioner in the hands of his enemies and I said that God would deliver him. William Smith said Dam him Joseph Smith ought to have been hung up by the neck years ago and Dam him he will get it now any how.
President Brigham Young said Wm. Smith is the most wicked man I ever saw in my life. He has been filled with all manner of wickedness. ...
W Woodruff remarked that Mother Smith was under the influence of Wm Smith and the spirit of Aposticy which was in Nauvoo. President Young said yes I do not think the Lord would impute Evil to her and I shall meet with her in Eternity and I am sure I shall not bring an Accusation against her.
Elder O Pratt published that work & bought it of A. W. Babbitt at a high Price. We had a Copy of it in our office. It is marvellous that He should have published it without my Council...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Sunday.
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