Another Attempt to Discredit Frederick G. Williams – Part I

Some would say that repeating information or continuing to state information oln the same subject is like “beating a dead horse,” but this idea of trying to discredit Frederick G. Williams, because of erroneous claims that he copied down a statement by Joseph Smith and then it was claimed to have been a revelation is so inaccurate that, in and of itself, is a major problem in citing information regarding the Book of Mormon and those who organized and led the early Church, that it deserved continual vigilance. However, in addition to this, the idea of this so-called revelation is often the sole reason to discredit the entire concept of South America as the Land of Promise—therefore, it deserves continual correction and exposure for what it is—a fallacious claim without merit or without accuracy.
    Consequently, we deal with it again here since certain theorists, most especially the Heartland and other North American theorists of late use this to discredit South America out of hand.

According to Frederick G. Williams, the course Lehi took south-southeast through the Indian Ocean and then east across the Pacific and landing at 30º South Latitude in Chile

It seems that the information Frederick G. Williams once stated in writing that Lehi sailed south-southeast and landed at 30º south Latitude in Chile really rankles these new Heartland theorists, since they keep harping on it. The problem is, most do not understand the story behind this and wrongly attribute it to either a claimed revelation, which it was not, or a statement made by Joseph Smith, which also it was not. Naturally, when people cannot argue facts, they stoop to trying to defame the character of the person with which they disagree.
Following are the comments made, and we repeat and answer them here, not so much for the person who wrote them, but for others who may not know the facts surrounding Williams’ written note and become misled by such attacks or erroneous information when stated as a factual argument.
• Reader: “You keep stressing the unimpeachable character of Frederick G. Williams."
Response: “unimpeachable” means a person is trustworthy, reliable, dependable, unquestionable, unassailable, etc. Joseph Smith pretty much defined his feelings about Frederick G. Williams in that manner. While we have not described Williams in such a manner, it certain describes accurately the character of Williams from any study of his life.
• Reader: “Yet his written statement about 30 degrees south latitude and thus Chile…” 
Response: Actually, his statement about 30º south latitude perfectly matches the scriptural record and is an exact match for the description Nephi used to describe the area of their landing (1 Nephi 18;24-25). We have written numerous times describing that comparison of Williams location and what Nephite wrote about finding at his site of first landing.
• Reader: “…contradicts statements by the Prophet Joseph Smith.”
Response: Really? The fact of the matter is that Joseph Smith made several comments concerning Book of Mormon geography throughout his life which support both a North American and Central American setting, as well as allowing several opinions of North, South, Central America, and Hemispheric geography of The Book of Mormon to be published, taught, and re-published without any correction. Evidently, Joseph did not “know” exactly where the Book of Mormon took place, so as he and others read about and learned traditions of any Indians that resembled anything in the Book of Mormon, they assumed, and likely correctly, that they were part of Book of Mormon people.
• Reader: “…upon whom you correctly stated in your video that Frederick G. Williams relied upon.”

Joseph Smith (left) and Frederick G. Williams (Right), friends, servants, and members of the original First Presidency

Response: Obviously, those who accepted Joseph as the Prophet relied upon him for information and accuracy. Perhaps that is why Joseph never stated any official comment about where Lehi landed, or what he thought about where the landing took place—only that various areas in North and South America may well have been Nephite lands.
• You: “So who has or doesn't have the unimpeachable character?”
Response: Simple answer is both Joseph Smith and Frederick G. Williams had and have unimpeachable characters, as clearly stated and shown in their lives by the way they conducted themselves. From all that Joseph Smith said and recorded about his opinions as to where the Lehites were, it would seem that they believed the Book of Mormon took place over all of the Western continent so any and all Indian cultures in North and South America were Book of Mormon peoples.
• Reader: “Your writing seems to discount Joseph Smith and make Frederick G. Williams the more important person. Good job. That should make the prophet's critics proud.”
Response: Our writing of our 10-year running blog with over 3200 posted articles and more than 1,100,000 visitors, show, support, and sustain Joseph Smith as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator, and that he was both chosen and successfully carried out his assignments from the Lord. As for Frederick G. Williams, he too, appears to have served the Lord admirably in his lifetime, as he was an important figure during the early days of the restoration of the gospel and the organization of The Church. His work and accomplishments are well recorded and he is known with love and admiration throughout most of the world.
    Williams, who is far less known, served as a missionary on the original mission to the Lamanites (1830–1831), was a personal scribe and speech writer to the Prophet Joseph Smith for four years (1832–1836), participated in Zion's Camp (1834), was Second Counselor in the original First Presidency for five years (1832–1837), was the editor of the Church newspapers, helped organize and became a Trustee of the School of the Prophets, was a central figure in the miraculous events surrounding the Kirtland Temple dedication (1836), helped publish the Doctrine and Covenants, published the Church’s hymnals and for twelve years was the principal doctor for the Saints in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois until his death in 1842.

Of him, Joseph Smith, who named his second son after Williams, stated: “Blessed be Brother Frederick, for he shall never want a friend, and his generation after him shall flourish. The Lord hath appointed him an inheritance upon the land of Zion: yea, and his head shall blossom, and he shall be as an olive branch that is bowed down with fruit" (History of the Church, 1:444).
    In fact, Williams family was the only one from the original First Presidency to go west and stay in the Church" (BYU Studies, 12:3:259). Joseph also stated of Williams: “He shall ever have place in my heart, and is ever entitled to my confidence. He is perfectly honest and upright, and seeks with all his heart to magnify his Presidency in the Church.”
    Both these men were exemplary individuals with unimpeachable characters.
    By the way, before one impugn someone, they might want to look into exactly what they have said about what you are impugning.
(See the next post, “Another Attempt to Discredit Frederick G. Williams – Part II,” regarding impugning Williams’ statement about Lehi landing along the 30º South Latitude in Chile, South America, and highlight Joseph’s comments regarding the plains of the Nephites in North America)