[Quix]

I don't think I'd go that far.

The difference between what the charlatan asserted and the Cherokee thing seem extensive enough to me.

I'm not impressed with a largely plagerized 'theology' by someone convicted a number of times of defrauding farmers . . .

telling farmers he had a secret map found on each of the farmer's property . . . but that he needed a grub stake to buy equipment to dig it up--that he'd split the treasure with each farmer if they'd put up the grub stake. Of course, having that money, Joseph was never heard from again.

Then there's the fun story from the father of my best man at my wedding . . . My friend's great granddad--or was it great great granddad--I forget--anyway--evidently some of Joseph's staff either convinced him or went along with his grand idea to walk on water. So they strung some chicken wire just below the surface for some distance and at the appointed time, Joseph proceded to 'walk on water' until some character on the scene undid part of the chicken wire and he sank into the lake--to the amusement of the assembled crowd.

[Quix]

I neglected to note that my best friend's great granddad had the farm across the fence from Joseph Smith's farm.

[Grig]

"by someone convicted a number of times of defrauding farmers . . . "

The only thing he was ever convicted of was of casting out an evil spirit. The judge then noted there was no law against it and released him.

"telling farmers he had a secret map found on each of the farmer's property . . ."

Didn't happen.

"Then there's the fun story from the father of my best man at my wedding . . ."

A 4th or 5th hand story with no confirmation. Come on, if you want to attack someone's religion with rumours and hearsay, take it somewhere else.

[Elsie]

Hello Friend,

My name is Longee Barba. I am an official in the Bank of Masada and here in my country, we have a problem.

It seems that a famous person has died and no heirs have been found from his esteemed lineage leaving us in a quandry as to disposal of his immense fortune.

Your name has been selected, from a large grouping of.................

[Hodar]

telling farmers he had a secret map found on each of the farmer's property . . . but that he needed a grub stake to buy equipment to dig it up--that he'd split the treasure with each farmer if they'd put up the grub stake. Of course, having that money, Joseph was never heard from again.

Wow, I hadn't heard that one before. Where did you get that information? I did a search on Google, Yahoo and Alta Vista; and couldn't find anything about either of your assertions. Is this a fact? Or are you just making up slander?