He said what???

[A New Name]

It never ceases to amaze me the things that Joseph Smith said. As an example

The way to get along in any important matter is to gather unto yourselves
wise men, experienced and aged men, to assist in council in all times of trouble. Handsome men are not
apt to be wise and strong minded men; but the strength of a strong minded man will generally create
course features, like the rough, strong bough of the oak. You will always discover in the first glance of a
man, in the outlines of his features something of his mind” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, P299

This explains a lot about our church leaders!

[Mormorrisey]

Unfortunately, Joseph was caught up in the pseudo-science of phrenology, which was very popular in the 19th century. That you could tell a person's character from the bumps on one's head, or the lines in one's face. There's some great literature on this historical phenomenon, it was popular in Great Britain and in North America (Canada too) and Joseph's diary is replete with entries such as, "and Bro. Rigdon had his features read by the phrenologist..." Some great stuff. And more evidence that a lot of Joseph's thinking came from the rather wacky beliefs of that century. Come to think of it, does this coincide with the amount of plastic surgery clinics in Utah, to hide one's features from the phrenologist's gaze?

[George Miller]

Unfortunately, Joseph was caught up in the pseudo-science of phrenology, which was very popular in the 19th century. That you could tell a person's character from the bumps on one's head, or the lines in one's face. There's some great literature on this historical phenomenon, it was popular in Great Britain and in North America (Canada too) and Joseph's diary is replete with entries such as, "and Bro. Rigdon had his features read by the phrenologist..." Some great stuff. And more evidence that a lot of Joseph's thinking came from the rather wacky beliefs of that century. Come to think of it, does this coincide with the amount of plastic surgery clinics in Utah, to hide one's features from the phrenologist's gaze?

Totally on a side note here, but as the Egyptian mummies purchased by the Mormons in Kirtland passed through Ohio, a phrenologist was hired to examine the head to determine the characteristics of the individual. I have included it below for your perusal.

No. 1. -- 4 feet 11 inches, female -- supposed age 60; arms extended, hands side by side in front; the head indicating motherly goodness. There was found with this person a roll or book, having a little resemblance to birch bark; language unknown. Some linguists however say they can decipher 13-36, in what they term the epitaph; ink black and red; many female figures.

No. 2. -- Height 5 ft. 1 1-2 inch; female; supposed age 40. Arms suspended by the sides; hands brought in contact; head damaged by accident; found with a roll as No. 1, filled with hieroglyphics, rudely executed.

No. 3. -- Height 4ft. 4 1-2. -- Male, very old, say 80; arms crossing on the breast, each hand on its opposite shoulder; had a roll of writing as No. 1 & 2; superior head, it will compare in the region of sentiments with any in our land; passions mild.

No. 4. -- Height 4 ft. 9; female. I am inclined to put her at about 20 or 25, others call her an old woman; arms extended, hands by her side; auburn hair, short as girls at present in their new fashion. Found with her a braid of hair, three strands of the color of that on her head and 18 inches long. The head approximates to the form of the Orang Outang. The occipital and basillar region very large; the head indicating a person of the lowest grade of human beings. Slander, fight, and devotion to the passions were undoubtedly peculiar traits in her character. They were enveloped in linnen saturated with gum. the qualities of which are not well understood. A thousand yards are supposed to be used on each body; 186 thicknesses had been counted on one of them. They are couvered so as to preserve the exact form of the body and limbs. No. 3 and 4; the envelope is mostly stripped off; and on and 2 it is some broken. No. 1, fine linnen; No. 2, coarse; No. 3 , very coarse; No. 4, very fine. The bodies evidently were reduced before winding. The man, No. 3, whose cerebral organization indicates a mind able to guide the destinies of a nation, in enveloped in the poorest and coarsest linnen, while the woman, No. 4, whose head indicates a disposition which may well be represented as the demon of society, was in the most careful manner enveloped in the finest of linnen and with a much greater proportion of gum. Is not this circumstance an indication to us that rank was not according to merit -- that superiority in station did not follow from superiority of mind, but from extraneous circumstances.

[ulmite]

Phrenology was also quite a thing in France, where Balzac used it when describing his characters. It was even official in Paris for a while, especially the new idea which sparked it which was that different areas of the brain have different roles.

[gr8 team]

Brother Joseph must be just beside himself with rage over Mr. Silver-Fox Uchtdorf in the Q12 then.

[Corsair]

Brother Joseph must be just beside himself with rage over Mr. Silver-Fox Uchtdorf in the Q12 then.

Actually, I think Joseph might be a bit jealous over Uchtdorf, "The Silver Fox". I have seen an amusing number of women who are fairly public about their "appreciation" of a handsome, virile apostle. But the 19th century policy of allowing faithful women to marry up to a higher priesthood is no longer in effect.