A couple of years ago, Jack was investigating the Honey War, which was a border war between Iowa and Missouri. There was a disputed boundary line between Missouri, which is a state, and Iowa, which was a territory. This dispute went all the way to the Supreme Court in 1849, and they finally settled it. But what’s interesting is Lilburn W. Boggs called out the militia to try to settle this dispute.

Jack called me and said, “I’m really interested in doing some research on the Honey War and this thing going all the way to the Supreme Court.” I had kind of an interest in it, but not a really deep interest. But, it kind of shows you the type of person Boggs was. He’s not afraid to call out the militia if he feels like that’s the way to settle the dispute. Of course, he did that with the Mormons.

Jack goes back to Des Moines, Iowa, and goes to the Iowa Historical Society where he finds the Hawkins Taylor Collection of historical papers. The collection contains a letter from a newspaper published in the Keokuk Post by A.W. Harlan who lived in Lee County, Iowa, just across from Nauvoo.

In 1888, A.W. Harlan, writes to the editors of the Keokuk Post and says, “I visited with Joseph Smith. I popped over there once in a while, and we’d visit every so often. …”  Well, maybe I’ll read it [instead of trying to paraphrase it.]

Alluding to Joseph Smith’s character, Harlan good-naturedly added, “The man that will reciprocate the fidelity of a dog cannot be altogether bad.” Now, Jack said he found this. He calls me up and says, “This is the most interesting thing. Have you ever heard about Joseph Smith’s dog being in the jail with him?” And I said, “No. This is fascinating.” And he says, “I can’t understand how that could happen.” I said, “I think I know.” And he says, “Really?” He says, “Well, maybe you could put something together on that.” Jack’s discovery of this letter led me to go, “I know a little bit about that dog.”

There are not a lot of sources, but there was enough to kind of pull that all together and say, “What does this tell us about Joseph Smith, his family, and his love for animals?” This is quite unusual for people to learn that Joseph Smith had a deep love for God’s creatures. It’s quite remarkable.

Zion’s camp is actually the Camp of Israel, but we call it Zion’s camp. He mentions in his narrative on June 4, 1834, that Zion’s Camp was crossing the Mississippi River from Illinois over into Missouri. It was on that occasion that the oldest member of the company, a man by the name of Samuel Baker, presented Joseph Smith with this dog. It appears that during the trip Joseph had probably become very friendly towards this dog. I’m sure he stroked him and petted him and the dog kind of took to Joseph.

During that same time frame, George A. Smith noted that Joseph was kind of worried about his life. This dog could maybe serve as kind of a guard dog for him. So, Samuel Baker presented this dog while on Zion’s Camp to Joseph Smith. There was an immediate attachment, and he was very accepting of this dog.

When they get back from Zion’s camp, Sylvester Smith presses charges against Joseph Smith for some of his actions and activities. Joseph Smith was not found guilty, but one of the incidents that’s brought up is that Sylvester Smith wanted to kill this beloved dog of the Prophet. So, that’s kind of where I had some background knowledge and information that I knew about this dog. That’s about all George A. Smith tells us, but there are other sources that tell us a little bit more about the dog.

It was supposed to be a guard dog, so obviously it wasn’t a Yorkie or a Chihuahua or even a Labrador. What breed was Old Major?

She wrote that this was a Mastiff, an English Mastiff. Now, if you know much about dog breeds, this is one interesting breed. It’s a very large dog, very massive dog. Males can get up to over 200 pounds. They’re very protective of their masters. They can be very docile and have a nice temperament, but if you get them upset, they’ll come to the defense of their masters. It’s just a perfect guard dog. You can just see why Joseph would love this dog.

There are several colors, and Joseph Smith III said that it was a white dog. It was probably a silver Mastiff. It had kind of a white, silvery coat. They have very large heads, black masks on the face, and drooping jaws. A lot of these dogs just slobber everywhere, but they’re very lovable, very tender-hearted. I don’t know if that’s the right word. But we get from the Smith family, Joseph Smith III and Inez Smith Davis, that it was this great Mastiff. They’re a terrific, terrific dog and very loyal, very faithful to their masters.

They called him Old Major, but in 1834, at the time of Zion’s Camp, I’m sure this dog was full-grown but not old. He probably grew to maturity within nine months, maybe a year, 18 months for sure. He was probably born in 1832 or 1833 at the latest. And was probably, again, a very youthful dog. They only live about 10 years but could live a little longer, 10 to 12, maybe even 14. Old Major would have been young at the time of Zion’s Camp. But then, of course, by the time they get to Nauvoo, he’s getting up there in age, and I think that’s when they began to call him Old Major.

Was Joseph with his dog in the jail during the Missouri incarceration period?

I think we have to understand that in those days incarceration was much different than today. I told Jack that if Joseph Smith indeed had Old Major in that jail with him for a period of time during his incarceration, then, I said, “I think I can figure out when that actually happened.”

What we know, of course, is that Joseph Smith was arrested on October 31, 1838. And for the next month, he’s incarcerated for a short time in Independence. And then, over three weeks he’s over in Richmond at a preliminary hearing in which they actually are investigating the charges against Joseph Smith. And at the end of that hearing, the judge, Austin King, said there was probable cause against Joseph Smith and five other prisoners, and he orders them to go to Liberty Jail.

Now immediately people ask the question, “Would they let a dog in a jail?” Well, again, in this period of time, visitors were housed in the jail all the time. Emma and Phoebe came on December 8th and 9th and stayed overnight. Emma will come back again on the 20th, I believe, of December and stay until the 22nd. She comes again in January. I’m guessing that more than likely she brought that dog on that first visit, and Joseph got permission to house the dog and take care of it. As long as he took care of it, that would not have been a problem.

Of course, she may have brought it on the 20th, 21st, or 22nd. And he could have said, “Hey, I miss my dog. I could use that dog.” Maybe she brought it then. The last time she visited with Joseph Smith was in late January. I believe January 21st. And, I think, she took the dog at that time because she needs to get out of town. She needs to get out of Far West. The Saints are starting to leave.

We know that Emma left Far West on February 7th. I think at that point in time Joseph realizes that dog probably needs to go with the family. So I argue, and contend, and speculate, and guess that that dog was in the jail with him at least six weeks if she brought him during the first visit. If not, she brought him the second time. That dog would have been there about a month.

When Parley P. Pratt was in Richmond Jail, Mary Ann, his wife, and two children stayed for three months. Laura Phelps came and visited W.W. Phelps, and Luman Gibbs’ wife was there. It wasn’t unusual for family members or whomever to stay in the jail for a short time or even a long period of time. It doesn’t really surprise me that he would be permitted to have the dog. I think he would.

I think most people would raise their eyebrows and say, “Could he have a dog in jail?” Well, I think it’s entirely possible. Yes.

Emma writes to Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail on March 7th. It’s dated March 7th, I should say. That letter is brought to Far West. Joseph reads it, and on the 21st of March, he writes her back. He’s asking about the family. He says, “I was sorry to learn that Fredrick was sick, but I trust he’s well again.” That’s Fredrick, their little two-year-old, I believe. “And that you’re all well. And I want you to try to gain time and write to me a long letter and tell me all you can even if Old Major is yet alive.” He’s thinking of the family, but he’s also thinking of his personal dog.

Two weeks later, on April 4th, he writes another letter and asks about the children. He writes, “My dear Emma, I think of you and the children continually. I want to see little Fredrick, Joseph, Julie, and Alexander.” Those are the four children. He says, “Joanna.” That’s actually Johanna Carter. That’s an orphan girl that has gone into their home, been taken in their home. He mentions the four children, the orphan child, and then he says, “And Old Major.” He writes about that dog again; you can see he misses his canine friend. And again, why does he miss him? Well, he was in the jail with me for several weeks, and I hope he’s still okay in your care and keeping. Again, just another little illusion to his love and affection for that Old Major.

That dog understood his place in the home, but I think we can say it’s probably an outdoor dog. That would probably make a lot of sense. But, there were some cold nights, and in the winters and probably cold evenings and even days they would probably let the dog in so he could keep warm. Because again, it’s as cold for them as it is for humans. So yeah, it was probably an outdoor dog. But sometimes, he got the privilege of being indoors.

Well, the Quorum of the Twelve responded to that charge in a general conference talk. Apparently, Joseph mentioned what he had and that he’s really doesn’t have that much money and that many material things. And so, the Times and Seasons reported on that. This was the Quorum of the Twelve statement, “Brother Joseph stated to the general conference the amount and situation of the property, the church of which he is a trustee. He also stated the amount of his own possessions on earth. And what do you think it was?” They said, “We will tell you. His old Charley horse given him in Kirtland, two pet deer …”

This is the amount of the great possessions of that man whom God has called to lead his people in these last days. I think it’s fairly evident he doesn’t have a whole lot. But the interesting thing is that he mentions not only his kids but his dog and some rather strange animals that he’s raising or fond of. It gives you an idea that he really did love the animal kingdom, and it might make you appreciative of the fact that this was a tender-hearted Joseph Smith.

Following the Martyrdom, we’re told in family lore that Old Major attached himself to Joseph Smith III and became a very fond friend of the oldest son of Joseph and Emma. I think by this time he’s getting quite up there in terms of his age; I don’t think he survived many more years. His last years were just with the family but with a particular attachment to Joseph Smith III.

Latter-day Saints have a unique perspective and, quite frankly, unique doctrine concerning animals. That is, of course, we believe that they are indeed God’s creations and that they too will be resurrected in joy, as we know from section 77 of the Doctrine and Covenants, and eternal felicity.

According to Orson Whitney, Joseph was one time known to say that he hoped to have his horse in the eternities. Well, if he wanted to have his horse, a probably more affectionate friend would be his dog. Of course, we believe in the resurrection of man and beast. Well, I’ve know people who hoped that their pet friends and close animal friends will be theirs in the eternities, and Joseph Smith was certainly one of those.

That concept of life being imitated in heaven was very present in religious dialogue, don’t you think?

This presentation you made at MHA last summer has gotten some notice besides being published in BYU Studies Quarterly. It was also in the Church News, so probably top leadership know about Joseph Smith’s dog now. What do you think we need to do, Dr. Baugh, to get a life-size replica of Major added to the diorama at the Liberty Jail historical site?

When we go off-air—I know you know the names—you tell me who I need to put on the hot seat to make this happen.