I think this is right up with the very popular answer below, myself. He was on the run after destroying the press but Emma convinced him to do the honorable thing and turn himself in. Maybe she was sick of her "position" and telling him to man up in hopes of becoming suddenly single instead of one among 38 wives...
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2013 01:32PM by vh65.
At church were were repeatedly taught how loyal to Joseph she was, how loving, understanding, faithful. I learned on my own later when I visited Nauvoo that after Joseph died and members followed Brigham out west, Emma chose to stay in Nauvoo. She remarried (I saw the house that her new husband lived in), and they had nothing more to do with TSCC after that.
So much darkness and rejection associated with leaving TSCC and often family too. It's great to share a moment of laughter about this stuff. Thanks for the post!
To assume JS conspired to facilitate movement of any appendage to cross the road, one would have to prove intent that he factually had a legitimate purpose to cross the road. We are not sure JS actually encountered a street from the following definition: a public thoroughfare, usually paved, in a village, town, or city, including the sidewalk or sidewalks.
To forward the argument I will call the proposed street a road.
Through diligent research I have not found transcripts in his hand writing proving JS actually crossed a road. Also, narratives from others who could have witnessed or knew of factual evidence for a reason for crossing is not found in any journals or from personal scribes.
We can assume he had reason and purpose to cross any road at any time for a multitude of reasons. Just because we could not find factual evidence for JS crossing a road, does not mean that tscc is false.
I am sure in time the revelation will come as to why JS did cross a road in his journey to restore the gospel. Until then we will have to have faith that if he did cross a road is was for divine purpose and reason.
Don't forget, just because Prophet Joseph was near to the road, and gazing intently at the females on the other side, we don't know _that_ he crossed, or _why_ the Lord instructed him to be there in that holy place at all. We have no evidences to guide us, and we must rely instead on the strength of our iron-clad faith.
Remember, Brothers and Sisters, proximity does not imply intent, correlation is not causality, and if Brother Joseph did cross the road and place his hand on a female's thigh, it was only under the extreme duress of a _direct_ commandment from the Lord or His factotum.
We don't know why the Lord commanded Joseph to perform the many arduous tasks he accomplished, but we can know from the strength of our testimony that Joseph Smith never moved a muscle unless it was for the benefit of all mankind, without any profit whatsoever to this humble man.