Doctor Philastus Hurlbut

Who was Doctor Philastus Hurlbut?

Doctor Philastus Hurlbut was a 19th-century Latter Day Saint dissenter. Hurlbut is best known for his collection of affidavits which in 1834 were published in Eber D. Howe’s anti-Mormon book Mormonism Unvailed [sic]. The purpose of these affidavits was to produce damaging evidence related to the character of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, Smith's family, and his associates.

Hurlbut had previously been excommunicated from the Latter Day Saint church on charges of sexual immorality. A contemporary author discusses Hurlbut’s background, noting that, prior to joining the Mormons, Hurlbut was a member of a Methodist congregation but was "expelled for unvirtuous conduct with a young lady." As a member of the Latter Day Saint church, Hurlbut "immediately commenced his old practices, in attempting to seduce a young female .... [F]or this crime he was immediately expelled from the church." In response to his expulsion from the church, Hurlbut "now determined to demolish, as far as practicable, what he had once endeavoured to build up." Hurlbut began travelling throughout the country giving lectures against Mormonism.