Joseph Smith’s sincerity, again

The spirit of Joseph Smith’s private letters, which were never intended to be published, seems to manifest his sincerity.

For example, detained at an inn in Greenville, Indiana, in June 1832, while his traveling companion, Newel Whitney, recovered from a badly broken leg, depressed at news that his brother Hyrum had lost a child and also by the fact that he had received no recent letter from his wife, the Prophet wrote a note to Emma in which, among other things, he remarked that

My Situation is a very unpleasent one although I will endeaver to be Contented the Lord assisting me I have visited a grove which is Just back of the town almost every day where I can be Secluded from the eyes of any mortal and there give vent to all the feelings of my heart in meaditation and prayr I have Called to mind all the past moments of my life and am left to morn and Shed tears of sorrow for my folly in Sufering the adversary of my Soul to have so much power over me as he has had in times past but God is merciful and has forgiven my Sins and I rejoice that he Sendeth forth the Comferter unto as many as believe and humbleeth themselves before him . . . I will try to be contented with my lot knowing that God is my friend in him I shall find comfort I have given my life into his hands I am prepared to go at his Call I desire to be with Christ I Count not my life dear to me only to do his will.

He may, despite all the evidence, have been a conniving fake.  But there’s no gap between his private and his public statements that would seem to support such a verdict.