[Jacob] Hamblin arranged to make a trip across the…
![“[Jacob] Hamblin arranged to make a trip across the Colorado River in search of a child who might be missing. The motive behind this is clear… [I]n letters and in recorded speeches he had expressed an eagerness to labor among “the nobler branches of the race.” He had heard that the Hopis across the…” quote by Juanita Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/e8d/juanita-brooks-33595_children_jacob-hamblin-arranged-to-make-a-trip-ac_2363707.jpg)
““[Jacob] Hamblin arranged to make a trip across the Colorado River in search of a child who might be missing. The motive behind this is clear… [I]n letters and in recorded speeches he had expressed an eagerness to labor among “the nobler branches of the race.” He had heard that the Hopis across the Colorado were a peaceful, agricultural people who had many skills… Thus, while his letters to Brigham Young and George A. Smith speak of this as a bona fide “mission” for the church, the records in the General Accounting Office in Washington D.C., show that he was paid $318 for expenses incurred while conducting a search for the purpose of finding a child, [al]though Jacob Hamblin knew well that no child had ever been in the hands of the Indians… ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Jacob Hamblin’s expedition was presented as a religious mission but was actually a paid search for a child, revealing contradictions between stated motives and actions.
In simple terms: His mission mixed faith with profit and deception.
Key Takeaway
Scrutinize motives behind charitable claims.
Themes
faith
deception
colonialism
economics
missionary work
Mood
critical
inquisitive
historical
Type
analytical
documentary
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- government oversight
- humanitarian aid
- archaeological research
Key Concepts
Moral ambiguity
historical revisionism
economic incentive
Questions to Reflect On
- Why did Hamblin accept payment?
- What impact did this have on Native communities?
A Different Perspective
Complex motives can obscure truth.