Author Dan Vogel, in his book "", speculates that the allegation is in fact true and that Joseph Smith Sr. stated there was a rumor, or even started it himself, merely to create a pretext for the exhumation. Vogel suggests that the family would not have had to dig up Alvin’s grave in order to see if it had been tampered with. Further, accepting Chase’s testimony in "Mormonism Unvailed", Vogel states that the timing of the exhumation (September 25, close to the equinox during which Lucy Mack Smith states Joseph made his visits to Cumorah) further suggests it was part of an attempt to secure the golden plates.