Joseph Smith/Narcissism

FAIR Answers—back to home page

Joseph Smith's alleged narcissism

Topics

Joseph Smith's alleged narcissism

Was Joseph Smith ego-maniacal, proud, and narcissistic?

Summary: Some quote Joseph Smith as saying such things as: "I am learned, and know more than all the world put together," "I combat the errors of ages; I meet the violence of mobs; I cope with illegal proceedings from executive authority; I cut the Gordian knot of powers, and I solve mathematical problems of universities, with truth . . . diamond truth; and God is my ‘right hand man.’” They use these quotes to portray Joseph as egomaniacal, proud, and narcissistic.

Joseph as a "second Mohammad"

Summary: Joseph Smith is quoted as saying that he would be a "second Muhammad," threatening to spread his beliefs with the sword.

Did Joseph Smith 'boast' of keeping the Church intact?

Summary: Joseph Smith is reported as saying: “I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam... Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.” (History of The Church, 6:408–409). This attitude strikes some as boastful, and unbecoming a prophet.