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{{Epigraph|We should be careful not to claim for Joseph Smith perfections he did not claim for himself. He need not have been superhuman to be the instrument in God’s hands that we know him to be. In May 1844 Joseph declared, “I never told you I was perfect, but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.” And he had commented earlier, “Although I do wrong, I do not the wrongs I’m charged with doing. The wrong that I do is through the frailty of human nature like other men. No man lives without fault. Do you think that even Jesus, if he were here, would be without fault in your eyes? His enemies said all manner of evil against him, and they all watched for iniquity in him.” Joseph was a mortal man striving to fulfill an overwhelming divinely appointed mission against all odds. The wonder is not that he ever displayed human failings, but that he succeeded in his mission. His fruits are both undeniable and incomparable.<br> | {{Epigraph|We should be careful not to claim for Joseph Smith perfections he did not claim for himself. He need not have been superhuman to be the instrument in God’s hands that we know him to be. In May 1844 Joseph declared, “I never told you I was perfect, but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.” And he had commented earlier, “Although I do wrong, I do not the wrongs I’m charged with doing. The wrong that I do is through the frailty of human nature like other men. No man lives without fault. Do you think that even Jesus, if he were here, would be without fault in your eyes? His enemies said all manner of evil against him, and they all watched for iniquity in him.” Joseph was a mortal man striving to fulfill an overwhelming divinely appointed mission against all odds. The wonder is not that he ever displayed human failings, but that he succeeded in his mission. His fruits are both undeniable and incomparable.<br> | ||
—Elder D. Todd Christofferson, [http://web.byui.edu/devotionalsandspeeches/speeches.aspx "The Prophet Joseph Smith"], Devotional Address, BYU Idaho, September 24, 2013. | —Elder D. Todd Christofferson, [http://web.byui.edu/devotionalsandspeeches/speeches.aspx "The Prophet Joseph Smith"], Devotional Address, BYU Idaho, September 24, 2013. | ||
Revision as of 04:12, 30 September 2013
Joseph Smith, Jr.
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We should be careful not to claim for Joseph Smith perfections he did not claim for himself. He need not have been superhuman to be the instrument in God’s hands that we know him to be. In May 1844 Joseph declared, “I never told you I was perfect, but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.” And he had commented earlier, “Although I do wrong, I do not the wrongs I’m charged with doing. The wrong that I do is through the frailty of human nature like other men. No man lives without fault. Do you think that even Jesus, if he were here, would be without fault in your eyes? His enemies said all manner of evil against him, and they all watched for iniquity in him.” Joseph was a mortal man striving to fulfill an overwhelming divinely appointed mission against all odds. The wonder is not that he ever displayed human failings, but that he succeeded in his mission. His fruits are both undeniable and incomparable.
—Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "The Prophet Joseph Smith", Devotional Address, BYU Idaho, September 24, 2013.
Topics
Character of Joseph Smith
Early Smith family history
- No positive witnesses—
Brief Summary: Critics claim that there are "no contemporary pro-Mormon statements from reliable and informed sources who knew the Smith family and Joseph intimately." (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Lazy Smiths—
Brief Summary: Critics claim that Joseph Smith and his family were lazy, shiftless, and sought to make a living without labor. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Early work as a farmhand—
Brief Summary: Critics wish to portray "money digging" as Joseph Smith, Jr's primary source of income during his early years. Joseph is even claimed to have run a successful "magic business." (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- No positive witnesses—
Character
Summary: Critics claim that Joseph Smith was a disreputable person.- Claimed mismanagement of the Lawrence estate—
Brief Summary: Joseph Smith was appointed the guardian of two daughters, Maria and Sarah Lawrence, and their inheritance. He later married them in plural marriage. The evidence shows that Joseph Smith faithfully discharged his legal duties, despite the claims made by some nineteeth-century and modern critics. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- Claimed mismanagement of the Lawrence estate—
Con man
Summary: Some claim that Joseph was a con man. Yet, his behavior does not match the typical behavior of those consciously deceiving others for gain. Some of this claim relies on a misrepresentation of a 1826 court hearing.The Hurlbut affidavits
Summary: Many critics cite a collection of affidavits from Joseph Smith’s neighbors which claim that the Smith family possessed a number of character flaws. Many of Joseph Smith’s friends and neighbors signed affidavits that accused him and his family of being lazy, indolent, undependable treasure-seekers."Amusing recitals" and "Tall Tales?"
Summary: Joseph Smith's mother reported that he told "amusing recitals" about the ancient inhabitants of the American continent well before he translated the Book of Mormon. Does this indicate that Joseph was simply a teller of "tall tales?"Land speculation in Nauvoo
Summary: Did Joseph Smith engage in "land speculation" in Nauvoo?Personality and temperament
Summary: Critics point to what they perceive as personal failings of Joseph Smith, such as his allegedly short temper, as evidence that he was not a true prophet of God.Boastful about the Church?
Summary: Why did Joseph Smith say that he had "more to boast of than ever any man had" and that he was the only man who had been "able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam?"Joseph taught Porter Rockwell 'it was right to steal'?
Summary: Did Joseph really teach Orrin Porter Rockwell that "it was right to steal?"Psychobiographical analysis
Summary: Is it possible to deduce Joseph Smith's thoughts and dreams years after his death? Some critics think so.Joseph Smith's alleged narcissism
Summary: Critics 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.Treasure seeking, money digging and Joseph Smith, Jr.
Treasure seeking
Summary: Was Joseph Smith's engagement in "money digging" or looking for buried treasure a blot on his character?Practitioner of occultism and magic?
Summary: Critics claim that Joseph Smith's spiritual experiences began as products of "magic," the "occult," or "treasure seeking," and that only later did Joseph describe his experiences in Christian, religious terms: speaking of God, angels, and prophethood.Joseph's early work as a farmhand
Summary: Critics wish to prioritize the role that treasure-seeking played in Joseph's like by claiming that it took precedence over any other work that he may have done, such as working as a hired farmhand.Joseph Smith's First Vision
Joseph Smith's First Vision
Summary: Joseph Smith's claim that he saw the Father and the Son in 1820 has produced a wide variety of criticism. This set of articles addresses the various critical claims related to the First Vision. The linked articles below are designed to help readers to see some of the weaknesses that are found in arguments that are made against Joseph Smith's First Vision accounts. Some of these arguments are currently being advocated in anti-Mormon literature that is handed out near the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York.Joseph Smith, occultism and magic
"Magic" in Mormon history
- Jupiter talisman—
Brief Summary: Critics claim that Joseph Smith had a Jupiter Talisman on his person when he was martyred and cite this as proof of his fascination with the occult. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - The magician Walters as a mentor to Joseph Smith?—
Brief Summary: Did a "vagabond fortune-teller" named Walters who became popular in the Palmyra area pass his "mantle" to Joseph Smith? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- Jupiter talisman—
Joseph Smith as a translator
Joseph as a translator
Summary: Critics claim that Joseph Smith claimed to translate other texts or items, which can be checked against modern academic translations. They claim that this "cross-checking" proves that Joseph could not have translated the Book of Mormon or other ancient texts.Joseph as seer and his use of seer stones
Summary: What do we know about Joseph's seer stone? What is its relation to the "Urim and Thummim"? Did Joseph place his seer stone in his hat while he was translating the Book of Mormon?Joseph and the Greek psalter
Summary: Did Joseph Smith misidentify an ancient text of Greek psalms (a "psalter") as containing "reformed" Egyptian hieroglyphics?Book of Abraham
The Joseph Smith "translation" of the Bible and its relationship to the Book of Mormon
Summary: Some passages from the Bible (parts of Isaiah, for example) were included in the Book of Mormon text. However, the same passages were later revised for the Joseph Smith Translation of the Holy Bible. In some cases these passages are not rendered identically. Critics claim that if the JST was an accurate translation, it would match the supposedly more 'pure' Isaiah text possessed by the Nephites.Joseph Smith and miracles
Healings and miracles
Summary: Do we have any record of Joseph Smith performing healings or other miracles by the power of Christ's priesthood?Walking on water
Summary: Did Joseph pretend to walk on water?Joseph Smith as a priesthood holder
Date of the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood
Summary: Critics claim that the restoration of the priesthood was "back dated" later by Joseph Smith to justify his desire to dominate the Church. Critics claim that no one seems to know "when or how" Joseph Smith received the Melchizedek priesthood.Joseph Smith as a prophet
No more prophets after Christ?
Summary: Most of Christianity today claim that there are not supposed to be any more prophets after Christ's day.Alleged false prophecies
Summary: Critics claim that Joseph Smith was not a true prophet, and that he made "false prophecies."Personages who appeared to Joseph Smith
Summary: A list of known personages who appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith or who were seen by him in vision. The list does not include instances where he only heard supernatural voices.Joseph Smith: Status in LDS belief
Summary: Do members worship Joseph Smith or treat him as more than a man? Critics charge that since Joseph claimed (or it was claimed in his behalf) the right to "approve whether or not someone gets into heaven," this arrogates to a mortal a right properly reserved for God and Jesus Christ. Some critics have even charged that "Mormons worship Joseph Smith."Joseph Smith and legal issues
Legal issues
Summary: What can you tell me about Joseph Smith's problems with the law?- 1826 glasslooking trial—
Brief Summary: Joseph Smith was brought to trial in 1826 for "glasslooking." Didn't Hugh Nibley claim that if this trial record existed that it would be "the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith?" (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- 1826 glasslooking trial—
Claimed mismanagement of the Lawrence estate
Summary: Joseph Smith was appointed the guardian of two daughters, Maria and Sarah Lawrence, and their inheritance. He later married them in plural marriage. The evidence shows that Joseph Smith faithfully discharged his legal duties, despite the claims made by some nineteeth-century and modern critics.Joseph Smith and finance
Kirtland Safety Society
Summary: Joseph established the Kirtland Safety Society, which later failed. Many left the Church because they thought that Joseph's involvement and his calling as a prophet would guarantee its success. When the bank failed, many thought that Joseph was a fallen prophet.Joseph Smith, politics and government
Politics
Summary: Critics charge that Joseph Smith's decision to run for President of the United States in 1844 shows him to be either a megalomaniac bent on amassing ever more power, or a fanatic with delusions of grandeur.City of Nauvoo
Joseph Smith and polygamy
Joseph Smith and polygamy
Death of Joseph Smith
Martyrdom
- Joseph fired a gun—
Brief Summary: Was Joseph Smith actually not a martyr because, while in jail, he had a gun and he had the temerity to defend himself? Did Joseph kill two men by firing at the mob? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Hiding Joseph's gun?—
Brief Summary: Critics claim that the Church has tried to hide the fact that Joseph fired a pepperbox pistol at the mob which murdered Hyrum and was soon to kill him, despite the fact that the gun is on display at the Church History museum. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Nauvoo Legion to rescue Joseph?—
Brief Summary: Did Joseph panic at Carthage Jail, and write an order to Jonathan Dunham (head of the Nauvoo legion), telling him to have the Legion attack the jail and "save him at all costs?" (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Masonic distress cry—
Brief Summary: Just before he died, did Joseph Smith begin to give the Masonic cry of distress? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Removed garments prior to leaving for Carthage—
Brief Summary: Critics have claimed that Joseph and others with him removed their garments prior for leaving for Carthage in order to avoid identification as polygamists. What was the real reason for this? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- Joseph fired a gun—
Joseph Smith and the "office of the Holy Ghost"
Summary: Did certain Church leaders say that Joseph Smith was the Holy Ghost or that he "held the office of Holy Ghost?"What is Joseph Smith's role in LDS belief?
Summary: Did Church leaders claim that Joseph had the right to "approve whether or not someone gets into heaven," rather than Jesus Christ? Do Latter-day Saints worship Joseph Smith, as critics claim?Joseph Smith and inhabitants of the moon
Summary: Did Joseph claim that the moon was inhabited?Garden of Eden in Missouri
Summary: Is it true Mormons believe the original Garden of Eden was located in Missouri? What can you tell me about this?