Joseph smith was an american religious leader and the founder of mormonism. Who was this joseph smith, and what was it about his remarkable life story that inspired such impassioned rancor or unflinching loyalty and even reverence. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. Some of you, however, may still be living on the testimony of othersyour parents, your friends, your church leaders. I told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. Walters was summoned to manchester, new york by a group of wicked, idle, and slothful individualsone of which was joseph smith. The language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. One argument that mormon apologists frequently employ is the claim that joseph smith was intellectually unequipped to write the book of mormon. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to. He was older, in his sixties, and he had been studying the book fervently. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. He was, however, prone to make silly mistakes, such as. Questions related to the book of mormon and other items on.
The prophet joseph smith teaches about the book of mormon. A prophet, according to the old and new testament, relies on revelation from god to teach the people, and not on his own wisdom or. Welch, foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. What disproves the book of mormon to me is that god supposedly curses some of his children with dark skin to keep them from intermarrying with the chosen seed. It does portray the life of the uniquely american figure joseph smith jr. The reorganized mormon church does not teach or practice polygamy. I believe from the book of mormon musical on the 65th tony awards. Joseph smiths motives the prophet puzzle dan vogel duration. Most all of the current text of the book of mormon was dictated to a scribe over a period of somewhere between a total of 60 and 90 days, interspersed with other daily activities that sometimes would take joseph smith and oliver cowdery away from.
Laurie mafflykipp, phd, is the archer alexander distinguished professor at the. The core of mormon belief was a conviction about actual events. Members of the church call him a prophet because, according to the traditional role of prophets recorded in the old and new testaments in the bible, he relied on revelation from god for teaching the people, and not on his own wisdom or learning the prophet joseph smith is one of the most. Brothers and sisters, many of you probably came to brigham young university already knowing that the book of mormon is true, that joseph smith is indeed a prophet, and that this is the true church of jesus christ. May 14, 20 joseph smith, the first prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, was an uneducated farm boy with no resources for research who translated ancient writings into the book of mormon, over 500 pages long, in under 65 days. On april 6, 1830, joseph smith organized the church of jesus christ of. How could joseph smith possibly have written the book of. The murder of joseph smith and the fate of the mormon church. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas. Old joseph smith pbs documentary remade into new docudrama.
Here is a man who was born in the stark hills of vermont. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible, used by latter day saints. Concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said. Oct 31, 2012 joseph smith stated that the book of mormon was the keystone of our religion, to which the former lds prophet ezra taft benson added, just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed. The test of faith was not adherence to a certain confession of faith but belief that christ was resurrected, that joseph smith saw god, that the book of mormon was true history and not philosophy, and. By it we learn that our western tribes of indians are descendants from that joseph who was sold into egypt, and that the land of america is a promised land unto them. Feb 18, 2008 members of the mormon church believe two things about the book of mormon 1. An american prophets record joseph smiths actual diaries and journals.
Mormon origins is created to make available historical information andor documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america. Mormon prophet and founder, joseph smith, teaches that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, also known as the mormon or lds church, believes in the bible as scripture. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book of mormon has been called the longest and most complex of. The research of president joseph fielding smith through the writings and sermons of the prophet joseph smith for this book has been thorough and definitive. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. In the last eighteen months of his life, joseph smith. Some groups who attempt to place the book of mormon in the great lakes area of the united states, also claiming that joseph smith, the books translator, knew where bom events took place.
For nearly a generation, church members have exulted in the accumulation of the high and lofty themes and concepts which this volume has contained. Walters the magician was involved in witchcraft and moneydigging. Members of the mormon church believe two things about the book of mormon 1. New theory connects a native american prophet with joseph. Joseph smith, the book of mormon, the book of abraham, the book of doctrine and covenants, the book of commandments, and all the other fraudulent works of mormonism and embrace christ and the gospel as presented in the word of god. The book of mormon shows joseph smith to be a false. In his book studies of the book of mormon, roberts concluded that joseph smith had sufficient imagination and was capable of producing the book of mormon even though he had little formal education. A prophet, according to the old and new testament, relies on revelation from god to teach the people, and not on his own wisdom or learning. John henry evans, joseph smith, an american prophet, p. One of the most amazing facts about the book of mormon is that it took joseph smith only about sixtyfive working days to translate a book that, in the current edition, is 531 pages long. Givens points out in his brief introduction to schooling the prophet the appropriateness of grant hardys suggestion that, if the book of mormons purpose was only to serve as evidence that joseph smith was a prophet, a pamphlet would have accomplished the task.
Apr 22, 2016 the language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. An american prophet s record joseph smith s actual diaries and journals. The prophetic work of joseph smith rapidly unfolded as the book of mormon went before the world. Joseph smith was the founding president and prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Joseph smiths testimony on the lands of the nephites. It is scripture in our day, the story of the book of mormon began on september 21, 1823. Mormons claim that smith and his work were the blessing on all nations that god promised to abraham genesis 22. Peter manseaus new book suggests that joseph smith and the book of mormon may have been influenced by a seneca religious prophet who died 200 years ago. For nearly a generation, church members have exulted in the accumulation of the high and lofty themes and.
A fair biography of the mormon prophet, joseph smith, written from the perspective of an admitted member of the church, in 7677. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to the works needed to research the book. In this editorial comment, joseph smith explained that the book of mormon would stand as circumstantial evidence of the validity of his prophetic calling. Some pbs stations including kbyu will air mormonpromoting joseph smith film. In 1820, his family lived in palmyra, new york, in what is sometimes called the burned over district. Walters was summoned to manchester, new york by a group of wicked, idle, and slothful individualsone of. In 1830, smith published what he said was a translation of these plates as the book of mormon, and the same year he organized the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Some groups who attempt to place the book of mormon in the great lakes area of the united states, also claiming that joseph smith, the books translator, knew where bom events took. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. I replied that it is the contents of the book of mormon that damage me, not all the ideas leading up to it, the translation or how he did it and whether that disproves js was a prophet. A presentation by mormon historian dan vogel at the 1996 mormon history association on joseph smith.
Joseph smith and the beginnings of mormonism richard l. According to smith, an angel named moroni directed him to a buried book of golden plates hidden at the hill cumorah and as per the instruction of the angel he translated the book and published it as the book of mormon. Book of mormon geography has been a source of debate for years both inside and outside of the lds or mormon faith. The book of mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of indians. But no one has produced a serious, booklength study until now that explores in. The book was written by ancient prophets through the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Joseph smith discovering the book of mormon youtube.
The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Aug, 2014 mormon prophet and founder, joseph smith, teaches that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, also known as the mormon or lds church, believes in the bible as scripture. The test of faith was not adherence to a certain confession of faith but belief that christ was resurrected, that joseph smith saw god, that the book of mormon was true history and not philosophy, and that peter, james, and john restored the apostleships. October 1st is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historicity research. In addition to joseph smith, the lord provided for eleven others to see. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the. Yates related an experience he had while a student at cornell university in 1900. Joseph smith can do no wrong in pbss american prophet a more objective look at the pbs special. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses said that joseph smith prophesied that the book of mormon would be sold in toronto. We have imagined and supposed that god was god from all eternity, i will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see teachings of the prophet joseph smith, compiled by joseph fielding smith, p.
Joseph smith, the first prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, was an uneducated farm boy with no resources for research who translated ancient writings into the book of mormon, over 500 pages long, in under 65 days. Original broadway cast recording joseph smith american moses performed by nikki m james and the company. Joseph smith was seventeen, and for the past three years the heavens had been silent. Nov 16, 2011 joseph smiths letter to the american revivalist feb 2, 1833 the book of mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of indians by it, we learn that our western tribes of indians, are descendants from that joseph that was sold into egypt, and that the land of america is a promised land unto them. Yet this american frontier prophet of the early 1800s found little honor and eventual martyrdom at the hands of an angry mob in his own country. Yet this american frontier prophet of the early 1800s found little honor and. Joseph smith translated it by the gift and power of god. Cole claims in the book of pukei that the book of mormon really came into existence in the following manner. Joseph smith s first vision several accounts of joseph smith s experience. Smith was the founding prophet and first president of the church. Joshep smith american moses is the fifteenth song in the broadway musical the book of mormon.
The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with. Joseph looked into the hat in which he placed the stone, and received a revelation that some of the brethren should go to toronto, canada, and that they would sell the of the book of mormon. Joseph smiths first vision several accounts of joseph smiths experience. Review american prophet is all about proselytizing and not exactly a balanced look at smiths life. They saw, understood, and spoke to us in the last days. Joseph smith was born 23 december 1805 in sharon, vermont. The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious teachings of joseph smith. The story of joseph smith, is an online resource with information on joseph smith, his life, and his legacy. In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith, after progressive study. The book of mormon shows joseph smith to be a false prophet last night on the streets of manti, i had an interesting discussion with a man about his beliefs and the book of mormon. Joseph smithoccultism and magicspiritual experiences.
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