Will the real JOE SMITH stand -up?

Towle a visionary herself, an itinerant preacher who helped satisfy the young nation's hunger for preaching came to see the New Prophet for herself. She quipped, "Are you not ashamed of such pretensions?...You who are no more than an ignorant plough-boy... Joseph calmly noted, "the gift has returned again, as in former times to ILLITERATE FISHERMEN."

Some questioned the capacity of the uneducated prophet to do justice with God's revelations. Some questioned their authenticity when errors were made. The nature of the Revealed word, according to Joseph, was from God but not God's diction or dialect or native language ...recognizing the limitations of language and the weaknesses of himself...Joseph could freely edit his works and did so. Joseph encouraged the Saints to have this same kind of personal experience for themselves, for their families and as part of their stewardship.

Joseph gave up the Urim & Thummim..he no longer needed it ....was content with the spirit of Prophesy & Revelation.



According to some, Joseph's demeanor fell short of a prophet's character. He lacked "sobriety, prudence and stability" frequently showing "a spirit of lightness and levity, a temper easily irritated and a habitual proneness to jesting and joking"

Emma moved from house to house...no more settled than when she married Joseph 5 years previous


this tough guy said to be the strongest man on the Western Preserve said he could take Joseph Smith out alone...he had a hold of Joseph's leg as the mob carried Joseph from his home. Joseph gave a kick and tough guy went sprawling out into the street....later admitted the Prophet to the strongest man he had ever got a hold of.


Members came and went... leaders rose and fell...but Joseph persisted.

At 26 years of age, he led an organization of thousands, had huge building projects, always on the run, had his own family, was surrounded by more experienced, talented and polished men, was moving masses of people, tried to implement the idea of consecration, of cooperativism, claimed the miracle of translating a monumental scripture from ancient times, introduced long lost theological principles that grated against Christian tradition, structured a church after the order of the ancient church, restored priesthood and authority to the earth when priesthood was a bad word among protestants, published revelations of God speaking today...yet maintained unmatched resolve and conviction among tyranny and desertion and attack....yet maintained his sanity with calm and dignity even as his ultimate destiny loomed.