Personal Writings of Joseph Smith

by Joseph Smith Jr.

The problem of understanding who Joseph Smith was, what his personality was like, is not so hopeless, but nevertheless real. For while the Mormon prophet produced a sizable collection of papers, the question remains as to how clearly they reflect his own thoughts and personality. The answer lies in the documents themselves and becomes particularly clear when we note that the sources are not the past but only the raw materials whence we form our conception of the past, and in using them we inherit the limitations that produced themâ the lack of personal writing, the wide use of clerks taking dictation or even being assigned to write for him, and the editorial reworking of reports of what he did and said. For example, Howard Coray, employed with E. D. Woolley in 1840 to work on the Prophet's History, relates that Joseph furnished all the material and that "our business, was not only to combine, and arrange in chronological order, but to spread out or amplify not a little, in as good historical style as may be." 5 When Joseph Smith began his record-keeping career in the early 1830s, he tenaciously sought to preserve records of personal and public value and to hand down to posterity an accurate picture of his life and the work in which he was engaged. The history he produced is of monumental importance. But limitations inherent in record keeping and history writing have had a screening effect upon our understanding of the Prophet. The very sources that inform also tend to obscure.

Genres: Lds, Religion, History, Nonfiction

736 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Joseph Smith, Jr. was the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, also known as Mormonism, and an important religious and political figure during the 1830s and 1840s. In 1827, Smith began to gather a religious following after announcing that an angel had shown him a set of golden plates describing a visit of Jesus to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. 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.

For most of the 1830s, Smith lived in Kirtland, Ohio, which remained the headquarters of the church until Smith began encouraging members to gather the church to a Latter Day Saint settlement in Missouri. There, tensions between Mormons and non-Mormons resulted in the expelling of the Mormons. Smith and his people then settled in Nauvoo, Illinois where they began building a new temple aided by new converts from Europe. He was assassinated by a mob of non-Mormons at the age of 38.

Smith's followers consider him a prophet and have canonized some of his revelations as sacred texts on par with the Bible. His legacy as a leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been recognized by millions of adherents.

Reviews

[Michael Warburton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting look into who Joseph was through his personal writings.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still working on this one. Anything Joseph Smith wrote is worth checking out, IMO.

I will say this, the insght that these writings give into the Prophet as a person are uplifting. The reality of who he was, his humility, and his humanity are almost tangible. Reading this book brings me new respect and love for the prophet.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too bad there were forgeries in this book - 1 of what was supposed to be 3 books. I read the first two, but the third was never published. Now we have the new and improved "Joseph Smith Papers Project" with, hopefully, all forgeries removed.

[Lindsay Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing to see his own writings

[Armatstorage]

Have not read all of it. But it's amazing and I want to own a copy soon.

[Viliami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessee and Ehat are were and are invaluable resources.

[Kendal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A one-volume Joseph Smith Papers Project. All the basics you'd need for any talk or lesson.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primary sources. Now superseded by the Joseph Smith papers.