Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was the first prophet of modern days. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes called Mormons, is not his church; it’s the Savior’s church. However, Joseph did assist in the restoration of the gospel.
It’s a misconception that Mormons worship Joseph Smith. They treat him as they treat all other prophets-Moses, Noah, Abraham, and other prophets of ancient and modern times. He does get an extra measure of respect for what he did for the church, but he is not worshipped, only respected, and honored.
Joseph Smith was born in Vermont in 1805. When he was about ten, the family moved to Palmyra, New York, although there were several moves in-between his birth and move to New York, and a few local ones afterwards.
It was in Palmyra, in 1820, that Joseph’s life changed forever. His area was experiencing a major religious movement. There were many revivals and religious leaders were competing for members. Everyone was talking about and choosing religions. Joseph found himself confused by the things he heard as he went to the various revivals and services. Each church claimed to be teaching the truth. Each taught conflicting doctrine. Joseph didn’t see how he could figure out which church really was right.
One day, he was reading the Bible when he came across a very important scripture. In James 1:5, he read: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
He realized this was the solution to his problem. Of course, God knew which church was His church, and the Bible promised that God would tell him whatever He needed to know. He went into the woods and prayed. As he did so, a light appeared above him and in the light stood God and Jesus. He asked them which church to join and was told not to join any of them. Each of them had some false teachings.
It was a number of years before Joseph was given the assignment to restore the true gospel to the earth. First he needed to grow up and begin to develop the maturity needed for such a difficult task. When he was seventeen years old, an angel named Moroni came to see him and began tutoring him for the work ahead. Joseph began to learn about God’s truths and also about the kind of person he needed to become. He was, like the prophets of the Old Testament, an imperfect human being who needed to have experiences and develop self-discipline. Eventually, when he had proven he could become who God wanted him to be, he was allowed to take the plates on which the Book of Mormon were written.
This was an ancient book of scripture written in what is today the American continent in ancient times. It was not to replace the Bible, but to be a testimony of the Bible’s truthfulness and to be used along with the Bible.
Learn more about the Book of Mormon.
Joseph Smith was, by this time, married to Emma Hale of Pennsylvania. After obtaining the plates, he went to work translating them. Because he’d had very little education, due to living in places without schools, he dictated the translation to others, who wrote the words down. He dictated quickly, never needing to have anything read back to him.
The Book of Mormon was published in 1830, and with that, the church could be formally organized. It began with only six people meeting in a small home. Today it has grown to a world-wide church with millions of members.
Times were never easy for the young church. Their opposition to slavery and their rapid growth, as well as non-traditional beliefs about some subjects, made them the object of persecution. Many were murdered, and there was even an extermination order on the law books on any Mormon in Missouri, the only American church to face that illegal action in a country that prides itself on freedom of religion.
Joseph Smith was murdered in 1844 with his brother while being held in a prison for things he had never done. His enemies were certain that would put an end to the religion, and had it been his church, it’s likely it would have. However, it was God’s church and Joseph had already outlined how the church would continue when he was gone, knowing he would eventually be killed. Today, the church is growing rapidly and securely, with a prophet always at its helm. He has left behind a great legacy for his sacrifices.