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Joseph Smith's trustworthiness
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Joseph Smith's trustworthiness
At the age of ten my father's family removed to Palmyra, N. Y. where, and in the vicinity of which, I lived, or, made it my place of residence, until I was twenty one—the latter part, in the town of Manchester.During this time, as is common to most, or all youths, I fell into many vices and follies; but as my accusers are, and have been forward to accuse me of being guilty of gross and outrageous violations of the peace and good order of the community, I take the occasion to remark, that, though, as I have said above, "as is common to most, or all youths, I fell into many vices and follies," I have not, neither can it be sustained, in truth, been guilty of wronging or injuring any man or society of men; and those imperfections to which I allude, and for which I have often had occasion to lament, were a light, and too often, vain mind, exhibiting a foolish and trifling conversation. This being all, and the worst, that my accusers can substantiate against my moral character, I wish to add, that it is not without a deep feeling of regret that I am thus called upon in answer to my own conscience, to fulfill a duty I owe to myself, as well as to the cause of truth, in making this public confession of my former uncircumspect walk, and unchaste conversation: and more particularly, as I often acted in violation of those holy precepts which I knew came from God. But as the "Articles and Covenants" of this church are plain upon this particular point, I do not deem it important to proceed further. I only add, that (I do not, nor never have, pretended to be any other than a man "subject to passion," and liable, without the assisting grace of the Savior, to deviate from that perfect path in which all men are commanded to walk!)
—Joseph Smith, Jr., (December 1834) Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 1:40.
Question: Was Joseph Smith, Jr. known as a "disreputable person"?
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- Question: Was Joseph Smith, Jr. known as a "disreputable person?"
- Joseph was only seen as lacking character in the opinion of those that misunderstood him and opposed his efforts in restoring the Church
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Stephen H. Webb: "Evidence That Demands Our Amazement... Joseph Smith was a remarkable person"
Non-LDS Christian Stephen H. Webb wrote:[1]
By any measurement, Joseph Smith was a remarkable person. His combination of organizational acumen with spiritual originality and personal decorum and modesty is rare in the history of religion. He was so steadfast in his ability to inspire men and women through times of great hardship that none of those who knew him could claim to fully understand him. He knew more about theology and philosophy than it was reasonable for anyone in his position to know, as if he were dipping into the deep, collective unconsciousness of Christianity with a very long pen. He read the Bible in ways so novel that he can be considered a theological innocent—he expanded and revised the biblical narrative without questioning its authority—yet he brusquely overturned ancient and impregnable metaphysical assumptions with the aplomb of an assistant professor. For someone so charismatic, he was exceptionally humble, even ordinary, and he delegated authority with the wisdom of a man looking far into the future for the well-being of his followers. It would be tempting to compare him to Mohammed—who also combined pragmatic political skill and a genius for religious innovation—if he were not so deeply Christian. [Title is Webb's.][2]:95
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- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
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- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
FAIR Answers—back to home page <onlyinclude>
- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
FAIR Answers—back to home page <onlyinclude>
- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
FAIR Answers—back to home page <onlyinclude>
- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
FAIR Answers—back to home page <onlyinclude>
- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
FAIR Answers—back to home page <onlyinclude>
- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
FAIR Answers—back to home page <onlyinclude>
- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
FAIR Answers—back to home page <onlyinclude>
- REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Notes
- ↑ "Webb is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He is a graduate of Wabash College and earned his PhD at the University of Chicago before returning to his alma mater to teach. Born in 1961 he grew up at Englewood Christian Church, an evangelical church. He joined the Disciples of Christ during He was briefly a Lutheran, and on Easter Sunday, 2007, he officially came into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church."
- ↑ Stephen H. Webb, "Godbodied: The Matter of the Latter-day Saints (reprint from his book Jesus Christ, Eternal God: Heavenly Flesh and the Metaphysics of Matter (Oxford University Press, 2012)," Brigham Young University Studies 50 no. 3 (2011). (emphasis added)