Reflections on the Prophet Joseph
In Joseph Smith History 1:33, Moroni tells Joseph, an obscure, seventeen-year-old, undereducated farm boy, that his name “should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues,” and that “it should be both good and evil spoken of.” That prophecy, remarkably, unquestionably, has been fulfilled.
Was it part of God’s plan to allow Satan and his minions to malign the name of Joseph Smith as a test for those of us who love and believe in the restored gospel? Is it part of a divine plan to require honest seekers of truth within the church, and investigators of truth outside the church, to obtain spiritual witnesses strong enough to withstand the often-confusing historical record?
Early church history is puzzling in part because it reflects a time, a mentality, and a culture much different from our own; furthermore, the record we’ve inherited is often contradictory and therefore cannot possibly be entirely factual. Some tales from those days must have come from good and honest people who, because of false rumors and cultural biases, misunderstood the events they witnessed. Other accounts are obviously laden with lies, conjured up by a body of Satan-inspired people . . . bitter, jealous, and prideful; and perpetuated by obviously confused folks in our day who bewilder us with their insatiable appetite for attacking faith. Such individuals seem to be victims themselves of that same old father of lies.
Can we not recognize all of this for what it is? As prophesied, the “dragon” is making war with those who “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:17)
Even though I am often perplexed by the things I read, I choose to believe in the Prophet. I choose to retain my faith in him.
I know that when I have wandered off the “strait and narrow,” I have lost the Spirit. During such breaches, my ability to teach the gospel, give blessings, lead my family, and fulfill my callings has been significantly compromised.
“So,” I ask myself, “could Joseph Smith have done the great work that he did; could he have brought forth the deep and inspiring revelations of the Restoration, with their complex doctrines and saving principles, and would he have given his life for the cause if he were an immoral, dishonest, manipulative man?” I don’t think so. I don’t believe he could have done it. The scriptures he brought forth, the inspired spiritual and temporal truths he brought to light, which continue to bless the lives of millions today and will do so in the future . . . are full of heavenly power and goodness, and the love of God radiates from all of it.
The Spirit testifies to anyone who asks with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ (Moroni 10:4-5), that the restored gospel, as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, could only have come from our Savior; and this is the strongest evidence, in my mind and heart, in favor of Joseph’s righteousness and goodness and purity of heart.
The Prophet Joseph was a mortal man and therefore not perfect. Certainly, he made mistakes. Certainly, his challenges were almost insurmountable. In the whirlwinds of grief, of hurt, of betrayal, of suffering through personal pain and the plights of those whom he loved, those who had put such trust in him; through the darkness of the adversary’s buffeting and mists of self-doubt, discouragement, and his own perplexities, which he most assuredly was wont to navigate, it is clear and understandable that, on occasion, Joseph may have made some poor judgments and even some blatant mistakes.
Like all of us, Joseph Smith must avail himself of the atonement, and rely on the grace of our Savior. Repentance and incremental growth were part of God’s plan for Joseph, just as they are for the rest of us. But his mistakes, whatever they may have been, are dwarfed by his astonishing and blessed accomplishments.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Let those who have been guilty of casting stones measure their own lives and the good they have accomplished, against Joseph’s life and the good he accomplished.
Why is it that so many people today constantly search for the foibles of fallen mankind in order to diminish our heroes? Praise to the man!
—Richard B. Scoville
