{"id":10604,"date":"2016-06-24T10:05:07","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T16:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/speeches.byu.edu\/?p=10604"},"modified":"2023-11-17T15:23:01","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T22:23:01","slug":"joseph-smith-man-prophet","status":"publish","type":"blog_post","link":"https:\/\/speeches.byu.edu\/posts\/joseph-smith-man-prophet\/","title":{"rendered":"Joseph Smith: A Man and Prophet"},"content":{"rendered":"

BYU has been blessed with many devotionals and speeches on the Prophet Joseph Smith by some of the most preeminent scholars in the field. In commemoration of the 172nd anniversary of the Prophet\u2019s martyrdom, we invite you to get to know the man behind the Restoration with excerpts from some of these speeches.<\/p>\n

\"Joseph<\/p>\n

Joseph\u2019s Personality<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joseph was confident and sure of himself but did not take himself more seriously than the circumstances warranted. <\/em>[Leonard J. Arrington, \u201cThe Looseness of Zion: Joseph Smith and the Lighter View<\/u><\/a>]<\/p>\n

Joseph Smith possessed the secret of making friends. His radiant personality, his acceptance of man\u2019s innate goodness, and his love for all men won him many friends. . . . Parley P. Pratt described Joseph Smith as \u201cpossessing a noble boldness, an independence of character. His manner was easy and familiar, his benevolence unbounded as the ocean. Even his most bitter enemies were generally overcome if he could once get their ears\u201d (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pp. 45\u201346).<\/em> [Ivan J. Barrett, \u201cJoseph Smith\u2014the Chosen of God and the Friend of Man\u201d<\/u><\/a>]<\/p>\n

Joseph\u2019s Hobbies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joseph Smith favored music, drama, debating, hiking, boating, athletics, parties, dancing, and picnics. He liked going for long walks, horseback riding, and getting out into the beauty of nature. <\/em>[Leonard J. Arrington, \u201cThe Looseness of Zion: Joseph Smith and the Lighter View<\/u><\/a>]<\/p>\n

 <\/em>Joseph and His Family<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Prophet enjoyed his family. . . . Joseph came downstairs from the room \u201cwhere he had been translating by the gift and power of God\u201d and began to romp and play with his children (Journal of Discourses, 2:214). . . . The Prophet\u2019s journal mentions going with his family to musical concerts, the theater, and circus performances, and taking excursions on Mississippi riverboats. <\/em>[Leonard J. Arrington, \u201cThe Looseness of Zion: Joseph Smith and the Lighter View<\/u><\/a>]<\/p>\n

Joseph and the Church<\/strong><\/p>\n

He could see no fault in the Church. He loved the majority of the Church members so well that he wanted to be resurrected with them. He was not concerned whether they were resurrected in heaven or in hell. In fact, he was to say that if we find ourselves in hell, we will turn the devils out of doors and make a heaven of it. Wherever the Saints should be Joseph knew there would be a good society.<\/em> [Ivan J. Barrett, \u201cJoseph Smith\u2014the Chosen of God and the Friend of Man\u201d<\/u><\/a>]<\/p>\n

Joseph the Prophet<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joseph Smith\u2019s life exemplified the role of what a prophet was, is, and should be. And he was not shy or reserved in letting others know that he was indeed a genuine prophet\u2014 one called and appointed by the very God of heaven Himself. His doctrinal teachings are profound, far-reaching, and all encompassing, and to those seeking additional light and truth, his inspired instructions and concepts are comparable in many instances to the eternal truths revealed in the canon of scripture.<\/em> [Alexander L. Baugh, \u201cJoseph Smith: Seer, Translator, Revelator, and Prophet\u201d<\/u><\/a>]<\/p>\n

Here are more BYU speeches on Joseph Smith:<\/p>\n

Richard Lloyd Anderson, \u201cParallel Prophets: Paul and Joseph Smith\u201d<\/u> <\/a><\/p>\n

Russell Ballard, \u201cWhat Came from Kirtland\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

William E. Berrett, \u201cThe Life and Character of the Prophet Joseph Smith\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

James A. Cullimore, \u201cJoseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Richard C. Edgley, \u201cJoseph Smith\u2014The Prophet\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Terryl L. Givens, \u201c\u2018Lightning Out of Heaven\u2019: Joseph Smith and the Forging of Community\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Jack H. Goaslind, \u201cJoseph Smith\u2019s Christlike Attributes\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

David B. Haight, \u201cJoseph Smith: The Prophet\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Gordon B. Hinckley, \u201cJoseph Smith: \u2018Praise to the Man\u2019\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Jeffrey R. Holland, \u201cLessons from Liberty Jail\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Neal A. Maxwell, \u201cJoseph Smith: \u2018A Choice Seer\u2019\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Bruce R. McConkie, \u201cJoseph Smith: A Revealer of Christ\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

David L. Paulsen, \u201cJoseph Smith and the Problem of Evil\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Katherine D. Pullins, \u201cBut for Joseph\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Cecil O. Samuelson, \u201cStand by My Servant Joseph\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Heidi S. Swinton, \u201cJoseph Smith: Lover of the Cause of Christ\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nJoseph Smith: A Man and Prophet | BYU Speeches<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Joseph Smith: A Man and Prophet\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BYU has been blessed with many devotionals and speeches on the Prophet Joseph Smith by some of the most preeminent scholars in the field. In commemoration of the 172nd anniversary of the Prophet\u2019s martyrdom, we invite you to get to know the man behind the Restoration with excerpts from some of these speeches. 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