Mormonism: Who was Joseph Smith?

Mormonism: Who was Joseph Smith?

A Prophet of God

Like most prophets, Joseph Smith was not born a prophet. He was born into a humble, loving family. He grew as any other child of his time, doing what he was capable of to help support the family of eleven. Joseph was the third-oldest son. Not only did work and play sustain this family, but also daily study of the Holy Bible. Joseph would even study the Bible on his own as he searched to know which church he should join.

Joseph read in the New Testament, James 1:5 which reads, "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." Joseph knew in his soul that this is exactly what he needed to do. So, Joseph went into a grove of trees near his family's home and knelt to pray. After some struggle, a beam of light appeared high above his head and in it were two personages descending down towards him. These personages were God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. They told Joseph not to join any of the current churches, that none were led by God himself.




In time, Joseph was told about the ancient American prophets' recordings, written on thin plates of gold. Joseph was instructed over a period of four years before getting the plates in order to translate them with God's power into English. These records are what are known as the Book of Mormon, named after the prophet-historian Mormon.

Joseph was instructed on how to organize Christ's Church back on the earth again after centuries of apostasy. All of what Joseph did for Mormonism was under the direction of Jesus Christ through prophetic revelation. Joseph was martyred and became the first of a line of subsequent latter-day prophets in our time. Today's prophet is Thomas S. Monson.

This video depicts a small portion of Joseph Smith's history in Mormonism.

I've written more about Joseph Smith and who he was at http://www.squidoo.com/history-of-mormonism-who-was-joseph-smith
My story of conversion regarding this latter-day prophet can be read at http://www.squidoo.com/joseph-smith5

Read more about Mormonism and Joseph Smith:

http://www.mormontopics.org 
(read more answers to the question: who was Joseph Smith?)

http://www.mormon.org/chat?cid=sgo-csm-cm
(CHAT live with a missionary about Joseph Smith and Mormonism)

http://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon
(read your own copy of the Book of Mormon)

http://www.lds.org
(read the scriptures online and other words of prophets and leaders in Mormonism)