Joseph Smith

This page summarizes issues related to Joseph Smith, Jr. More detail may be found in the subarticles below.

Character

• The Hurlbut affidavits—Many critics cite a collection of affidavits from Joseph Smith’s neighbors which claim that the Smith family possessed a number of character flaws. Many of Joseph Smith’s friends and neighbors signed affidavits that accused him and his family of being lazy, indolent, undependable treasure-seekers.
• "Amusing recitals" and "Tall Tales?"—Joseph Smith's mother reported that he told "amusing recitals" about the ancient inhabitants of the American continent well before he translated the Book of Mormon. Does this indicate that Joseph was simply a teller of "tall tales?"
• Personality and temperament—Critics point to what they perceive as personal failings of Joseph Smith, such as his allegedly short temper, as evidence that he was not a true prophet of God.
• Boastful about the Church?—Why did Joseph Smith say that he had "more to boast of than ever any man had" and that he was the only man who had been "able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam?"

Treasure seeking and money digging

• Treasure seeking—Was Joseph Smith's engagement in "money digging" or looking for buried treasure a blot on his character?
• Practitioner of occultism and magic?—Critics claim that Joseph Smith's spiritual experiences began as products of "magic," the "occult," or "treasure seeking," and that only later did Joseph describe his experiences in Christian, religious terms: speaking of God, angels, and prophethood.

Occultism and magic

• Jupiter talisman—Critics claim that Joseph Smith had a Jupiter Talisman on his person when he was martyred and cite this as proof of his fascination with the occult.
• The magician Walters as a mentor to Joseph Smith?—Did a "vagabond fortune-teller" named Walters who became popular in the Palmyra area pass his "mantle" to Joseph Smith?

Translator

• Joseph as a translator—Critics claim that Joseph Smith claimed to translate other texts or items, which can be checked against modern academic translations. They claim that this "cross-checking" proves that Joseph could not have translated the Book of Mormon or other ancient texts.
• Seer stones—What do we know about Joseph's seer stone? What is its relation to the "Urim and Thummim"? Did Joseph place his seer stone in his hat while he was translating the Book of Mormon?
• Greek psalter—Did Joseph Smith misidentify an ancient text of Greek psalms (a "psalter") as containing Reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Miracles

• Healings and miracles—Do we have any record of Joseph Smith performing healings or other miracles by the power of Christ's priesthood?

Priesthood holder

• Priesthood restore date

Prophet

• Prophecies—Critics claim that Joseph Smith was not a true prophet, and that he made "false prophecies."

Legal

• Legal trials—What can you tell me about Joseph Smith's problems with the law?
  • 1826 glasslooking trial—Joseph Smith was brought to trial in 1826 for "glasslooking." Didn't Hugh Nibley claim that if this trial record existed that it would be "the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith?"

Finance

• Kirtland Safety Society

Politics and Government

• Politics—Critics charge that Joseph Smith's decision to run for President of the United States in 1844 shows him to be either a megalomaniac bent on amassing ever more power, or a fanatic with delusions of grandeur.
• Nauvoo city charter
• Nauvoo Expositor
• The Council of Fifty

Mason

• Masonic distress cry—Just before he died, did Joseph Smith begin to give the Masonic cry of distress?

Death

• Martyrdom
  • Joseph fired a gun—Was Joseph Smith actually not a martyr because, while in jail, he had a gun and he had the temerity to defend himself? Did Joseph kill two men by firing at the mob?
  • Nauvoo Legion to rescue Joseph?—Did Joseph panic at Carthage Jail, and write an order to Jonathan Dunham (head of the Nauvoo legion), telling him to have the Legion attack the jail and "save him at all costs?"

Miscellaneous claims

• As Holy Ghost?
• Role in LDS belief