The “Mormon” Prophet Joseph Smith
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
Many people live in darkness, unsure of God’s will. They believe that the heavens are closed and that people must face the world’s perils alone.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often misnamed Mormons) believe that Joseph Smith was called by God to be a prophet and to restore the true gospel on the earth to prepare men for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
What Is a Prophet?
A prophet is a man called by God to be his representative on earth. When a prophet speaks for God, it is as if God were speaking. A prophet is also a special witness for Christ, testifying of His divinity and teaching His gospel. A prophet teaches truth and interprets the word of God. He calls the unrighteous to repentance. He receives revelations and directions from the Lord for our benefit. He may see into the future and foretell coming events so that the world may be warned.
Prophets may come from various stations in life. A prophet may be young or old, highly educated, or unschooled. He may be a farmer, a lawyer, or a teacher. Ancient prophets wore tunics and carried staffs. Modern prophets wear suits and carry briefcases. What, then, identifies a true prophet? A true prophet is always chosen by God and called through proper priesthood authority.
Members of the “Mormon Church” believe that Joseph Smith was called to be the first prophet of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. They currently sustain the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. However, when they speak of “the prophet of the Church,” they mean the President of the Church, who is President of the high priesthood.
A Sketch of Joseph Smith by Those Who Knew Him
by Doris White A recent publication by Mark L. McConkie, Remembering Joseph: Personal Recollections of Those Who Knew the Prophet Joseph Smith, is a wonderful collection of memories and impressions of the remarkable man Joseph Smith was. Some of the excerpts in this article are from McConkie’s book, and they will help you to come […]
Joseph Smith Papers Project
The Joseph Smith Papers Project is an ambitious undertaking my scholars, archivists, and editors employed by the Church History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to provide a complete and accurate publication of all known surviving papers of Joseph Smith in one easily accessible location. All documents in the project will […]
Joseph Smith’s Prophecies
If a person is an active, faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called Mormons), then he or she must have received a personal witness that Joseph Smith was a called and chosen prophet of God. Joseph was called of God to restore the fulness of the gospel of Jesus […]
Joseph Smith: An Overview
Birth and Childhood Joseph Smith, Jr. was born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. He was the fifth child (including an unnamed son who died at birth in 1797), of eleven children born to Joseph Smith Sr. (1771–1848) and Lucy Mack (1775–1856). Of those eleven children, nine survived to adulthood. Of the surviving nine, there were […]
Joseph Smith: The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon and Organization of the Church
The Golden Plates and the Translation of the Records On September 22, 1827, Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, borrowed a horse and buggy and went to the Hill Cumorah, where a record engraved on gold plates was buried. Joseph was given the records by the Angel Moroni, a heavenly messenger who had visited and instructed Joseph many times. Joseph […]
Joseph Smith’s First Vision – Scholars Explore the Accounts
The First Vision is the name given to the seminal event in the Restoration—the visitation of God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, to Joseph Smith in the Spring of 1820. The event is recognized and revered by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) around the world. The official […]
Smith Howland Chart
Joseph Smith had strong ancestors, and many noble men came from the same line as he did, including five U.S. presidents and one British prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill. This descendancy chart, from Henry Howland, shows that these men came from the same line through three of Howland’s sons: Arthur, John, and Henry. Sir Winston […]
Timeline of Joseph Smith’s Life
Highlights in the Prophet’s Life Joseph Smith’s thirty-eight and one-half years were marked by the highest of spiritual peaks and the depths of tribulation, sorrow, and betrayal such as few mortals have experienced. It was in the hearts of some who knew him to be his brothers and sisters for eternity, and in the hearts […]
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