Church History

Cover image via Gospel Media Library. 

All of the following are Joseph Smith’s words, excepting those in italics.

Me: Today, I have the honor and privilege of interviewing Joseph Smith Jr., the Prophet of the Restoration. I am humbled and intimidated. Thank you, President Smith, for agreeing to this interview. I have wondered how I should address you. I have read that in your day you were called Joseph and Brother Joseph by Church members. Today, when we speak of our prophet, we use the dignity of his full name and title—President Russell M. Nelson. If I were to interview him, I would address him as “President Nelson.” In like manner, I would like to call you, President Smith. May I begin by asking you what is your role in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? 

President Smith: I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. And since you have taken the proper steps to obtain correct information from me all that I shall ask… is that you publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation. 

Me: I will. Using the technology of today, here is the link to the full text of the Wentworth Letter from which these statements come: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/6720/6720-h/6720-h.htm.

President Smith: Thank you.

Me: May we begin by learning a little about your early life?

President Smith: I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor co., Vermont, on the 23d of December, A.D. 1805. When ten years old my parents removed to Palmyra, New York, where we resided about four years, and from thence we removed to the town of Manchester. My father was a farmer and taught me the art of husbandry. Because my time here is short, rather than rehearse my personal history, I would like to discuss the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day Saints.

Me: Of course. I do know that many of the details of your early life are in the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-History. Is asking you how old were you when you began to think about God a good place to begin?

President Smith: When about fourteen years of age I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future state, and upon enquiring [of] the plan of salvation I found that there was a great clash in religious sentiment; if I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another to another, each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection: considering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a church, it would not be split up into factions, and that if he taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, He would not teach another, principles which were diametrically opposed.

Me: May I ask where you went to find answers?

President Smith: Believing the word of God, I had confidence in the declaration of James; “If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him.”

Me: That is incredible. Do I understand that you read a verse in the book of James in the Bible and founded a church from there?

President Smith: No. I pondered intently on how to proceed and “at length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God.” (Joseph Smith-History 1:13). At length I retired to a secret place in a grove and began to call upon the Lord, while fervently engaged in supplication my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noon-day. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines and that none of them was acknowledged of God as His Church and kingdom. And I was expressly commanded to “go not after them,” at the same time receiving a promise that the fullness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me. 

Me: What a truly, remarkable experience. It reminds me of the story in the Bible when the boy Samuel was called to be a prophet. I assume you followed the instruction not to join any church and that you were anxious to receive the gospel in its fullness.

President Smith: Yes. But I heard nothing more for three and one-half years. Then on the evening of the 21st of September, A.D. 1823, while I was praying unto God, and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of scripture on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance, and brightness burst into the room, indeed the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire; the appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body; in a moment a personage stood before me surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God sent to bring the joyful tidings, that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled, that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel, in all its fulness to be preached in power, unto all nations that a people might be prepared for the millennial reign.

Me: You were so young, just seventeen. Were you told why you were receiving this information?

President Smith: I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious dispensation.

Me: Oh, how much was placed upon your young shoulders. May I ask what else you learned? 

President Smith: I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country (America), and shown who they were, and from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people was made known unto me.

Me: I assume by “aboriginal inhabitants of this country,” you mean the Native Americans.

President Smith: Correct. I was also told where there was deposited some plates on which were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country.

Me: That’s a lot to take in. I’m surprised you remember the details.

President Smith: The angel appeared to me three times the same night and unfolded the same things. 

Me: The very same things?

President Smith: That is how I could remember so well. The angel also appeared to me the next morning and repeated, yet again, the same information and instructions.

 Me: I’m curious about the Indians. Did you learn anything more about them?

President Smith: I did. On the plates, the history of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the Tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are informed by these records that America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called Jaredites and came directly from the Tower of Babel. The second race came directly from the city of Jerusalem, about six hundred years before Christ. They were principally Israelites, of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century.

Me: That would be interesting to read. Did you ever see the plates or read these writings. 

President Smith: After having received many visits from the angels of God unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22d of September, A.D. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands.

Me: What did the plates look like?

President Smith Jr: These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold, each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters and bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction and much skill in the art of engraving.

Me: Did you know how to read Egyptian?

President Smith: No, but with the records was found a curious instrument which the ancients called “Urim and Thummim,” which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate. Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift, and power of God.

Me: From what you said, the story on the plates is all about war.

President Smith: No, not at all. The book tells us that our Savior made his appearance upon this continent after his resurrection, that he planted the gospel here in all its fulness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists; the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessings, as was enjoyed on the eastern continent, that the people were cut off in consequence of their transgressions, that the last of their prophets who existed among them was commanded to write an abridgment of their prophecies, history, &c., and to hide it up in the earth, and that it should come forth and be united with the bible for the accomplishment of the purposes of God in the last days. 

Me: Do you encourage others to read this book? 

President Smith: Yes, absolutely. For a more particular account I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can be purchased at Nauvoo, or from any of our travelling elders.

Me: At what point did you organize the church? 

President Smith: On the 6th of April, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was first organized in the town of Manchester, Ontario co., state of New York. Some few were called and ordained by the spirit of revelation, and prophecy, and began to preach as the spirit gave them utterance, and though weak, yet were they strengthened by the power of God, and many were brought to repentance, were immersed in the water, and were filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. They saw visions and prophesied, devils were cast out and the sick healed by the laying on of hands. From that time the work rolled forth with astonishing rapidity, and churches were formed in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri; in the last-named state a considerable settlement was formed in Jackson co.; numbers joined the Church and we were increasing rapidly; we made large purchases of land, our farms teemed with plenty, and peace and happiness were enjoyed in our domestic circle and throughout our neighborhood.

Me: Earlier you mention that you experienced persecution.

President Smith: Soon after my first vision, I told a minister about it. From that point on false reports, misrepresentation, and slander flew as on the wings of the wind in every direction. Persecution increased and forced us from place to place. In Missouri an organized mob assembled and burned our houses, tarred and feathered, and whipped many of our brethren and finally drove them from their habitations; who, houseless, and homeless, contrary to law, justice, and humanity, had to wander on the bleak prairies till the children left the tracks of their blood on the prairie, this took place in the month of November, and they had no other covering but the canopy of heaven, in this inclement season of the year; this proceeding was winked at by the government and although we had warrantee deeds for our land, and had violated no law we could obtain no redress.

Me: How horrific. Where did you go then?

President Smith: We arrived in the state of Illinois in 1839, where we found a hospitable people and a friendly home; a people who were willing to be governed by the principles of law and humanity. We have commenced to build a city called “Nauvoo” in Hancock co., we number from six to eight thousand here besides vast numbers in the county around and in almost every county of the state. We have a city charter granted us and a charter for a legion the troops of which now number 1,500. We have also a charter for a university, for an agricultural and manufacturing society, have our own laws and administrators, and possess all the privileges that other free and enlightened citizens enjoy.

Me: How has the Church grown so rapidly?

President Smith: Persecution has not stopped the progress of truth, but has only added fuel to the flame, it has spread with increasing rapidity… into England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In the year 1839 where a few of our missionaries were sent over five thousand joined the standard of truth, there are numbers now joining in every land. Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, the East Indies, and other places.

Me: What do you feel is the future of the Church?

President Smith: The standard of truth has been erected: no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

Me: Thank you for this profound interview.

President Smith: I must say in parting that the Book of Mormon is “the most correct of any book on earth” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon) and another testament of Jesus Christ. I must also say that after dedicating the temple at Kirtland, Oliver Cowdery and I saw Jesus Christ “on the right hand of God…. Jesus is the Only Begotten of the Father… and we are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24). This “work… is destined to bring about the destruction of the powers of darkness, the renovation of the earth, the glory of God, and the salvation of the human family” (Teaching, 232).