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Alonzo Gaskill and Richard Moore have created a revised and expanded edition of Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (TPJS), first published by Joseph Fielding Smith in 1938. They intend to provide readers with the earliest-known manuscripts, make it easier to compare Joseph Smith quotes with the previous book, and further the legacy of the classic publication. The new edition published by Greg Kofford Books uses, but doesn’t exclusively rely on, scholarship produced by the Joseph Smith Papers Project. In this interview, Gaskill and Moore discuss their new book.
What inspired you to create this revised edition of The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith?
We both loved the original Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (TPJS) and had memorized many of the quotes attributed to the Prophet Joseph. However, with the Joseph Smith Papers project, that volume largely found itself on the “outs,” not trusted as it once was. We wanted the Prophet’s teachings to still be accessible—but as correct as possible. Hence, the 10-year project to create a new version of this once very popular text.
Richard Moore: The project was Alonzo Gaskill’s idea. He came to me after his student researchers had difficulty finding some original or earliest sources. I initially came on board as a researcher. Later, as we became aware of how large this project was becoming, he invited me to be a co-compiler. I was excited to be part of this. As strange as it might sound to most people, I actually enjoy research.
Alonzo Gaskill: Years ago, I had an experience with one of the leaders of the Community of Christ. The individual questioned the need for a compilation of Joseph Smith’s teachings, suggesting that Jesus’ teachings were all that mattered.
While I agree that Jesus’ teachers are crucial, even central, Joseph (as the prophet of the restoration) made significant contributions to our understanding of Christ and our approach to a relationship with Christ. So, when the original TPJS went out of print, I was reminded of that experience and really wanted an accurate version of this text to continue to exist so that the prophet remained “quotable,” accessible, and relevant.
How did the Joseph Smith Papers Project influence the book?
Alonzo initially assumed they would take on this project, but when he discussed this with Joseph Smith Papers (JSP) affiliates and discovered that they would not do it, he jumped on the decade-long project. We chatted with various affiliates during the project, but the book is not affiliated with the JSP project and doesn’t solely rely on their work.
Richard Moore: The Joseph Smith Papers were invaluable—an awesome work. I initially thought I would be using the JSP almost exclusively, but I soon discovered that many other sources were unavailable in the JSP. For example, journal entries or diaries of others, newspapers, letters, and documents in the Church History Library were not found in the JSP.
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