FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Use of sources/Joseph on par with Jesus Christ
< Criticism of Mormonism | Books | One Nation Under Gods | Use of sources(Redirected from One Nation Under Gods/Use of sources/Joseph on par with Jesus Christ)
Did Brigham Young say that Joseph was on par with Jesus Christ?
| Joseph Smith's Narcissism | A FAIR Analysis of: One Nation Under Gods, a work by author: Richard Abanes
|
Thou Shalt Not Raise a False Report |
Author's Claims
One Nation under Gods, page 174 (hardback and paperback)
Brigham Young said that Joseph Smith's character "was easily on par with Jesus Christ's."
Author's Sources
Endnote 17, page 543 (hardback); page 541 (paperback)
- Brigham Young, (August 13, 1871) Journal of Discourses 14:203.
Question: Did Brigham Young state the Joseph Smith's character was easily on par with that of Jesus Christ?
Brigham was comparing Joseph Smith against other prophets, not Jesus Christ
Brigham did not say Joseph's character was "easily on par with Jesus Christ's"...he said that Joseph's character "stands as fair as that of any man's mentioned in the Bible." Brigham was comparing Joseph Smith with other prophets. (see below):
"Well, now, examine the character of the Savior, and examine the characters of those who have written the Old and New Testaments; and then compare them with the character of Joseph Smith, the founder of this work —- the man whom God called and to whom He gave the keys of Priesthood, and through whom He has established His Church and kingdom for the last time, and you will find that his character stands as fair as that of any man's mentioned in the Bible. We can find no person who presents a better character to the world when the facts are known than Joseph Smith, jun., the prophet, and his brother, Hyrum Smith, who was murdered with him." (emphasis added)
Brigham Young: "I am bold to say that, Jesus Christ, excepted, no better man ever lived or does live upon this earth"
Elsewhere, Brigham also said:
Who can justly say aught against Joseph Smith? I was as well acquainted with him, as any man. I do not believe that his father and mother knew him any better than I did. I do not think that a man lives on the earth that knew him any better than I did; and I am bold to say that, Jesus Christ, excepted, no better man ever lived or does live upon this earth. I am his witness. He was persecuted for the same reason that any other righteous person has been or is persecuted at the present day.[1]
President Young's meaning is clear; those who claim otherwise have distorted this text and Brigham's intent.
Notes
- ↑ Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 9:332.