John G. Turner, who
wrote an excellent biography of Brigham Young a decade ago, has returned with “Joseph Smith: The Rise
and Fall of an American Prophet.” It’s a worthy, above-average book.
The George Mason
University professor of religious studies and history had access to historical
documents that previous biographers of Smith, Richard Bushman and Fawn Brodie
did not enjoy. Nevertheless, I place those two previous biographies
of Smith a little higher than Turner's good-faith effort.
Turner provides new
nuggets of information. However it seems an economical effort despite its
400-plus page length. It’s a fair account, but with little passion. Turner makes a
deliberate attempt early to assure readers the Golden Plates, of which the
church founder Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon, was a fantasy of Smith’s, a
fabrication.
No one wants Turner, who is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to tub-thump The Book of Mormon, or the LDS church, or even Smith. But a sheer declaration that claims are flat-out wrong non-plused me. Why not a disinterested, neutral stance where the author simply states what Smith presented during his lifetime, recording acceptance of, and opposition to; and consequences thereof?
I do not believe that Turner carries a grudge against Smith. I
think he’s presented a generally balanced, fair account of Smith’s life. He regards Smith
as a charismatic, persuasive man prone to risks that led to setbacks largely
caused by his inability to foresee adverse, destructive consequences to rash
decisions. Events in early church history, through Ohio, Missouri and the years
in Nauvoo, are effectively presented by the author.
Turner appropriately
notes the many mistakes made by the rash young prophet, who frequently
admitted to misinterpreting situations and often behaving in a less-than
prophetic manner. Turner covers his subject's polygamy life in great detail. Some was new information to me. This should put to rest current attempts to deny the
practice occurred. In fact, reading the books I was amazed that Community of Christ
Church members in the 19th century could deny Smith’s involvement in polygamy
without laughing.
I enjoyed Turner’s
accounts of Smith and others journeying to our nation’s Capitol to lobby on behalf the young church, unsuccessfully. Another strong history nugget was an account
of a trip to Massachusetts to find some alleged treasure – unsuccessful.
Turner does an effective
job of detailing the tightly knit Smith family, and their mostly successful
attempts to maintain solidarity despite conflict, particularly between Joseph
and his brother William.
The final days prior to
the murders of Smith and his brother Hyrum in Carthage are related in detail by
Turner. The barbarity of the acts underscore how savage life was in 1844 central United States. I appreciated reading Turner’s account of
murderers, such as newspaperman Thomas Sharpe, excusing his blood lust with a lame claim that he prevented more deaths. Turner’s account also reveals
Illinois Gov. Thomas Ford’s behavior before and after the martyrdom as both
feckless and weak.
A final note: A reason I
think Turner lacks passion in his biography is that he never effectively shows
how Joseph Smith, despite all the setbacks, managed to draw tens of thousands
of followers to believe his message, follow The Book of Mormon, stay in the
church, and embrace the idea of eternal life as family units. This strong faith and devotion endured many setbacks – culminating
in Smith’s death – that threatened the embryonic faith's existence.
Some insight into Smith’s appeal comes from Bushman’s “Rough Stone Rolling,” which notes reasons why Smith’s message was so appealing to religious seekers. One, Smith didn’t allow himself to be the subject of his message. And Smith's doctrine of temples and eternal marriages and gathering of families appealed to people’s desire of a life -- and purpose -- after death
beyond a stereotypical heaven or hell.
In fairness, perhaps no scholarly book can explain Mormonism and its followers devotion.
You can buy Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet, Yale University Press, 2025 here on its Amazon page. Searching online, I could not find this worthy biography at Deseret Book. That’s a shame.
– Doug Gibson