New biography of Joseph Smith a worthy effort but lacks passion

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The George Mason University professor of religious studies and history had access to historical documents that previous biographers of Smith, Richard Bushman and Fawn Brodie did not  enjoy.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

Mormonism’s secret to success is its imperfections

I was watching Richard Bushman on DVD speak at some conference or other, the DVD — bought at alas, a remaindered discount at Seagull — doesn’t say where the conference was, or maybe I missed that information. In any event, Bushman is a valuable resource to learning about Mormon history.

He reminds us that history demands a catholic interpretation. When learning about Joseph Smith, for example, it’s just as important to learn what his critics thought of him as it is to learn what his most devoted adherents thought. And, it’s important to see all sides of an historical figure — the good and the bad.

Unfortunately, too often in politics and religion, many of us are simply unable to grasp that there is an opposing viewpoint worth respecting or flaws in our religious and political heroes. We know these negatives must exist; we live our own lives, with our personal doubts, failures and shortcomings. But the pedestal fantasy still grasps us.

I like this quote from Bushman’s biography of Joseph Smith, “Rough Stone Rolling”: “Joseph Smith did not offer himself as an examplar of virtue. He told his followers not to expect perfection. Smith called himself a rough stone, thinking of his own impetuosity and lack of polish.”

A secular reason for Mormonism’s success, or staying power, is its lack of perfection. In “Rough Stone Rolling,” all the contradictions and setbacks that accompany a full life are listed: dabblings in money-digging as a youth; vigilante activities; distinct accounts of LDS revelations; political demagoguery; failed financial ventures; and the secrecy of plural marriage.

Moral of the story: Learning, and correcting, builds lasting endurance.

There are many reasons Smith’s church has endured beyond the “God’s work will never stop” rhetoric we hear each Sunday. Bushman cites at least three in “Rough Stone Rolling”:

• One is that the young LDS prophet did not make himself the center of early missionary experts. Since Mormonism was not a cult of personality, it was able to pick itself up and thrive after the shock of Smith’s Carthage martyrdom.

• Also, doctrines such as latter-day revelation, the gathering of Israel and a priesthood authority — all progressive in that era — was a chief appeal of Mormonism to its early converts.

• Another doctrine Bushman cites as having great missionary appeal was the temple endowments, which he opines offered converts the feeling of a “direct access to God.”

Truth is, any review of Mormonism’s early history is replete with as many failures as successes. Large swaths of the early church members, including most of the original Twelve Apostles, left the church. Many people who left the early church were justified in their anger that drove them from Mormonism. We shouldn’t try to deny that.

On the DVD, Bushman is asked how he can write histories that delve into Smith’s treasure hunting and polygamy deceptions and not meet the fate of other LDS historians, who have been disciplined by church leaders. Bushman’s answer: It’s how you conduct and write about your research. If you don’t deliberately poke certain people, your research is better received.

Perhaps a tongue-in-cheek answer, but true. Bushman has found a solution that works for him. As an active Mormon, he treats Smith as a prophet, not doubting his visions or revelations. But he also reminds us that he was a man, subject to imperfections. The result is the best biography of Smith since Fawn Brodie’s “No Man Knows My History.”

-- Doug Gibson

Originally published at StandardBlogs