In order to understand Mormonism
one must know some basic
information about who Joseph
Smith was and how he brought
Mormonism into existence.
(1805-1844)
1. Who was Joseph Smith?
2. What was his background like?
3. What was his character like?
4. How did he write the Book of
Mormon?
http://www.mormons.org/images/leaders/js_portrait_green.jpg
According to the Mormon Church:
http://www.angelfire.com/mo/msp/cotz.html
• Joseph Smith was the Spiritual Father of Mormonism.
• Joseph Smith was led by the Angel Moroni to find the Golden
Tablets.
• These Golden Tablets are said to be the other testament of
Jesus Christ in the Americas of which more than 8 million
followers believe and live by today.
"The Prophet Joseph Smith's writing career began at age twentytwo when he commenced translation of the Book of Mormon. At
his death seventeen years later, in 1844, he had left a substantial
archive for the study of his life and the church he was
instrumental in founding.“ www.mormons.org
*Remember :
Besides this biography, there are many other great
resources in your search for absolute truth. Below are many
other web sites that will help you continue on your search.
Just click onto the link you wish to visit. At the end of this
presentation there will be a button that will lead you back to
this page if you wish to search more.
1. Commentary on the Biography and the writer Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/gu1852/intro.htm
2. Accurate information and a Christians perspective on Mormonism
http://www.summit.org/index.html
3. A great resource for the Christian faith on many topic including Mormonism
http://www.christiananswers.net
4. The complete Mormon web page - "Read directly from them“
http://www.mormons.org/
The following is a short text on Joseph Smith from a book titled:
The Mormons, or, Latter-day saints, in the valley of the Great salt
lake; a history of their rise and progress, peculiar doctrines, present
condition, and prospects, derived from personal observation: during
a residence among them
A Biography written by Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
Publication Date:1860
The Golden Tablets
As this will controvert [disagree with] the statements of the
"Prophet," Joseph Smith, and his father's family, we ask the
opinion of their neighbors whether their assertions [statements]
are entitled to unquestioned credit. Fifty-one gentlemen of
Palmyra, New York, and eleven of Manchester, and several
persons who lived near the family residence..all testify to the
same effect "that they consider them destitute [lacking] of that
moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence of
any community and particularly that the senior and junior
Josephs,were entirely unworthy of belief in such matters; and
addicted to vicious [cruel & spiteful] habits."
Page 89 Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
Publication Date:1860
They were visionary men, and believed that hidden
treasures were in the vicinity [area], and often employed
themselves in digging for them and money. They used
what in Scotland are denominated [called] “Seerstones,”.. can see things at a distance, or future events
passing before their eyes, or things buried in the earth.
Such a stone was dug from a well by one Willard Chase,
which was loaned to the prophet Joseph, and retained by
him, and with which some of the family declared he read
in the [location of] Golden Bible.
Page 89 Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
[http://moa.umdl.umich.edu/cgi/sgml/moa-idx?notisid=AGU9642] page b.
These [Seer] stones are those spoken of in the Book
of Mormon, as the ones touched by the finger of God
for the use of Jared in his barges [boats], when he
crossed the Pacific to settle America. They became
shining lights in his dark vessel. The family also used
peach and witch-hazel rods, to detect and drive off
evil spirits, when digging for money; and such
branches are supposed by many to point out streams
of running water beneath the surface; and are used by
miners frequently to find the lodes of mineral…
Page 90 Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
What did we just read and learn about Joseph
Smith’s character?
1. 51 men in New York who knew Joseph Smith testified that:
 Joseph Smith was lacking of any morals
 His questionable character makes it difficult to believe his claims
2. Joseph Smith and family were involved in habits that were:
 Cruel and Spiteful
3. Some of there habits involved:
 Money digging – searching mystically for hidden treasure
 Seer-Stones – Stones like crystal balls that even led them to the golden bible –
later the Book of Mormon
Overall how would you describe the character of Joseph Smith?
________________________________________________
It has already been mentioned that in 1823, under the preaching
of a Methodist elder, the “prophet,” as we shall continue to call
Joseph, and his father's family, were converted or excited, in a
“revival of religion…”
…During this rivalry the sects [war of religions]..peculiar views
were freely discussed ..and to one so observant, their theological
notions, supported each by Bible Commentaries, were well
digested by Joseph. Could a compounded [a mixed], system be
deduced [worked out] from them that would suit a majority of
minds, ..the task of founding a "new church," would not seem a
very great work to one who looked upon each of those bodies
..as equally a true one, or only organizations for carrying out
human purposes [man centered wants].
Page 90 Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
Judging from what he says in his autobiography, ideas of this kind now took
possession of his mind, on which he systematically [working out a plan]
acted during the remainder of his career. He informs us that he engaged in
earnest prayer for enlightenment. He rose at night and continued his
supplications [prayers]. In September of that year [1823], when all else was
hushed in sleep, his prayers were answered by a heavenly vision. An angel
[Moroni] in all the splendor of light, radiating from his head, with eyes of
..flame, and hair like fleecy wool, stood before him. His message was that
Joseph should gird himself for the work of the Lord, and go forth among men
and restore His [God’s] church. No doubt he had a remarkable dream that
night, waking or sleeping – for though the vision was repeated in the most
resplendent [glorious] manner, and important revelations given concerning
the manner of founding a "new church," and information upon the subject of
hidden records on plates of gold in the vicinity- yet he informs us that he
went about his work as usual on the following morning.“ The conception of
the plan might well be called his "brilliant glory”.
Page 91 Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
He [continued and] acquired great reputation for moneydigging. A man by the name of Stowell, in Bainbridge, New
York, employed him to dig for hidden treasure in the
neighborhood. Some legends of the wandering Spaniards from
De Soto's band, and the wealth of the aboriginal inhabitants
buried on the banks of the Susquehanna, had fired the
imaginations of the old Dutchman, and a company was in
search of the untold wealth. The seer-stone and the mineral rod
were already familiar to Joseph, and his pretensions and
frequent search caused him to be called the "money-digger."
Page 92 Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
What did we just read and learn about Joseph
Smith’s influence on Mormonism?
1. Through a revival experience and contact with fighting religions:
 Joseph pondered the idea of starting a “new church”
 The new church would be combination of the best of all churches
 It didn’t seem difficult for Joseph to work out this church in His mind
2. Joseph then had a vision, dream, or experience:
 Meeting an angel that told him the location of a golden bible
 That would give him directions on how to fix God’s church
3. After this incredible experience with God and the angel:
 Joseph acted as if nothing had changed
 He continued to money dig for profit
Describe why you would or would not put you hope in a faith based
on this man’s experience?
_____________________________________________________
The whole explication [origin] of the Book of Mormon hangs on
the following circumstances. .[T]he manner of peopling America
[population] by some Jews and the "lost ten tribes of Israel;"
..and the division into tribes [like the 12 tribes of Israel] as they
were found in our Indians at the discovery by Columbus, is
known to have been written by the late Rev. Spalding at
Conneaut, Ohio. This was just previous to 1812, and his brother
testifies that their [Indians/tribes] "arts, sciences and civilization
were brought into view, in order to account for all the curious
antiquities [old items] found in various parts of North and South
America." A clear idea of the work can be had from the affidavit
of Mr. Henry Lake, given at Conneaut, in 1833, which is
corroborated [supported] by abundant other testimony.
Page 92 Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
He [Joseph Smith] frequently read to me from a manuscript which he was
writing, and which he entitled the “Manuscript Found,” which he represented
as being found in this town. I spent many hours in hearing him read said
writings; and became acquainted with their contents. He wished me to assist
him in getting it printed, alleging that a book of that kind would meet with a
rapid sale. This book represented the American Indians as the lost tribes,
gave an account of their leaving Jerusalem, their contentions and wars, which
were many and great. One time, when he was reading to me the tragic
account of Laban, I pointed out to him what I considered an inconsistency,
which he promised to correct; but by referring to the Book of Mormon, I find
to my surprise it stands there, just as he read it to me then. Many months ago
I borrowed a golden Bible, had not read twenty minutes before I was
astonished to find the same passages in it.
Page 93 Lieutenant J.W. Gunnison
What did we just read and learn about Joseph Smith’s writing of
the Book of Mormon?
1.



The whole basis for the Book of Mormon relies heavily on:
The fact that Jews came to America on a boat
The fact that these Jews are actually American Indians
These Indians are the lost tribes of Israel from the Bible
2. The idea for the tribes came originally from:
 Rev. Henry Spalding
 Which simply separated Indians into tribes by their rare artifacts
 Joseph rewrote the account to mean these Indians were Jews
 Joseph said he found the manuscript in his town
3. In writing and reading the account to Lieut. G.W. Gunnison
 The revision was found to have inconsistencies
 The revisions were never changed even when noticed
The basis and foundation for the Book of Mormon is reliable or not reliable because?
_________________________________________________________
Answer the following questions
1.
2.
3.
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Using 3 complete sentences per question
On a separate sheet of paper – typed neatly
Respond to the information given
1. Overall how would you describe the character of Joseph
Smith?
____________________________________________________
2. Describe why you would or would not put you hope in a faith
based on this man’s experience?
___________________________________________________
3. The basis and foundation for the Book of Mormon is reliable
or not reliable because?
______________________________________________________________
Credits and Resources
1.Tucker, Pomeroy. “Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism. A Biography of its
Founders and History of its Church, Appleton, N.Y” 1867. The Nineteenth Century in
Print, 1850-1880 [http://moa.umdl.umich.edu/cgi/sgml/moa-idx?notisid=AGU9642]
[page b] (July 15, 2001).
2.Gunnison, Lieut. J.W. (John Williams), “The Mormons, or, Latter-day saints, in the
valley of the Great salt lake; a history of their rise and progress, peculiar doctrines,
present condition, and prospects, derived from personal observation: during a residence
among them. Philadelphia, PA” 1860. The Nineteenth Century in Print, 1850-1880
[http://moa.umdl.umich.edu/cgi/sgml/moa-idx?notisid=AJK2815] (July 10, 2001).
• 1 & 2 found in American Memory Collection – Library of Congress
• Other pictures from the web were sited by URL address
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