Joseph Smith the Prophet-Teacher: A Discourse

In Short

This book is a transcription of a 1907 memorial lecture delivered at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. It serves as an apologetic argument, positioning Joseph Smith as a pivotal intellectual force who corrected the perceived theological errors of 19th-century Christendom. By examining Smith’s teachings on the nature of God, the origin of human intelligence, and the necessity of free agency, the author attempts to elevate Smith’s status from a regional religious leader to a foundational American philosopher whose impact on the nation’s destiny has yet to be fully realized.

The Story

The narrative begins by dismissing the traditional view of a prophet as merely a predictor of future events. Instead, the author defines a prophet as a "forth-teller"—a teacher sent to enlighten an age by correcting prevailing errors. To establish this, the author provides a diagnostic sketch of the theological and philosophical landscape in the early 1800s. He critiques the contemporary belief in an "absentee God" who created the universe from nothing, and a religious framework that he argues was "derogatory to God and debasing to man."

Against this backdrop, the author introduces Smith as a corrective voice. He catalogs a series of theological reversals: where the world saw a closed canon of scripture, Smith asserted the reopening of the heavens; where it saw a God who created man's soul from nothing, Smith taught that human intelligence is co-eternal with God. This progression leads to a detailed philosophical inquiry into the definition of truth. The author highlights Smith’s 1833 pronouncement—"Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come"—as a standard of absolute truth that integrates the reign of natural law with the reality of moral agency.

The argument then shifts to the nature of good and evil. The author explores the doctrine of "opposition in all things," asserting that without the resistance of evil, progress for intelligent beings is impossible. This leads to the central, optimistic claim of the work: that because human spirits are uncreated and free, they possess the inherent power to progress toward higher levels of glory.

Finally, the discourse expands into the national sphere, framing America as a "Land of Zion." The author links Smith’s teachings to the U.S. Constitution, which he describes as an inspired instrument designed to protect the moral agency of individuals. The work concludes by contrasting the "babel of confused voices" that seek to defame Smith with the author’s vision of a future where Smith’s intellectual contributions are recognized as the most influential in American history, securing his legacy as the pre-eminent American Prophet.

How It Unfolds

The definition of the office The author establishes that a prophet’s highest duty is to teach and expound divine truth rather than simply foretell the future. He asserts that to measure a prophet’s value, one must understand the errors of the age in which he lived.

The critique of the status quo The author outlines the "sectarian errors" of the 19th century, specifically targeting the idea of a distant, absentee God and the doctrine of unconditional election. He sets the stage for a new, more expansive religious system.

The systematic philosophy The author presents Smith’s core doctrines, including the eternal nature of human intelligence and the definition of truth as a dynamic, unfolding process. He argues that these ideas provide a rational harmony that earlier religious systems lacked.

The American context The final section places these theological concepts within the framework of the American experience. It connects the concept of Zion to the American landscape and argues that the U.S. Constitution exists to safeguard the free moral agency necessary for spiritual progression.

The People

The book is dominated by the figure of Joseph Smith, who is presented not as a man of action or event, but as a vessel of transformative knowledge. He is portrayed as a rationalist who challenged the "doctors of divinity" by replacing their "monstrous" doctrines of predestination with a philosophy of eternal, individual progress. Standing opposite him are the "sectarian" theologians of the early 19th century, whom the author characterizes as narrow-minded and bigoted. These figures represent the weight of tradition and the "inconsistencies" that the author believes hampered human understanding. The reader is also a participant in the narrative; the author addresses them directly, challenging them to "think in headlines" and reconsider their assumptions about God, law, and human origin. Finally, the author evokes Josiah Quincy, a historical observer whose outside perspective serves to validate the author's ambitious claim that Smith’s influence would eventually surpass that of all other historical Americans.

In Its Own Voice

Regarding the nature of truth, the author highlights Smith’s core philosophical definition:

"Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come."

Commenting on the necessity of opposition for the existence of virtue, the author quotes a teaching from the Book of Mormon:

"And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness."

Addressing the eternal nature of the human spirit, the author cites Smith’s discourse on the soul:

"The spirit of man is not a created being; it existed from eternity, and will exist to eternity."

What It's Really About

At its core, this discourse is a defense of the rationality of faith. The author argues that religious truth must be compatible with natural law, and that a "reasonable" God would not condemn beings for their nature or predestine them to destruction. It is an exploration of theodicy—the attempt to justify the ways of God to men—by placing the responsibility for moral choices squarely on the shoulders of the individual. The underlying question is whether religion can survive as a coherent, intellectual system in a modern age, and the author’s answer is that it must move beyond simple dogma toward a philosophy that honors the dignity, freedom, and eternal potential of the human mind.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of religious thought or the intellectual foundations of American-born theology will find this book a fascinating window into the early 20th-century LDS perspective. The prose is earnest, oratorical, and deeply committed, reflecting the style of a formal address delivered in a high-stakes religious setting.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the dense, polemical tone. The author moves quickly, often demanding the reader accept his theological premises as "self-evident." The text reflects the period attitudes of 1908, particularly in its confident, triumphalist view of American destiny and its dismissive treatment of "sectarian" creeds. It is not an objective biography, nor is it a casual read; it is a structured, sophisticated argument intended to persuade. If you are looking for an intimate look at the life of Joseph Smith, you will not find it here; but if you want to understand the intellectual rigor, the philosophical ambition, and the specific, defiant optimism that helped define the early church’s self-conception, this discourse remains a primary and revealing artifact.