Question: Did Brigham Young state the Joseph Smith's character was easily on par with that of Jesus Christ?

Revision as of 17:22, 27 June 2017 by FairMormonBot (talk | contribs) (Bot: Automated text replacement (-{{FME-Source\n\|title(.*)\n}} +{{FairMormon}}))
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

FAIR Answers—back to home page

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

  1. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 9:332.