Recollections of the Prophet Joseph

Last updated on: September 5, 2018 at 9:53 am by Dan Peterson

Recollections of the Prophet Joseph 2018-09-05T09:53:28-06:00 Dan Peterson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

27 June 1844 at the jail in Carthage, Illinois (LDS Media Library)

From Hyrum L. Andrus and Helen Mae Andrus, Personal Glimpses of the Prophet Joseph Smith (American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications, 2009):

Marie J. Woodward, a teenage convert, later recalled her interactions with the Prophet:

It was in 1841 when I was about seventeen years old, that I first saw the Prophet Joseph Smith. I had walked from Middle, Tennessee, my birthplace, to Nauvoo, which place I intended to make my home. . . .

I afterwards heard him speak many times, and lived in his home as a hired girl for three weeks. He was always kind and often talked with me and asked about my people, for I was the only member of my family in the Church. (130-131)

Elias Cox first met Joseph Smith in Illinois, in 1842. “He had a very pleasant disposition,” Cox later recalled, and always seemed to be happy.” (131)

In an August 1842 letter, the English convert William Clayton wrote that

I am acting as clerk for him, and at his office daily, and have been since February 10th. . . . To conclude, I will add that, the more I’m with him, the more I love him; the more I know of him the more confidence I have in him; and I am sorry that people should give heed to evil reports concerning him. (133)

In another 1842 letter, the well-educated Orson Spencer — born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts; baptized in 1841; eventual editor of the Millennial Star in England; first chancellor of the University of Deseret (now the University of Utah); honored by Orson Spencer Hall on the campus of the University of Utah from its dedication in 1955 to its razing in 2016 — described Joseph Smith as follows:

Naturally, he is kind and obliging; pitiful and courteous; as far from dissimulation as any man; frank and loquacious to all men, friends or foes. (134)

Born near Ottawa, Canada, David Moore left behind his impression of Joseph Smith from a meeting held on Sunday, 25 September 1842, “in a fine young oak grove a little west of the Temple” in Nauvoo:

I . . . took a good look at him for the first time, and I thought him a fine plain looking man, large in stature, light in complexion, having an honest look, and to me, altogether a very interesting appearance. (134)

“He was loved by every good man, woman and child who knew him,” said Matthias Cowley, a convert from the Isle of Man who was about fourteen years old at the death of Joseph Smith. (136).

George Spilsbury, who was born on 21 April 1823 in Worcestershire, England, was baptized late in 1840 and emigrated to Nauvoo, Illinois, in November 1843:

The first Sunday after our arrival we attended a meeting on the first floor of the Nauvoo Temple. The walls of the first story were about half way up. Loose boards were laid on the joist and home-made benches to sit on. It was a day of small things. We were early in our seats. Soon the leading men of the Church began to arrive. It was no trouble to tell which was the Prophet, not because of his fine clothes, but there was something grand and noble and innocent in his appearance. His very eyes seemed to look right through you. His very countenance beamed with intelligence. He was as bold as a lion, but as humble as a child. He knew no fear. (143)

Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were assassinated by an anti-Mormon mob on 27 June 1844 — 174 years ago.

Posted from Newport Beach, California

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 26, 2018

A temple in Jerusalem?

Next Post

June 27, 2018 Music during Near-Death Experiences?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 March 2014 August 2013 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian tradition is famous for the musical "Gregorian chant"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Anglican Methodist Roman Catholic Presbyterian