Joseph Smith, Junior (1805-1844): Human Enigma
121 years since the epiphany in 1820, a story that has been recounted millions of times in most countries of the globe and has had some traction in many, mostly Christian (but not exclusively) nations on the earth, the trial, evidence, case, stories, persona, fruits, legacy, character, acts, reputation, and nature of the young American Joseph Smith, who died at the age of 38 and half years-old, is still pertinent to a few. It may grow with time, or it could dissipate.
While the way of the 21st century is to go ever more increasingly secular, there are the religious traditions of various denominations that hold their powers, authorities, and influences in the modern world. Christianity certainly has its multifaceted followers of every kind. Apart from the modern trends of atheism, agnosticism, scientific empiricism, secular humanism, these systems that often avoid or negate the religious and supernatural beliefs and traditions of most religions, or existential explanations outside of modern rationales, beliefs of the modern world, plus established norms and laws have led us where were are today in the third decade of the 21st century.
Other strong religious faiths not in the Christian tradition are still very present in the world today, plus strong political governments and corporations, obviously Islam and Buddhism and Hinduism have huge numbers, while countries like China have their own type of state mandated core beliefs.
Back to Christianity: in the early 1800s a movement sprouted up, similar in some ways to others, because of the epiphany and the consequences or aftermath of it, by a young man originating from Vermont and upstate New York. He made very bold claims for his youth and stature, and followed it up with a persistent effort for the next twenty years until his death, viewed by the faithful as martyrdom to the cause.
Joseph Smith, Junior, who was age 14 at the onset of his string of miraculous doings and claims, gained a reputation as a remarkable if not scandalous and salacious person of his own religious movement, officially named the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and at times colloquially and often maliciously known as Mormon, due to a body of alleged scripture that he became responsible for by such name. Members then and since allege that knowing the veracity of that document will lead the investigator to know whether the man who would be prophet is true or not. There are a few thousand still today, who believe in the Book, the Book of Mormon, with also believing that Smith himself became corrupted and fell as a prophet. They of this variety are a few thousand or less, most of whom live around Independence, Missouri.
Today in the world of 8 billion citizens, most people do not concern themselves with the life or times of Joseph Smith, nor the scriptures which he is responsible for claiming as holy revelations and doctrine, like the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, the Doctrine and Covenants, and some major parts of the translated Holy Bible. Many within Christianity see the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as innocuous at best, or malign and false at worst. While it is fair to say that Christians and other people of belief or not recognize that the faith is well meaning and provides good work and actions, others as a Either a pesky presence where it lies and operates, or considered by some a nefarious influence to others perceiving a non-Bible faith (we have the Bible, plus other scripture) or other different practices, like temple worship and vicarious ordinances for the dead, our ancestors; or simply the Church as it has grown and moves is seen as a competitor in a place of many fervent faiths, to include those with less freedom and openness (Communist China, Myanmar, most Muslim countries).
For most, no matter the slant or environment, the question comes down to the legitimacy of Joseph Smith, Junior, and his "works". Others who more acceptably or openly ponder the faith and its messages and doctrines, perhaps take personal approaches about repentance through the grace of Jesus Christ, the majesty of His offerings and invitations, and the feelings and convictions of the Holy Ghost on a personal and more intimate level of experience, perhaps allowing feelings of the heart win over the rational calculations of the brain. I do not mean to say this is the irrational over the rational in making decision to accept or reject the faith of the Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, because to many believers in God and/or Jesus Christ the choices to follow Him/them is very logical, deliberate, and empowering.
There are plenty of people in the West (I cannot be sure of views or opinions in non-Western contexts regarding Joseph Smith) who see him as a philanderer, a pedophile, a quack, and a fraud. On some levels the evidence may seem to point that way. As acknowledged, he did "seal himself" or marry a number of women after his first wife Emma, some of whom were underage. For some people that I know that is enough to slot the Prophet Joseph as off the table of respectability and reason. In 1992, not long after being home from my two year Church of Jesus Christ mission in South America, I remember reading an article/essay in my local paper, perhaps syndicated from somewhere else around the nation depicted Joseph Smith as a sexual predator and a multi-count bigamist, a sham and a fake. A danger not just to the status quo of Christendom, as a false prophet, but simply a bad historical person in any context.
In this negative light, the Book of Mormon or any religious claims originating from such a person and his foundations would appear evil or at best misled.
Great prophet, a la Moses of the ancient times, or scofflaw, hyperbolic raconteur and fraud, sexual predator? Quite a range of possibilities and outcomes as to the persona and identity of this man, "A Rough Stone Rolling" as coined by some; the claims and the revelations or truths that his followers support and spread and uphold versus those that dismiss him as a huckster or worse.
I was planning on writing more about Smith, a very common English name but not a common man. Some of us revere his works and presence, less commonly if I might say. He still reverberates into the 2st century as I write this, his legacy growing in some parts of the world. We his believers hold up the One that he hailed and worshiped more: none other than the Christian God, Jesus Christ. But people like me can understand all the trepidation and misgivings, the doubts and accusations, the rational arguments and dislikes and disgusting takes, those that simply see all religions and their creators or disseminators as wrong, counter to reason and science and true facts. Can supernatural beliefs hold up over time? Can the holy people that we hold up as though remain in such affixed positions? Are they all merely humanly ensconced like the rest of us? It's possible.
Alas.
Suffice it for now.
Enigmatic.
Stigmatic.
Quixotic.
And a hundred other adjectives.
Publishing these words now...
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