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Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith

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This book is the best treasure house of Joseph Smith's teachings. In fact, it is an unofficial source of theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It relies heavily on the rather bulky "History of the Church," but also has some documents that are not included in the official history. It is well organized, and these newer editions have the index compiled by Dr. Robert Matthews.

"Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" is the most important book any Latter-day Saint can own, outside of the Scriptures. His early teachings from Kirtland to the last days at Nauvoo are chronologically recorded and easily accessed. Included the famous "King Folette Discoures," and June 16, 1844 sermon. This is Joseph Fielding Smith's most imporatnt work ever.

Other than the scriptures, I would say this is the most important book a Latter-Day Saint could own. Joseph Smith definitely is The Prophet.

I love the way Joseph Fielding Smith edited the book. It is presented in topics. For example, the book will give a topic heading of 'No Peace But in Zion,' and then it gives a the teachings The Prophet gave on this topic. The book is kind of a best of Joseph's teachings organized into topics and themes.

Another point to make for those of you looking into buying this book, it isn't historic in nature, it is just the teachings of Joseph.

I love this book because it is a collection of different things the Joseph Smith, Jr. taught & said. It is not full of lengthy sermons usually, but is full of his quotes. It helped me understand more how the Lord feels about animals, healing, the Spirit world, the Savior, etc. Joseph Smith had so much knowledge about the spiritual realm. With the index, you can find pieces of wisdom & knowledge on many subjects from this great prohpet. I use this book when I can't seem to glean the answers I need from the scriptures or more recent prophets. It has brought me great comfort & peace whenever I've studied his teachings. It was compiled by Joseph F. Smith.

This 1938 book is a collection of sermons and writings of Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Latter-day Saints Church (Mormons), taken from the History of the Church (Set of 7 Volumes & Index, LDS, Mormon) and other LDS publications. Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972)---then Church Historian, and later the 10th President of the LDS Church---edited the book, although he had extensive help from fellow researchers.

Here are some quotations from the book:

"And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation." (Pg. 17)
"...his pitchfork of lies, as you will see fairly represented in a cut contained in Mr. Howe's Mormonism Unvailed (Utah Lighthouse Reprint)? And we hope that this adversary of truth will continue to stir up the sink of iniquity, that the people may the more readily discern between the righteous and the wicked." (Pg. 99)
"Q: Will everybody be damned, but Mormons? A: Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness." (Pg. 119)
"Q: Are the Mormons abolitionists? A: No, unless delivering the people from priestcraft ... should be considered abolition. But we do not believe in setting the negroes free." (Pg. 120)
"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." (Pg. 194)
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has also had its false spirits; and as it is made up of all those different sects professing every variety of opinion, and having been under the influence of so many kinds of spirits, it is not to be wondered as if there should be found among us false spirits." (Pg. 213)
"Had I anything to do with the negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization." (Pg. 270)
"Were I going to prophesy, I would say the end [of the world] would not come in 1844, 5, or 6, or in forty years. There are those of the rising generation who shall not taste death till Christ comes." (Pg. 286)
"(To Stephen A. Douglas) if you ever turn your hand against me or the latter-day Saints, you will feel the hand of the Almighty upon you; and you will live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you..." (Pg. 303)
"There are many things in the Bible which do not, as they now stand, accord with the revelations of the Holy Ghost to me." (Pg. 310)
"I have constantly said no man shall have but one wife at at time, unless the Lord directs otherwise." (Pg. 324)
"I cannot believe in any of the creeds of the different denominations, because they all have some things in them I cannot subscribe to, though all of them have some truth." (Pg. 327)
"I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors... If any man will prove to me, by one passage of Holy Writ, one item I believe to be false, I will renounce and disclaim it as far as I promulgated it." (Pg. 327)
"God himself was once as we are, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder Heavens! That is the great secret... We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil... we may converse with him as one man converses with another... God Himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did... Here, then, is eternal life---to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves... the same as all Gods before you." (Pg. 345-346)
"I told Stephen Markham that if I and Hyrum were ever taken again we should be massacred, or I was not a prophet of God. I want Hyrum to live to avenge my blood, but he is determined not to leave me." (Pg. 376-377)
"To which Joseph replied, 'If my life is of no value to my friends it is of none to myself.'" (Pg. 377)

All too often the literature on cults can be misleading. This book can be used as reference to what the exact quotes or teachings of J. Smith really were.

This book is excellent in every way in explaining and bringing to light just what Joseph Smith did really say and teach. This information is a big help to understanding the days ahead even if one is not Mormon.