Joseph Smith

Quotes By LDS Prophet Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith was the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont, he is considered by members of the Church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. Joseph translated the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ and a record of ancient American peoples as was revealed to him by God.

“When a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force. It is by words, instead of exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith. God said, ‘Let there be light: and there was light.’ . . . And the Savior says: “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, say tot his mountain, ‘Remove,’ and it will remove; or say to that sycamine tree, ‘Be ye plucked up, and planted in the midst of the sea,’ and it shall obey you. Faith, then works by words; and with these its mightiest works have been, and will be, performed.

Joseph Smith | Lectures on Faith, 72-73 — The Pearl of Great Price Student Manual, p. 7

Topics: Faith, Miracles, Work

Faith and Doubt cannot exist in the same soul at the same time.

Joseph Smith

Topics: Doubt, Faith

Joseph Smith also taught that we must be able to endure persecution in order to stand in the day when the Lord shall come: “Those who cannot endure persecution, and stand in the day of affliction, cannot stand in the day when the Son of God shall burst the veil, and appear in all the glory of His Father, with all the holy angels.”

Joseph Smith | Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 42

Topics: Joseph Smith, The Second Coming

“An angel of God never has wings. Some will say that they have seen a spirit; that he offered them his hand, but they did not touch it. This is a lie. First, it is contrary to the plan of God; a spirit cannot come but in glory; an angel has flesh and bones; we see not their glory. The devil may appear as an angel of light. Ask God to reveal it; if it be of the devil, he will flee from you; if of God, He will manifest Himself, or make it manifest.”

Joseph Smith | Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 162

Topics: Angels, Doctrine & Covenants

(Explaining the difference between an angel and a ministering spirit) “The one (an angel*) a resurrected or translated body, with its spirit ministering to embodied spirits—the other (a ministering spirit*) a disembodied spirit, visiting and ministering to disembodied spirits.

Joseph Smith | Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 191 (*commentary added for clarity)

Topics: Angels, Spirit(s)

“A man who is full of the love of God is not content with blessing his family only, but thinks about all of the people in the world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”

Joseph Smith

Topics: Being Called & Callings, Leadership, Sacrifice, Service

“Happiness consists not of having, but of being – not of possessing, but of enjoying. . . . For what a man has he may be dependent upon others; what he is rests with him alone. What he obtains in life is but acquisition; what he attains is true growth.”

Joseph Smith

Topics: Character, Growth, Happiness

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the apostles and prophets, concerning Jesus Christ. That he died, was buried, and rose again at the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

Joseph Smith | History of the Church, 3:30

Topics: Atonement, Gospel

“A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation.”

Joseph Smith | Lectures on Faith, p. 58.

Topics: Christian, Faith, Jesus Christ, Sacrifice

“The things of God are of deep import, and time, and experience, and careful, and solemn, and ponderous thoughts can only find them out.”

Joseph Smith

Topics: Priorities, Scripture Study, Wisdom