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.

In my leisure moments I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, why it is that infants, innocent children, are taken away from us, especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting. The strongest reasons that present themselves to my mind are these: This world is a very wicked world; and it is a proverb that the “world grows weaker and wiser;” if that is the case, the world grows more wicked and corrupt. In the earlier ages of the world a righteous man, and a man of God and of intelligence, had a better chance to do good, to be believed and received than at the present day: but in these days such a man is much opposed and persecuted by most of the inhabitants of the earth, and he has much sorrow to pass through here. The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again.

Joseph Smith | History of the Church, 4:553.

Topics: Salvation of Children

“You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost.”

Joseph Smith | Teachings: Joseph Smith, 95–96

Topics: Baptism, Holy Ghost

I told them I was but a man, and they must not expect me to be perfect; if they expected perfection from me, I should expect it from them; but if they would bear with my infirmities and the infirmities of the brethren, I would likewise bear with their infirmities.

Joseph Smith | History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Volume 5, Page 181

Topics: Joseph Smith, Perfection, Prophets

“The baptism of water, without the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it, is of no use. They are necessarily and inseparably connected.”

Joseph Smith | Teachings: Joseph Smith, 90

Topics: Baptism, Holy Ghost

“There should be no license for sin, but mercy should go hand in hand with reproof.”

Joseph Smith | Documentary History of the Church, vol. 5, p. 24.

Topics: Mercy, Repentance, Sin

“The South holds the balance of power. By annexing Texas, I can do away with this evil. As soon as Texas was annexed, I would liberate the slaves in two or three States, indemnifying their owners, and send the negroes to Texas, and from Texas to Mexico, where all colors are alike.”

Joseph Smith | Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 334

Topics: Joseph Smith, Race & Racism

If it has been demonstrated that I have been willing to die for a ‘Mormon, I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves.”

Joseph Smith | Joseph Smith - History of the Church, 5:498.

Topics: Integrity, Religious Freedom

What did Jesus say? “As the Father hath power in himself, even so hath the Son power.” To do what? Why, what the Father did, to lay down his body and take it up again. Jesus, what are you going to do? “To lay down my life as my Father did, that I might take it up again.”

Joseph Smith | Joseph Smith, Discourse of 7 April 1844, recorded by William Clayton; KFD, p. 30

Topics: Resurrection

“[Lucifer] sought for things which were unlawful. Hence he was sent down, and it is said he drew many away with him; and the greatness of his punishment is that he shall not have a tabernacle.”

Joseph Smith | Teachings, 297.

Topics: Satan

“If I esteem mankind to be in error, shall I bear them down? No. I will lift them up, and in their own way too, if I cannot persuade them my way is better; and I will not seek to compel any man to believe as I do, only by the force of reasoning, for truth will cut its own way. Do you believe in Jesus Christ and the Gospel of salvation which he revealed? So do I. Christians should cease wrangling and contending with each other, and cultivate the principles of union and friendship in their midst

Joseph Smith | Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 5:499.

Topics: Christian, Religious Freedom