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.

“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

“For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor, and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life also – counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ – requires more than mere belief or supposition that he is doing the will of God; but actual knowledge, realizing that, when these sufferings are ended, he will enter into eternal rest, and be a partaker of the glory of God.”

Joseph Smith | Lectures on Faith, 68-70

Topics: Knowledge, Sacrifice

“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

“To me, that is Joseph Smith’s significance for our time. He stood on the contested ground where the Enlightenment and Christianity confronted one another, and his life posed the question, Do you believe God speaks? Joseph was swept aside, of course, in the rush of ensuing intellectual battles and was disregarded by the champions of both great systems, but his mission was to hold out for the reality of divine revelation and establish one small outpost where that principle survived. Joseph’s revelatory principle is not a single revelation serving for all time, as the Christians of his day believed regarding the incarnation of Christ, nor a mild sort of inspiration seeping into the minds of all good people, but specific, ongoing directions from God to his people. At a time when the origins of Christianity were under assault by the forces of Enlightenment rationality, Joseph Smith returned modern Christianity to its origins in revelation.”

Anonymous, Joseph Smith, Richard Lyman Bushman | “A Joseph Smith for the Twenty-First Century”

Topics: Christian, Joseph Smith, Restoration

The principal corner stone in representation of the First Presidency, is now duly laid in honor of the Great God; and may it there remain until the whole fabric is completed; and may the same be accomplished speedily; that the Saints may have a place to worship God, and the Son of Man have where to lay His head.”

Joseph Smith | History of the Church, 4:329.

Topics: Temples, Worship