Joseph Smith as a Scholar-Prophet

This may be my shortest post yet! Just some thoughts that came to me as I was reading a new article by Spackman on Genesis. Check it out here. I have heard it said that Joseph Smith is the epitome of adult education. We all know that he was a fairly unlearned farm boy, but that does not describe him later in his life. He was far from unlearned.

Reflecting on this the thought came to me that Joseph Smith was a scholar-prophet. We think everything he did was via divine dictum, but this is not so. Even with the First Vision, it did not burst upon him without serious mental effort. He studied and reflected for 2 years before 1820. He was prepared for 4 years for the Book of Mormon. It may have taken him a short period of time to translate it, but we forget his preparation. When we teach D&C 76 or any others we forget the days, months, and years of preparation he had. He was asked to go through the Bible to make inspired changes, from this we get the Book of Moses, an expansion on Genesis. During this process Joseph asked many questions leading to further truths revealed. This is what has come to be known as the Joseph Smith Translation or JST. It does not mean all of it was direct revelation as he was using the best resources of his day. We know now he utilized Adam Clarke’s commentaries and some of the changes came from them. In Kirtland, Joseph hired Josiah Seixas to teach Hebrew. Joseph did everything he could to learn and understand. He did not do like some suppose and just receive inspiration out of nowhere. We should not be surprised as Nephi taught things are revealed line upon line. (2 Ne 28:30) Furthermore, the Lord’s admonishment to Oliver is telling, “Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.” (D&C 9:7-8) There was more going on. Scholars have shown the connections between Joseph Smith’s increased level of understanding of Hebrew and the development of his understanding of the creation accounts. This is not to say it didn’t come without the Spirit, no doubt the Lord was involved, but it took effort on the Prophet’s part. This can be seen when comparing Genesis, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, and one of his final sermons on the Plurality of Gods. As his understanding grew, the Lord gave him more light and knowledge. You can check the link up above if you want to learn more.

The big picture is beautiful when you see all the pieces come together as Joseph learned throughout his life and the Lord revealed more and more to him and the saints. I love seeing how things developed, seeing these pieces fall into place. At first, I thought it was a simple process but nothing points to that. It was not a simple process at all. The Lord commanded Joseph to learn and by learning his well was filled and questions came to his mind. From there more truth was revealed by the Lord. The same process happens for all of us. Of course, within our given spheres.

I love the fact that Joseph Smith was such a great example of what it means to be a disciple-scholar. In order to understand we must put forth effort. His final sermons are always thought provoking. They leave you wondering what else he knew and could not tell us. They leave us with an insatiable hunger and thirst for truth and righteousness, to "know...the only true God, and Jesus Christ." (John 17:3)