Joseph Smith - Founder of the LDS

[Sebastian Thomas]

Joseph Smith: The Founder of Mormonism

Joseph Smith Jr. (1805–1844) was the founder of Mormonism, now primarily represented by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). To millions of Latter-day Saints he is revered as a prophet who restored Christ's true Church. However, his life, teachings, and claims must be examined in light of Scripture, history, and the available evidence.

Born in Sharon, Vermont, Smith grew up during the religious excitement of the Second Great Awakening, a period marked by competing denominations and revival meetings. Smith later claimed that in 1820, after seeking God in prayer, he experienced what became known as the "First Vision," where he said God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and declared that all existing churches had fallen into apostasy. This claim became the foundation of Mormonism's assertion that Christianity had completely departed from the truth until Joseph Smith restored it.

Three years later, Smith claimed that the angel Moroni appeared to him and revealed the location of buried golden plates containing the history of ancient Israelites who had migrated to the Americas. According to Smith, he translated these plates "by the gift and power of God," often using a seer stone placed in a hat to dictate the text. The result was the Book of Mormon, published in 1830. No golden plates are available for examination today, and the translation process, together with the lack of archaeological and historical evidence supporting the Book of Mormon's central narrative, remains one of the most significant points of criticism against Smith's prophetic claims.

On 6 April 1830, Smith formally organised the Church of Christ, later renamed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over the following fourteen years he introduced numerous doctrines unknown to historic Christianity, including continuing revelation, additional scripture, temple ordinances, baptism for the dead, eternal marriage, the plurality of gods, and the belief that faithful humans may themselves become gods. These teachings stand in sharp contrast to the biblical revelation delivered "once for all to the saints" (Jude 3).

Smith's movement experienced repeated conflict as it relocated from New York to Ohio, Missouri, and finally Nauvoo, Illinois. During this period he accumulated considerable religious, political, and military authority, serving as prophet, mayor of Nauvoo, commander of the Nauvoo Legion, and even launching a campaign for President of the United States. Behind the scenes he also introduced plural marriage, secretly marrying numerous women, including teenagers and women already married to other men. These practices were concealed from many church members until after his death.

In 1844, after the Nauvoo Expositor published allegations concerning Smith's secret plural marriages and abuse of authority, Smith ordered the destruction of the newspaper's printing press. This act resulted in charges of riot and later treason. While imprisoned in Carthage Jail awaiting trial, an armed mob stormed the building on 27 June 1844, killing Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.

Following his death, the movement fractured into several groups. The largest body followed Brigham Young west to Utah, while others rejected Young's leadership, eventually forming organisations such as the Community of Christ.

Joseph Smith remains one of the most controversial religious figures in modern history. His followers regard him as God's latter-day prophet, yet the biblical test for a prophet is not sincerity but truth (Deuteronomy 18:20–22). Every prophetic claim, every new revelation, and every doctrine must be measured against the unchanging Word of God. From a biblical perspective, Smith's teachings concerning God, Christ, salvation, priesthood authority, additional scripture, and human exaltation depart fundamentally from the faith once delivered to the saints, making careful examination of his claims not merely worthwhile, but essential.