Who Knows wrote:So, what do you all think about the initial leaders of the church - Joseph Smith, BY, etc. Were they acting in good faith?
Let me start with Joseph Smith. I'm torn, because I think he certainly started out sincere and honestly believing that he had been called of God; later, however, some incidents suggest to me that he might have lost those innocent early days and went off the deep end (i.e., polygamy, theocracy, etc.). Bottom line, I just don't know. I think in the beginning he was very sincere, but by the end things had gotten so out of hand that even he realized he had gone too far. So what did he leave us? What doctrine was from God and what was from him? That's impossible to answer, in my opinion.
Now on to Brigham Young. I also think he was a rabid and sincere believer in the beginning. But, once he put a theocracy in place in Utah, I think power corrupted him a bit. I'm not saying he was a bad guy, just that his absolute power led him to think more about himself and keeping his power than those over whom he presided. I think he was also responsible for creating the frenzied atmosphere and paranoia that led to the Reformation period, MMM, Utah War, etc.
John Taylor -- very sincere and a rabid believer, willing to die for polygamy.
Wilford Woodruff -- very sincere, but a pragmatist willing to see that some mistakes had been made and could be corrected without destroying the Church (i.e., polygamy and the law of adoption).
Lorenzo Snow -- don't know much about him, but seemed sincere.
JFSmith -- the original TBM; very sincere, overcame many bad habits, but too much a chameleon when he had to publicly 'face the music' in the U.S. Senate hearings. Put into practice many odd policies and beliefs we have today. Perhaps micromanaged the lives of the saints too much, and made public absolutist statements (like the "Origin of Man") that just sound stupid today.
Heber J. Grant -- started out sincere (admitting he had never seen Christ -- a boo-boo back in those days), but I get the feeling he later turned somewhat dishonest in trying to ferret out LDS polygamists, inadvertantly causing the Fundamentalist movement to blossom.
George Albert Smith -- seemed very sincere and sensitive (only GA to be hospitalized for mental illness while in office); I wish he would have preached in public what he would admit in private letters (one that comes to mind is his disavowing the whole "when the prophet has spoken, the debate is over" idea).
David O. McKay -- seemed truly sincere and kind; often followed his principles rather than the practicalities -- although tried hard to help black members and investigators, he avoided the big issue of removing priesthood ban.
JFielding Smith -- pretty much incapacitated during short time he was president, but a rabid TBM.
Harold B. Lee -- I think he was more practical than sincere -- went after blacks and gays, which brings him down on my list. Not president very long.
SWKimball -- very sincere and the most kind person to serve as LDS president, in my opinion. Had some weird ideas about sex and race, but it was more innocent than malicious, in my opinion. Had the guts to take on the priesthood ban once and for all. Cared very much for people, but too judgmental when it came to folks he considered "sinful."
ETBenson -- a bit of a nut, but harmless by the time he became president.
HWHunter -- sincere guy, but only around 9 months.
GBH -- after Joseph Smith and BY, I think GBH has had more influence over the Church than anyone (he's basically been in charge for the past 25 years). I think, by and large, he is sincere, but too PR-minded to really take tough positions (and a little too eager to take unimportant positions).