Joseph Smith, what did he do?

[_Polygamy Porter]

He got caught masturbating in the woods by his mother while yelling OH GOD!

Then he saw the white salamander.

Oh yeah, then he made up a huge lie to cover up his "youthful indiscretions" that perpetuated into the reason why people in the inter-mountain west wear two t-shirts in 100+ degree swealtering summers and women covering their neekid shoulders.

[_Tarski]

My list already hit some of this. Yet Ray doesn't like it.

I think it was the obscurity of your list. I don't consider finding Zelph and explaining facsimilies to be some of his greatest accomplishments, it's more of the kind of thing he worked out on a lazy afternoon. But to each their own I guess.

His poems are more important than his "translation" of the Book of Abraham?

[_The Nehor]

My list already hit some of this. Yet Ray doesn't like it.

I think it was the obscurity of your list. I don't consider finding Zelph and explaining facsimilies to be some of his greatest accomplishments, it's more of the kind of thing he worked out on a lazy afternoon. But to each their own I guess.

His poems are more important than his "translation" of the Book of Abraham?

That was a personal one for me, I admit. As a kid I had a copy of one of his poems and read it a lot.

[_SatanWasSetUp]

Any predictions when this "some future textbook" will come to pass?

It already has. He is already listed among the most influential figures in American history (the same list which has Washington and the Wright Brothers). And remember, Christianity has an 1,800 year headstart.

Was Oprah on that list, too? Being on a list of influential figures is a far cry from being the answer to the question "What historical American of the nineteenth century has exerted the most powerful influence upon the destinies of his countrymen?" George Washington affected the destinies of his countrymen. The Wright brothers forever changed the way people travel. Really, what has Joseph Smith done for non-member Americans? What influence has he had on them other than sending missionaries to their door every now and then? I don't mean to diminish his accomplishments, and he probably does belong somewhere on a list since he did create a dedicated following that still exists 163 years after his death, but to compare him to Washington or any of the truly influential American figures is laughable. If you don't believe me, try this test: Visit random towns across the US and ask them if they know who Joseph Smith is and what he has done for them. They'll either have no idea what you're talking about or they'll think you're a Mormon missionary.

[_The Nehor]

Any predictions when this "some future textbook" will come to pass?

It already has. He is already listed among the most influential figures in American history (the same list which has Washington and the Wright Brothers). And remember, Christianity has an 1,800 year headstart.

Was Oprah on that list, too? Being on a list of influential figures is a far cry from being the answer to the question "What historical American of the nineteenth century has exerted the most powerful influence upon the destinies of his countrymen?" George Washington affected the destinies of his countrymen. The Wright brothers forever changed the way people travel. Really, what has Joseph Smith done for non-member Americans? What influence has he had on them other than sending missionaries to their door every now and then? I don't mean to diminish his accomplishments, and he probably does belong somewhere on a list since he did create a dedicated following that still exists 163 years after his death, but to compare him to Washington or any of the truly influential American figures is laughable. If you don't believe me, try this test: Visit random towns across the US and ask them if they know who Joseph Smith is and what he has done for them. They'll either have no idea what you're talking about or they'll think you're a Mormon missionary.

I have the textbook that has the question in it with the answer. Is it okay if it's an Institute textbook? :)

I'm guessing post-Second Coming textbooks talking about him will be more popular.

[_Inconceivable]

It's all or nothing right here:

3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world,
than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon,
which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the
fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and
commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for
the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame
and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the
Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum.
In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 135:3)

Written by John Taylor, One of Joseph Smith's Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ



Now, just a month or so earlier, a former apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ (a special witness just like Boyd K. Packer)
said he was a closet polygamist and walked in darkness. Though some of his accusations may be debated, his statement
concerning polygamy was true beyond a shadow of a doubt. Yet Smith vehemently denied it and destroyed his press.

[_Doctor Steuss]

I was just shoveling out some of the stuff in my desk and ran across the December 2001 issue of National Geographic. The cover story is on Abraham. As the father of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism… he might have Joseph Smith beat… well, at least for now that is.


Nehor,
Which poem are you refering to? There was one that I dug for a long time that was published in Times and Seasers (that mentions a "Heavenly Mother"), but I found an article a couple of months ago that suggests Phelps may have penned it.

[_Ray A]

Any predictions when this "some future textbook" will come to pass?

It already has. He is already listed among the most influential figures in American history (the same list which has Washington and the Wright Brothers). And remember, Christianity has an 1,800 year headstart.

Was Oprah on that list, too? Being on a list of influential figures is a far cry from being the answer to the question "What historical American of the nineteenth century has exerted the most powerful influence upon the destinies of his countrymen?" George Washington affected the destinies of his countrymen. The Wright brothers forever changed the way people travel. Really, what has Joseph Smith done for non-member Americans? What influence has he had on them other than sending missionaries to their door every now and then? I don't mean to diminish his accomplishments, and he probably does belong somewhere on a list since he did create a dedicated following that still exists 163 years after his death, but to compare him to Washington or any of the truly influential American figures is laughable. If you don't believe me, try this test: Visit random towns across the US and ask them if they know who Joseph Smith is and what he has done for them. They'll either have no idea what you're talking about or they'll think you're a Mormon missionary.

SWSP,

Your views are rather limited. Joseph Smith's "influence" is not limited to what he did, but also to the religion he founded. It is a progressive, adaptive religion which is not anti-science, like Christian fundamentalism. Joseph laid the foundation of this religion, with all the "clauses" for progress, such as continuing revelation, such as the belief that God has not revealed everything, and there can and will be changes in the future. This is what stumps those who believe the final word has been spoken. The Bible says something like (I'm paraphrasing) "I will give you line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little". I'm not an advocate of the idea that Joseph was infallible, or always correct, but I do believe that the foundation of Momonism, the Book of Mormon, is inspired, but even in later revelations Joseph clarified what some terms in the Book of Mormon really meant.

The influence of modern Mormonism is that it's adaptable, yet retains core values, and these are the values which most people, not just Americans, can identify with. When America is sick and tired of crime, violence, drugs, and broken homes, it will turn to the Book of Mormon, so Joseph Smith's "influence" is yet to be fully recognised.

[_Polygamy Porter]

When America is sick and tired of crime, violence, drugs, and broken homes, it will turn to the Book of Mormon, so Joseph Smith's "influence" is yet to be fully recognised.

You MUST be drinking Foster's again.

The Book of Mormon is FULL of broken homes, crime, and violence.

The view you have of the USA is upside down mate.

America has never and will never look to the that silly fictional novel for advice.

[_Ray A]

When America is sick and tired of crime, violence, drugs, and broken homes, it will turn to the Book of Mormon, so Joseph Smith's "influence" is yet to be fully recognised.

You MUST be drinking Foster's again.

The Book of Mormon is FULL of broken homes, crime, and violence.

The view you have of the USA is upside down mate.

America has never and will never look to the that silly fictional novel for advice.

Then why was it ranked number three among the eleven best selling books of all time?

10 Bestselling Books of All Time

Rank Book Approximate sales
1 Bible 6,000,000,000
2 Quotations from the Works of Mao Tse-tung 800,000,000
3 Book of Mormon 100,000,000+
4 American Spelling Book, Noah Webster 100,000,000
5 The Guiness Book of Records * 80,000,000
6 The McGuffey Readers 60,000,000
7 A Message to Garcia, Elbert Hubbard 40 - 50,000,000
8 World Almanac * over 40,000,000
9 The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, Benjamin Spock over 39,200,000
10 Valley for the Dolls, Jacqueline Susann 30,000,000
11 In His Steps: "What Would Jesus Do?", Charles Monroe Sheldon 28,500,000

http://www.adherents.com/adh_influbooks.html

YOU, Porter, are the one living in your little angry exmo DELUSION!

And I know what you're coming with next, because I read angry exmos like an open book.