Joseph F. Smith

President Joseph F. Smith was one of the more interesting prophets. His place as son of the martyred Hyrum Smith and nephew of the Prophet Joseph Smith uniquely provides a hereditary link from 1820 to the 20th Century which did not end with his death in 1918 but continued through his own son, President Joseph Fielding Smith until his death in 1973—a total of 153 years. He was also the first prophet of the latter days who was born and raised in the Church and the only president to have a son become a president also.

His life transcended the time period from ox-cart to automobile to airplane, from before war with Mexico, with the single-shot rifle, to the Spanish American War to World War I and gas and aerial warfare.

He went from mail carrier communication only to Morse Code to the telephone and finally to the radio in 1906. As president, beginning in 1901, his major challenge was to improve the image of the Church which was at an all-time low largely over the ending of Church-sanctioned polygamous marriages. This he did in part by testifying before congressional committees and by converting historical spots of church history into tourist attractions and information centers. His warm personality was a definite asset. He is also remembered for his doctrinal clarifications housed in his well-known volume entitled Gospel Doctrine. Three doctrinal areas especially stand out: his denunciation of the Theory of Evolution, his warning against false revelations and his popularizing the titles Father and Son as applied to members of the Godhead. But it is his vision of Christ’s visit to the antediluvians in October 1918 which became Section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants that is best known. He was shown how the spirits in spirit prison were taught the gospel in the three days Christ’s physical body lay in the tomb. He died a few days latter as a victim of the influenza epidemic killing over 500,000 Americans in three months. A public funeral was not held. All of these topics plus some incredible faith promoting stories make this book an essential addition to your spiritual library.

Know what the Lord had Joseph F. Smith tell the Saints that is not in The Doctrine and Covenants:

•The coming forth out of the liquid grave in baptism is likeness of Christ’s resurrection from death to life.
•The proper line of authority when seeking answers to gospel questions.
•Bishops should not try to do all the work in the ward.
•Card-playing strongly discouraged.
•Permisiveness a leading factor in why our children go astray.
•Membership in the church is greater than to be an emperor or a king.
•Avoid debt for speculative purposes .
•Disputes should be settled without courts.
•Fasting in excess unwise.
•Members of the First Presidency do not have to be ordained apostles.
•Gambling is an evil.

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