Who said this?

J. Smith, he was quite the arrogant sucker, wasn't he?

Joseph Smith said it. He was right. He is the only man who was able to keep the whole church together.

Christ's church was originally built on a foundation of prophets and apostles. The church's flame was extinguished by those who would not believe Jesus or his apostles. They murdered Christ and they murdered the apostles. The Catholic church was built on the ashes of the original church, after the apostolic authority had been lost.

Satan marshalled his forces against Joseph Smith too. He succeeded in the cold blooded murder of Joseph, and his brother Hyrum, but the church continued through the apostles.

Joseph did a good job of keeping the church together despite terrible persecution. That being said, he had more help than any of the others ever had. He was visited by Christ himself, and many prophets, who helped him with his responsibility. Perhaps he was carried away into boasting. He wasn't a perfect man. To my knowledge, this is the only time he ever said anything vaguely boastful. He was a humble man, persecuted beyond endurance for his testimony. He didn't hold the church together by being arrogant, or by blasphemy. Blasphemy - isn't that what the Jews accused Christ of? Wasn't that their justification for murdering him? Yet Christ was perfect. I guess they would have murdered Joseph Smith too.

Joseph Smith

Joseph's "boasting," as noted in the record, is patterned after Paul's similar and somewhat sarcastic "boasting" words in 2 Corinthians 11. You have to understand that he had just finished reading that chapter before saying that quote. Let me give you a more detailed look:

"President Joseph Smith read the 11th Chap. 2 Corinthians. My object is to let you know that I am right here on the spot where I intend to stay. I, like Paul, have been in perils, and oftener than anyone in this generation. As Paul boasted, I have suffered more than Paul did. I should be like a fish out of water, if I were out of persecutions. Perhaps my brethren think it requires all this to keep me humble. The Lord has constituted me so curiously that I glory in persecution. I am not nearly so humble as if I were not persecuted...God is in the still small voice. In all these affidavits, indictments, it is all of the devil--all corruption. Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet. You know my daily walk and conversation. I am in the bosom of a virtuous and good people."

It should be considered that his audience was a body of hostile dissenters that were spreading false rumors about him, as are other on this board. His tone was likely that of frustrated rebuke for their treatment of him. Joseph certainly made no pattern of this type of speech nor was he excessive in any assertion of pride. He in no way puts himself above Christ and there is not one Latter-day Saint who would ever suggest that.

I find it interesting that prophecy is still being fulfilled about Joseph even today. ""They will circulate falsehoods to destroy your reputation, and also will seek to take your life"

--Angel Moroni to Joseph Smith (1823).

Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Joseph Smith

from the Morman church

Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism)

A Mormon, Joseph Smith, said it. I think it's a rather blasphemous statement. He was a self-declared prophet who compared himself to Jesus, and in fact made himself more important than Jesus.

Hmmm, I guess I'm not as tolerant of Mormonism as I thought. Mormonism is right on par with Scientology, as far as I'm concerned.

Joseph Smith said it

A very ignorant person who has blasphemed Jesus name and his FATHERS

Josheph Smith

Joseph Smith wrote this while in Jail shortly before he was killed.