Why did Joesph Smith say this?

I do believe that Joseph Smith was inspired when he penned this phrase.

The question is... inspired by WHAT?

Satan inspires us atimes as well. Just like Peter, whom satan desired to "sift as wheat".

Personally, I also believe that The NIV is also inspired by satan, but I suppose that is niether here nor there with the current topic.

But yes, Joseph Smith was inspired.

And NO, his words are NOT of God.

Considering the entire text and the circumstance of the time, he seems to be saying only that he was able to keep the Church together better than others did, including Jesus Christ. Surely Joseph Smith would be the first to agree that keeping a church together is not a greater or a more significant work than what was done by Jesus.

There is nothing as significant as being the God of Israel, taking upon oneself the sins of the world, dying for all mankind that they might live, nor being resurrected. Surely, everlasting life is the greatest gift anyone could give.

Nevertheless, the Lord himself said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). To what greater work could the Savior be referring? Perhaps the Lord means a larger work, but certainly not more significant. For example, John the Baptist presumably baptized more people than Jesus, Paul may have converted more as a missionary, Moses led more Israelites out of bondage, Noah built a bigger ship, and Joseph Smith kept the Church together longer.

It is true that he was boasting, having patterned his address after a talk by Paul recorded in 2 Corinthians chapter 11. In that sermon, Paul the Apostle was doing some boasting of his own to the Gentiles.

Joseph Smith picked up on Paul's theme when he said,

I have more to boast of than 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 work as I (History of the Church, Vol.6, pp. 408-09).

While we aren't sure this is a completely accurate quote, let us assume that it is. Detractors read into this statement that the Prophet was saying he did a greater work than Jesus Christ. Considering the ENTIRE text and the circumstance of the time, he seems to be saying only that he was able to keep the Church together better than others did, including Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith would be the first to agree that there is nothing as significant as being the God of Israel, taking upon oneself the sins of the world, dying for all mankind that they might live, nor being resurrected. Surely, everlasting life is the greatest gift anyone could give.

Nevertheless, the Lord himself said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). To what greater work could the Savior be referring? Perhaps the Lord means a larger work, but certainly not more significant.

John the Baptist probably baptized more people than Jesus, Paul may have converted more as a missionary, Moses led more Israelites out of bondage, Noah built a bigger ship, and Joseph Smith kept the Church together longer.

The point should be clear: if greater means quantity, there are many who fulfilled the Savior's promise that his followers would do "greater works," and this includes Joseph Smith.

If you are going to quote something, why don't you put the WHOLE quote in, the way it is written in the History of the Church??

Here is the WHOLE quote, but in order to get the true meaning, you need to read the who speech that he gave.

Vol. 6, p.5 Now, I ask all who hear me, why the learned men who are preaching salvation say that God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing? The reason is, that they are unlearned in the things of God and have not the gift of the Holy Ghost. They account it blasphemy in any one to contradict their idea. If you tell them that God made the world out of something, they will call you a feel. But I am learned, and know more than all the world put together. The Holy Ghost does, anyhow; and he is within me, and comprehends more than all the world; and I will associate myself with him.

The King Follett Sermon

As for your first question, read this:

Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 6:408–409. GospeLink

This statement, when understood in its proper context, doesn't appear to be a statement of personal pride at all. Joseph Smith read to the congregation 2 Corinthians 11 and then mimicked Paul in his "boasting." In its proper context, Joseph Smith was not acting in a proud manner at all but was using the rhetoric of Paul to defend his own authority as a prophet against those who were then proclaiming him a "fallen prophet." This statement, however, is used often in anti-Mormon literature as a criticism of the prophet and is used here only to show that even if he were in fact proud, it doesn't damage his authority as a prophet/apostles any more than it damaged Jesus' apostles' authority.

he's interior the historic previous books . And he has his own autobiography . however the subsequent superb source is what his spouse , Emma Hale Smith , and his mom , Lucy Smith wrote approximately him ; however the Utah Mormons lied approximately Joseph helping polygamy , etc ; and so , their historic previous is tainted . He grew to become into the Mormon Prophet , who sought to restoration the 1st century Christianity returned to earth ; And ended up translating the considerable American record ( The e book Of Mormon ) of Jesus' dealings with some mid-easterners who sailed there previously as a manner to alter right into a loose human beings . And the similarities of the Mayan God , Quetzalcoatl and Jesus is basically too coincidental to push aside .

As far as the first quote, I just refer you to phrog's answer...she is spot on.

As far as the second quote, I guess I should give you the "Quote Out of Context" award of the day. Here's the rest of the quote:

"But I am learned, and know more than all the world put together. The Holy Ghost does, anyhow; and he is within me, and comprehends more than all the world; and I will associate myself with him."

What Joseph Smith REALLY said was that it's the Holy Ghost that knows more than all the world, and he tries to associate himself with the Holy Ghost. Not so controversial anymore, is it.

There is alot of "I's" in those statements.

To say "I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together...Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it."

If he has / is doing it better then Jesus himself, then there is a problem in and of it's self right there!

No body is better than the Master. Reminds me of Lucifer who said "I WILL RISE TO THE THRONE!"

How can "the church" be made better than that, that was intended by Jesus?

Anything outside of that does not come from the Lord / Master / Jesus, but is man making the selfish statement!

Is your claim that JESUS LIED? He told his disciples this:

John 14: 12, 28

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

That grasshopper is from the bible. It appears that you have taken portions out of context, created an arguement, and then got trapped in your own snare.

Ps. 124: 7

7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

And this affects the price of tea in China how? He was a man and like all men, was bound to make mistakes. I don't know if he even said it, or if someone wrote it down wrong. As I remember, a lot of the book was second or third hand knowledge.

based on the fact that that is only part of the quote, it is probably taken out of context. Besides, he would NEVER call himself "learned."

Joseph was an inspired man of God. He was a prophet.