I've heard the theory put forward that Joseph Smith may have started out in Mormonism with a conscious intent to deceive, but that over time, through some quirk of human psychology, he probably came to sincerely believe that Mormonism is true and that he was a true prophet of God. Of course, this would have been a state of self deception. But I think that such a situation could be possible, whether or not it was actually the case with Smith.

The theory does make sense and wouldn't be the first time in history someone believed in their own lie. On some level I would have to think he really did know he was deceiving. I guess we will never know

>he probably came to sincerely believe that Mormonism is true...

Another possibility is that he began by believing Nephites, etc.
were true -- eventually learned that they were not -- and began
to believe in himself.

What that entailed (believing in himself) I shudder to think about.


Uncle Dale

level. They can't imagine that they will wake up the morning after their due date and have to apologize.

There is one theory that he was getting ready to announce that he was the Holy Ghost in the flesh, come to Earth that way just as God's son lived as Jesus.

It's hard to know how far gone his sense of reality was.

Ready? I believe he thought he was actually doing a great thing and he may have believed he was chosen to do it.

I think he was a treasure seeking seer stone looking con man til the day he died. Always coming up with a new con like the BOA.

It seems pretty obvious he "translated" the papyrus with his rock in his hat rather than with his "great" knowledge of the Egyptian language.

We don't have to speculate about this. We have his own words as to what he thought about himself and what he did. Let's hear Praise To/From The Man:

"Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on 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...When they can get rid of me, the devil will also go." (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408, 409)

He knew his translations were fake. He knew there was no first vision because he didn't tell anyone about it or bother to write about it at the time. I think that was extremely narcissistic and got to the point where he could not believe that he could ever be wrong or that he would not be granted whatever he desired. Whatever was in his head was of divine origin-- he was no longer a man but a conduit for the devine. I don't know the psychological terms but I think he went over the edge in some ways.

none of it ever came from God.

A poster made a good point last week: Joseph Smith must have not believed in God at all--otherwise he would have feared God's wrath for being a false prophet lying, taking God's name in vain, being an adulteror, stealing people's money, etc.

It was the only real core belief he ever had--and he was right.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2010 02:37AM by steve benson.

In one simple word..... NO! Joseph Smith was a grifter and the ONLY thing he got right in his life was that all churches were not true.