I just read Grant Palmer's summary about Joseph establishing a theocracy at Nauvoo and claiming to be God. Apparently Brigham Young supported the idea later while in SLC. I'd never heard about this until just now. I'd always wanted to compare Joseph Smith to David Koresh (who claimed to be Christ), but didn't think JS went that far. I was mistaken.

The William Law diary entries are fascinating. Joseph Smith sounds like a prick.

http://mormonthink.com/grant7.htm



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2012 10:36PM by Susan I/S.

which is another thing that got him killed.
William Law thought that was just a tad over the top, that and screwing teenage orphans (Lawrence Sisters) while emptying their trust funds. Not to mention the fact that he proposed wife swapping with William and Jane Law, and they were NOT into it, which would be one thing in this day and age, but in the Victorian Era? WTF was he thinking?
Oh yeah, he was thinking with his little head at that point.
His delusions of grandeur and narcicistic personality disorder reached fatal levels towards the end.

"Forty three years later, his views on Joseph Smith and Mormonism had not softened. He wrote, "The great mistake of my [life was my] having anything to do with Mormonism. I feel [it to] be a deep disgrace and never speak of it when I can avoid it; for over forty years I have been almost entirely silent on the subject."43

Wow. What William Law said is exactly how I feel today. I don't want anyone to know I was ever in the Mormon church. Why do so many of us feel that way? I've never heard Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, etc. express such a feeling about a former church.

I never tell anyone.

OMG, this is unbelievable to me. Thanks for sharing. JS was a prick



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2012 10:37PM by Susan I/S.

In August 1845, Orson Pratt released a statement to dispel the apparently popular notion that he was the Holy Ghost incarnate. It said, "Let no false doctrine proceed out of your mouth, such, for instance that the tabernacle of our martyred prophet and seer, or of any other person, was or is the especial tabernacle of the Holy Ghost, in a different sense from that considered in relation to his residence in other tabernacles. These are doctrines not revealed, and are neither believed nor sanctioned by the Twelve and should be rejected by every Saint."

The possibility that Smith wanted to be seen as a living god, much like some of the Roman emperors, was implied when he said, "Would to God, brethren I could tell you who I am! Would to God I could tell you what I know! But you would call it blasphemy and want to take my life."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2012 10:37PM by Susan I/S.

It would make sense given the later teachings such as the King Follett Discourse.

It is still an element of folk and fundamentalist Mormon belief. It is held that JS held the "office of the Holy Ghost" which, like other offices, can be filled by a succession of individuals. JS is also sometimes seen as the "second comforter" in some circles.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2012 10:37PM by Susan I/S.

He is also quoted as saying ...

"If I revealed all that has been made known to me, scarcely a man on this stand would stay with me. Brethren, if I were to tell you all I know of the kingdom of God, I do know that you would rise up and kill me."

Don't have the source handy right now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2012 10:37PM by Susan I/S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_been_considered_deities

Somehow, I just can't see Joseph Smith as a god...

Well, apparently he can now only be like God.