Mormon Dilemma 212

Joseph Smith a Lawyer

History of the Church 5:289-290; “I am a lawyer; I am a big lawyer and comprehend heaven, earth and hell, to bring forth knowledge that shall cover up all lawyers, doctors and other big bodies. This is the doctrine of the Constitution, so help me God. The Constitution is not law to us, but it makes provision for us whereby we can make laws. Where it provides that no one shall be hindered from worshiping God according to his own conscience, is a law. No legislature can enact a law to prohibit it. The Constitution provides to regulate bodies of men and not individuals.”

James 4:26; “As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil”.

Jeremiah 9:23; “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom let nt the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches…”

Proverbs 27:1; “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring”.

I recall sitting in Sacrament meetings and MIA or Sunday school classes and hearing quotes very similar to the one we’ve highlighted today. My teacher used to tell us the words of Joseph Smith should bring us comfort and I was always looking around at my fellow classmates wondering if his words had the same effect on them like they did me. 

Things like this always brought two strong emotions from me: embarrassment for Smith as well as wanting to be as far away from him as possible when Judgment Day comes rolling around. 

Why would a “man of God” say such a thing? It seems that Mr. Smith thought a lot of himself. I’ve been extraordinarily blessed in my life and have been good friends with some very well versed theologians, well known and successful doctors and attorneys and they’re some the most humble people I’ve ever met.  I just can’t imagine these people saying anything remotely similar to Smith’s comments here. 

The Constitution of the United States does not allow you to break the laws of the land in order for your personal interpretation of the First Amendment Rights can be invoked.  Having more than one wife was illegal in Illinois (still is) at the time Smith was practicing it.