The last lesson in the manual, particularly because it records the words of everyone but Joseph Smith, more or less speaks for itself. It is worth saying, though, that it functions as a kind of compendium of all the major “uses” to which we put Joseph Smith as Latter-day Saints, from “Joseph the foreordained” (section one of the “Testimonies” half of the lesson) through “the Joseph Smith of the First Vision” (section two) and “Joseph Smith the structurally incapable of having done what he did” (section three) and “Joseph the prophetically unique” (section four) to “Joseph Smith as a global figure of importance” (section five). Because I’m not particularly keen on finishing off this whole series of lesson notes (two years!) with a critical reflection on our own reception of Joseph Smith, I’ll end instead with my own testimony, for whatever it’s worth. Read the rest of this entry »

A remarkably concise “From the Life” section opens this lesson. It covers the basics concerning the martyrdom. But there is, of course, much more to say. Allow me, on this point, just to recommend pages 537-561 of Richard Bushman’s Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. And with that, let me move on to the “Teachings.” Read the rest of this entry »