How Joseph Smith's Revelations Were Recorded and Disputed After His Death
Explore the methods used to document Joseph Smith's divine communications and the intense disagreements over their interpretation and authority following his assassination.
- Joseph Smith dictated his revelations to scribes, creating foundational texts for the Latter-day Saint movement.
- These revelations were often copied, compiled into 'revelation books,' and published in early scriptural collections.
- After Smith's death, various leaders used differing interpretations of these revelations to assert their claims to leadership.
- The disputes over these texts directly led to the formation of distinct Latter-day Saint denominations, each with its own scriptural canon.
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, taught that he received direct communications from God, which he called revelations. These messages addressed a wide range of topics, from theological doctrines and church organization to specific instructions for individuals and the community. These revelations formed the bedrock of early Latter-day Saint belief and practice, guiding the establishment of a new religious movement.
Recording the Divine Word
The primary method for recording Joseph Smith's revelations involved him dictating the messages aloud to a scribe. Often, these were spontaneous utterances given in response to specific questions or circumstances facing the nascent church. Scribes like Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and others would diligently write down Smith's words, sometimes in real-time during meetings or private sessions. These initial transcriptions were then meticulously copied, circulated among church members, and often compiled into manuscript "revelation books" for preservation and study. The goal was to capture the exact words as Smith declared them to be from God.
Over time, these handwritten revelations were prepared for publication. The earliest attempt was the "Book of Commandments" in 1833, though only partial copies were printed due to mob action. A more comprehensive collection, the "Doctrine and Covenants," was published in 1835. This process involved some editing, organizing, and occasional additions or clarifications to the original texts, reflecting the ongoing development of church doctrine and organization. The published versions aimed to standardize and disseminate the revelations to a wider audience, becoming foundational scripture.
Post-Mortem Disputes and Divergent Paths
Following Joseph Smith's assassination in 1844, a profound succession crisis erupted within the Latter-day Saint movement. With no clear, universally accepted successor designated, various leaders emerged, each claiming authority based on their interpretation of Smith's teachings and revelations. These disputes often hinged on which revelations were considered authoritative, how they should be understood, and whether new revelations could supersede or modify existing ones.
Brigham Young, leading the largest faction that eventually migrated to Utah, emphasized Smith's later revelations, particularly those concerning temple ordinances and plural marriage. Other groups, like those led by Sidney Rigdon or James Strang, presented their own interpretations of Smith's prophetic mantle and his revelations, often rejecting aspects of Young's claims. Joseph Smith III, son of the founder, eventually became the leader of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ), which adopted a different scriptural canon and interpreted many of his father's revelations differently, particularly rejecting plural marriage as a divine command.
These disagreements over the authenticity, interpretation, and application of Joseph Smith's revelations led to the fragmentation of the early Latter-day Saint movement into numerous distinct denominations. Each group developed its own understanding of Smith's legacy, its own authorized versions of his revelations, and its own path forward, profoundly shaping the religious landscape of Latter-day Saint faiths today.
Why These Records and Disputes Matter Today
The meticulous, if sometimes messy, recording of Joseph Smith's revelations provides a direct window into the early development of a significant American religious movement. For millions of Latter-day Saints worldwide, these texts remain sacred scripture, guiding their faith and daily lives. The subsequent disputes over their meaning and authority after Smith's death are crucial for understanding the diverse theological and organizational structures of the many Latter-day Saint denominations that exist today. It highlights the complex challenges inherent in preserving prophetic legacy, establishing religious authority, and interpreting divine guidance across generations, demonstrating how foundational texts can lead to divergent paths when a charismatic leader is no longer present.
- **Succession Claims:** Different leaders pointed to various revelations or their own prophetic experiences to justify their leadership.
- **Plural Marriage:** Revelations concerning plural marriage were particularly divisive, with some groups accepting and others rejecting them.
- **Canon Formation:** Each major faction eventually solidified its own version of Smith's revelations, including or excluding certain texts, shaping their unique scriptural canon.
- **Editing and Publication:** Early revelations underwent various stages of editing and publication, leading to minor textual variations that sometimes became points of contention.
Sources
- Bushman, Richard Lyman. *Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling*. Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.
- Faulring, Scott H., Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds. *Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts*. Brigham Young University, 2004.
- Prince, Gregory A. *Power From On High: The Development of Mormon Priesthood*. Signature Books, 1995.
- Van Wagoner, Richard S. *Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess*. Signature Books, 1994.
