Joseph Smith the Prophet

I heard Prof. Madsen give these lectures at BYU Education Week in 1978. I've read the book and listened to them on audio disc many times since. They lose no power over time, in fact, like any great story, repeated reading/listening adds insights and details you missed previously. The doctrine is uplifting, but the humanity is equally inspiring -- you hear the inspiration of The Prophet, but, you also get to meet the man. He becomes more than a modern Moses, he becomes a friend.

This book is amazing. If you have ever wanted to learn more about Joseph Smith, this is the book. It is full of less known stories divided into several topics/chapters. I had the audio lectures by Truman G. before, but always wanted to find or quote parts and it was hard to find them on the cds... the book is perfect for this.

This is basically the transcript of the hugely popular lecture series. It gives you all the references to all of the great stories and testimonies shared by Truman Madsen. Definately worth owning. Buy the audio series first, then use this as a reference book.

Truman Madsen here draws on a deep well of primary (and other) sources to bring the reader to know the prophet Joseph. Madsen writes, "If my elementary shifting of documents and sharing of impressions moves others to look not simply at Joseph Smith but through him to the Master - and, with those efforts, to take a searching look at themselves - my efforts will have been more than worthwhile" (p5). This book is the written adaptation of Madsen's famous Joseph Smith tapes, recorded from a series of lectures at BYU's Education Week. I heard these tapes when I was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1994 or 1995 and was deeply inspired. A few years ago, I borrowed a copy of the tapes from my brother and had a very different reaction: I found Madsen's wildly dramatic delivery of the lectures distracting and annoying. But the stories were still powerful, so I obtained a copy of the book. I'm very glad that I did. The book could be subtitled, "Marvelous and powerful stories you don't know about the prophet Joseph Smith and his friends," for ultimately - beyond the structure Madsen places on them - that is what the book entails. Much of the deliciousness appears in the footnotes, where Madsen gives his sources (again, most of them primary) and tells stories that don't fit in the lectures. The book starts from the assumption that Joseph Smith is a prophet and a good man. For a more historical and thorough treatment of Joseph Smith (also by a member of the Church), try Bushman's Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. I found it very inspiring. It indeed led me to look beyond Joseph and the other early members to the Savior: their love for Him and for His work inspires me to seek to do and to be better.

Truman Madsen has always been a favorite author of mine, and these lectures on Joseph Smith reinforce that feeling. I have read much on the life of Joseph Smith, but these lectures brought out several stories that I had not heard before. Madsen does an excellent job highlighting the prophetic and human qualities of the great latter day seer. One can feel the love Madsen has for Joseph Smith in his voice. I recommend this series of lectures for those that want to learn more about Joseph Smith from a believing scholar who has spent most of his life studying him.

Truman G. Madsen is one of the most knowledgeable and respected LDS Church lecturers one can find. Throughout his life, Madsen has lectured on Mormonism, both to friendly, and not-so-friendly audiences alike. All the while, gaining the respect of many scholars, writers and theologians. These series of lectures present the life of Joseph Smith in a way that is both powerful and unique. From his early life, to his study of religion, to his founding of the LDS Church, to his relationships with family and others close to him, to his death at Carthage Jail, Joseph Smith is discussed in Madsen's lectures in an easy to understand format. Regardless of what you may have heard already about Joseph Smith, these lectures are enjoyable. Nothing Madsen discusses is sugar coated here. He goes over, in detail, Smith as boy, young adult and a man. Weaknesses, strengths and everything in between. There's no question Joseph Smith was a complex individual, and many aspects of Smith's personality and character are discussed here. I totally recommend these series of lectures to LDS Sunday School teachers, soon-to-be missionaries, and anyone else, regardless of their faith or background, who really wants to understand more about the life and mission of Joseph Smith.