Richard Bushman, a renowned historian and author of "Rough Stone Rolling," delves into the dynamic relationship between Joseph Smith and divine guidance. He recounts the dramatic loss of the 116 pages, explaining Martin Harris's crucial role in the events surrounding it. The conversation also highlights the emotional struggles of Joseph as he navigated guilt and the pressure of leadership. Bushman emphasizes the importance of listening to God’s voice and learning from past mistakes, showcasing how revelations shaped early church governance.
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Loss of the 116 Pages
Martin Harris, despite supporting Joseph, wanted more proof of the Book of Mormon translation and asked to show the manuscript to his wife.
After Joseph agreed, his son was born and died, followed by Martin confessing to losing the manuscript.
insights INSIGHT
Joseph's Condemnation and Mercy
Joseph felt condemned by the loss, and the revelation in Section 3 reflects this, reprimanding him for heeding man's voice over God's.
Yet, the revelation also shows mercy, promising restoration and highlighting Joseph's unique gift.
insights INSIGHT
Joseph's Prophetic Voice
Section 3 marks Joseph Smith finding his prophetic voice, speaking directly as God.
This differs from other scriptures, where prophets typically report what God said.
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Richard Lyman Bushman's "Rough Stone Rolling" offers a detailed and insightful biography of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The book delves into Smith's life, exploring his religious experiences, his leadership of the early church, and the controversies surrounding his life and teachings. Bushman presents a balanced and nuanced portrayal of Smith, acknowledging both his strengths and weaknesses. The book is considered a significant contribution to the historical understanding of Mormonism and its founder. It challenges traditional narratives and encourages critical engagement with the historical record. Bushman's work has been praised for its scholarly rigor and its accessibility to a broad audience.
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In this episode Richard Bushman and Kerry discuss the ways that God worked with Joseph Smith to help him learn, grow, and do what he needed to do. They explore the loss of the 116 pages and the role that Martin Harris played in that and in the Restoration, and the story of Lucy Harris, a law suit, and how all of those things combined to create the pressure that led to the loss of the 116 pages. They also talk about the lessons that Joseph Smith, and we, needed to learn in order to not fall prey to this same kind of mistake. They also talk about how the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are like God speaking into our ears.
We are grateful for our generous donors who make the podcast possible. We are also grateful to Launchpad Consulting Studios for producing the podcast and to Rich Nicholls, who composed and plays the music for the podcast.
The Scriptures Are Real 