Joseph Smith, April 1844: The King Follett Sermon. tl/dr: "As man now is, God once was; as God is now man may be.”
TIL 20,000 heard Smith deliver this sermon. Wow, everyone for miles around came to hear Smith speak at a funeral, turned conference? Several of Smith's secretaries attempted to record what he had to say using shorthand. I am not sure how well the LDS church's published version (links below) stack up to other accounts, but it includes the part that evangelical Christians find offensive/blasphemous. It doesn't seem like they thought it was necessary or a priority to apply a coat of whitewash in 1971.
In 1844, Smith laid out his extension to mormon theology, the mormon creation myth, in the same vein as he began in his Book of Abraham. At the outset, he made sure to send a dig aimed at his mentor, Sidney Rigdon. Message delivered. Now, the pupil has become the master.
Smith lays it on the line about the new view of god(s) in his emerging mormon theology. There is a hint he's also campaigning for something. His preamble begins by asserting his constitutional right to preach, even if he what he says is false doctrine and hence makes him a false prophet. It's his constitutional right to be wrong! Overall, I don't find this sermon to be a compelling creation myth, but it is certainly unique. It's unsatisfactory as an explanation for the universe. Also, Smith's pride is showing. He wants to convince his audience he is a master of languages: Hebrew, German, etc. But if he has conversed in person with deity, why does he even need to consult older versions of scripture? Couldn't the specific deity just repeat the original message without consulting the corrupted intermediate versions? Smith also plays his prophet calling card, too; so, in every regard he covered his bases.
This sermon was given shortly before events surrounding the Expositor's press destruction, leading to his arrest and murder. Smith seems to have mortality on his mind, mentioning that there are those who find his words treasonous and might be inclined to take his life. The faithful use this as prophetic. I am more inclined to view it as his realization that his luck could run out at any time. Martin Luther King also said, I may not get there with you...
Here it is:
Posted Jun 3, 2013, 7:32 PM UTC · edited