{"id":44672,"date":"2017-10-23T22:05:08","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T04:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=44672"},"modified":"2017-10-23T22:05:08","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T04:05:08","slug":"one-contemporarys-impression-joseph-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2017\/10\/one-contemporarys-impression-joseph-smith.html","title":{"rendered":"One contemporary’s impression of Joseph Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Contemporary<\/a>
A portrait of the Prophet Joseph Smith by an unknown artist (ca. 1842). It formerly belonged to Joseph Smith III, and is now in the custody of the Community of Christ. \u00a0(Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Continuing the excerpts from my files and notes:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving been a boarder in General Smith\u2019s family for more than nine months,\u201d wrote John M. Bernhisel, a physician who later served as Utah\u2019s delegate to the United States Congress,<\/span><\/p>\n

with abundant opportunities to contemplate his character and observe his conduct, I have concluded to give you a few of my \u201cimpressions\u201d of him. General Joseph Smith is naturally a man of strong mental powers, and is possessed of much energy and decision of character, great penetration and a profound knowledge of human nature. He is a man of calm judgment, enlarged views, and is eminently distinguished by his love of justice. He is kind and obliging, generous and benevolent, sociable and cheerful, and is possessed of a mind of a contemplative and reflective character. He is honest, frank, fearless and independent, and as free from dissension as any now to be found.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it is in the gentle charities of domestic life, as the tender and affectionate husband and parent, the warm and sympathizing friend, that the prominent traits of his character are revealed, and his heart is felt to be keenly alive to the kindest and softest emotions of which human nature is susceptible.<\/span><\/p>\n

He is a true lover of his country and a bright and shining example of integrity and moral excellence in all the relations of life. As a religious teacher as well as a man, he is greatly beloved by this people.[1]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> $Andrus and Andrus, They Knew the Prophet<\/em>, 199.*<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

***<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Three temple-related items:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHow far apart are these Mormon temples?\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s No Temple In The World Quite Like This One In Maryland\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPublic Tours Commence for Cedar City Utah Temple\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOpen House Begins for Meridian Idaho Temple\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

This last pair of links includes video and still photographs of two temples that will soon be dedicated.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

***<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Two items from the front lines of the defense of religious liberty:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018We got your back, Jack,\u2019 conservative black clergy tell baker who refused gay couple\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn My Hometown, the Larsens Are Known for Loving People\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

***<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

And, finally, here\u2019s a curious little factoid\u00a0that some might find of interest:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Mormon Whose Life Inspired One of the Most Iconic Romance Movies of All Time\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Posted from Richmond, Virginia<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 Continuing the excerpts from my files and notes: \u00a0 \u201cHaving been a boarder in General Smith\u2019s family for more than nine months,\u201d wrote John M. Bernhisel, a physician who later served as Utah\u2019s delegate to the United States Congress, with abundant opportunities to contemplate his character and observe his conduct, I have concluded […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nOne contemporary's impression of Joseph Smith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"    Continuing the excerpts from my files and notes:   \u201cHaving been a boarder in General Smith\u2019s family for more than nine months,\u201d wrote\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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