Mormon church publishes journal of founder Joseph Smith

For a man considered by many a confident and charismatic religious prophet, the first sentence of Joseph Smith's journal betrays an inkling of self-doubt — it's scratched out. "He's making this very deliberate effort to keep a record. At the same time, he has this self-consciousness," said Richard Turley Jr., assistant historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "So he writes it out, scratches it out, takes a deep breath, writes it again." By the next line, Smith is on his knees in prayer as he asks for God's help.

Painstakingly transcribed from hundreds of fragile, handwritten pages, the 500-page volume builds on decades of historical scholarship to provide a more accurate and complete look at the early church and Smith's life, Turley said. The inaugural work of The Church Historian's Press covers Smith's writings from 1832 to 1839 and includes his account of the "First Vision," in which God and Jesus Christ tell Smith he must restore the original church on Earth.

Historians have long criticized the Mormon church for glossing over the unflattering parts of its history and censoring materials of interest to scholars. Publishing Smith's papers marks a brave departure from that past

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23004/joseph-smith