Produced by the Mormon Texts Project, http://bencrowder.net/books/mtp. Volunteers: Ben Crowder, Meridith Crowder, Tod Robbins. JOSEPH SMITH THE PROPHET-TEACHER A DISCOURSE BY ELDER B. H. ROBERTS THE DESERET NEWS SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 1908 Copyright, 1908. By B. H. Roberts. TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. A GREAT POSSIBILITY. II. HISTORICAL AMERICANS. III. WHAT IS A PROPHET? IV. RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS OF ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. Revelation. Ideas of Deity. Of the Universe. Of Man. Man and His Salvation. Of the Significance of Salvation and Damnation. V. THE PROPHET'S CORRECTION OF SECTARIAN ERRORS. The Doctrine of Revelation. The Being and Kind of Being God Is. Creation, the Law of Substance. Of Man's Origin. Election and Reprobation. VI. THE PROPHET'S PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES. The Prophet's Definition of Truth. As to Things--Existences. The Reign of Law. Change and Its Tendency. The Existence of Good and Evil. The Intelligent Entity. The Relationship of Intelligences. Man's Freedom. Eternity of Relations. VII. THE PROPHET'S GENERALIZATIONS. VIII. AN AMERICAN PROPHET. America the Old World. The Constitution of the United States Inspired of God. America Fortified of God Against Other Nations. DEDICATION. TO MY MOTHER, ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER EIGHTY-SECOND BIRTHDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1908. For a long time, my Dear Mother, I have desired to couple remembrance of you with some of my works; and finally have chosen this Discourse upon our great Prophet-Teacher to carry with it that distinction. To all who read this Discourse, then, I desire to say that I love and honor you; and that your love for me has ever been an inspiration to my work. JOSEPH SMITH THE PROPHET-TEACHER A Discourse[A] [Footnote A: This discourse was delivered at the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, on Sunday, December 22nd, 1907, at a Memorial Service held in honor of the one hundred and second anniversary of the Prophet's birth, 23rd December 1805.] --- Tomorrow will be the one hundred and second anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith, whom most of you here present believe was a Prophet of God. I have been invited to say something about him on this occasion. It is not at all my intention to deal with the incidents of Joseph Smith's eventful life; these are familiar to you. If I could attain the full desire of my heart, I would like to set before you somewhat the value of this man as a teacher of great truths. I desire to speak of him as a Prophet-Teacher, that is, as a Prophet acting in his capacity of Teacher, a Prophet's highest and noblest office.