Why would God call Joseph Smith to restore the true church?

[_Uncle Dale]

1. Intelligence

Granted -- he was intelligent. At first rude, crude, unlearned and ignorant --
but he did a fair job of educating himself during the 1830s. Intelligence is
a "necessary" condition for effective leadership, but it is not a "sufficient"
condition. In a short-term crisis, perhaps even a person of common intelligence
can demonstrate ability to lead for a while. Tactics may depend upon innate
cunning and common sense, as much as upon genius. Strategy, on the other
hand, generally requires a better mental capacity.

I am not convinced that Smith was an effective strategic leader.

2. Zeal for Learning

That may help a leader to remain alive -- to live to fight another day. But I
doubt it is either a necessary or sufficient attribute for an effective leader.

3. Faith in a Living God

I am not convinced Smith possessed such faith. More likely he possessed a
pepperbox six-shooter and a Jupiter talisman.

4. Power of Introspection

Possessed? Perhaps so.
Utilized? Perhaps not.

5. Love of People

That's a hard one. He needed an audience, I think. Like an Eastern Guru needs a following.
Did he love his enemies? I doubt it.
Is "love of people" a leadership asset? I don't think so.

Is it a "Gift of the Spirit?" -- perhaps so.

These characteristics/qualities would empower and carry along a person who dealt with the things Joseph Smith did...wouldn't they?
Regards,
MG

I think you need to re-compile your list.
Try tabulating the attributes of Gandhi and Spartacus on a single sheet of paper.

UD

[_why me]

Hi Guys,

Anyway, there always seems to be a common thread that a lot of the conversations on this board seem to come back to. Joseph Smith was human. He had faults. Why would God restore the true church through him of all people? Well, here's a place to start. Maybe Joseph had what it took to do what needed to be done to get the ball rolling. Could Joseph have been the type of leader that God knew would have the ability to set up the kingdom of God on earth?

Here's a good place to start looking at some of the leadership qualities of Joseph Smith.

http://www.LDS.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?v ... &hideNav=1

Would a person who did not have these qualities have stood a chance in accomplishing the work that Joseph Smith did? He had a hard enough time as it was. In fact, as you all know, it was nip and tuck there for a while as to whether or not the church would survive. Joseph brought it through to the point that Brigham could pick it up and carry it out to the Great Basin and make a go of it.

I think Joseph was somewhat unusual in comparison to other men of his time in regards to his unique mix of leadership qualities that helped him succeed in his mission/calling.

Regards,
MG

Welcome back! Glad that you joined us. It was a difficult to be with the infidels all by myself. You are right he had good leadership skills. So there is a world outside this forum?? I never thought it. I need to go explore the universe and find out for myself. Can you stick around and give me a vacation from the board?

[_why me]

But it is kind of cool place. Same people hanging discussing the same stuff. Joseph was a loser,etc.

He just acquired a new title, "horny toad", thanks to why me publicising it so much. Otherwise, my guess is it would have gone unnoticed.

You forgot the other word: criticitis which describe the symptoms of some posters on this board. It also describes a symptom which the critics attempt to spread.

[_Ray A]

It was a difficult to be with the infidels all by myself.

And thus why me reveals his real motive. A man who isn't active in the Church, probably because it's too hard to live Mormon teachings, so from the comfort of his armchair apologetics, derives satisfaction by calling all unbelievers, "infidels".

I've been there, so I shouldn't be so harsh.

I still have hope for why me, who in reality is a person holding on to Mormonism in the hope that some "grace" will be added to his sin deficit account.

[_Ray A]

You forgot the other word: criticitis which describe the symptoms of some posters on this board. It also describes a symptom which the critics attempt to spread.

In BKP's words: "disease germs".

And my guess is that you'd be in favour of censorship to "protect faith".

I think you'd vounteer to be Boyd's poodle, and piss when he gives you permission to piss.

[_Yong Xi]

What skills did Joseph Smith lack that forced God to knock him off?

[_harmony]

1. Intelligence
2. Zeal for Learning
3. Faith in a Living God
4. Power of Introspection
5. Love of People

I think he had an entirely different skill set:

1. personal charisma and a willingness to manipulate people for his own purposes
2. the ability to lie to people who trusted him
3. knowledge about other people's gullibility and the willingness to use that against them
4. greed
5. an aversion to normal work

[_The Dude]

Hi Guys,

Time to drop in to Mormon Discussions after having ignored it for months. There is a big, wonderful world out there! This place is truly a wee little speck on the canvas of humanity and more particularly within the cyberspace world. When you're hanging out here all the time, day after day and week after week, it's easy to start thinking that this place is the summum bonum of all that is good in the world of online discussion groups. Not so. But it is kind of cool place. Same people hanging discussing the same stuff. Joseph was a loser,etc.

I dare you to start out like this at the next LDS fast and testimony meeting:

"There is a big, wonderful world out there! This place, this church, is truly a wee little speck on the canvas of humanity. When you're hanging out here, and reading and praying day after day and week after week, it's easy to start thinking the Mormon Church is the summum bonum of all that is good in the world. Not so! It's kind of cool, though, if it's all you are used to. I know Joseph was a "prophet", whatever that means. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Man, that would really dispel their illusions of grandeur, don't you think?

[_mms]

There is a big, wonderful world out there! This place is truly a wee little speck on the canvas of humanity and more particularly within the cyberspace world. When you're hanging out here all the time, day after day and week after week, it's easy to start thinking that this place is the summum bonum of all that is good in the world of online discussion groups. Not so. But it is kind of cool place. Same people hanging discussing the same stuff. Joseph was a loser,etc.

OOPS. LOOKS LIKE I WAS POSTING THE BELOW POST AT THE SAME TIME AS THE DUDE WAS POSTING HIS ABOVE. SO WE MAKE THE POINT TWICE.

There is some irony, here. One of the things with which I have had to come to grips as I have learned the true history of the Church and considered the Church from a more objective viewpoint is that the Church is "truly a wee little speck on the canvas of humanity and more particularly within the [] world." Indeed, "[w]hen you are hanging out in [Mormondom] all the time, day after day and week after week, it is easy to start thinking that [it] is the summum bonum of all that is good in the world []. Not so."

Huh. MG appears to make some good points, but I am not sure he knew it.

[_harmony]

MG is irony-challenged. It's not his fault. Well, it is, but still...