Impressions of a Prophet: Joseph Smith

A taste of what the podcast is like and some of the topics we'll cover. 26 episodes total, covering the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the lifetime of the prophet Joseph Smith. We hope you'll join us! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

Little intro to the podcast, the status of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today (2020's) then Susan tells us about the spiritual gifts of some of Joseph Smith's ancestors, including John Lathrop, Asael Smith, Solomon Mack, Joseph Smith Sr., and Lucy Mack. Thanks for being here! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

Birth of Joseph Smith, what brought the Smiths to move to Palmyra ("the Cradle of the Restoration"), Caleb Howard, Joseph is carried to Palmyra by a stranger, Joseph Senior's occupation, the Smith Farm, the Burned-Over District, Reverend George Lane and James 1:5, the Sacred Grove, the First Vision, accounts of the First Vision, the original Pearl of Great Price, etc. Welcome back :) YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

Joseph Smith's youth after the First Vision, Porter Rockwell, visit by Moroni, the Hill Cumorah, family discussions about the Nephites, death of Alvin Smith, Joseph meets Martin Harris, marries Emma Hale, translation of the plates, publishing of the Book of Mormon, popular theories on how it came to be, etc. Thanks for being here! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

Martin Harris' father (Nathan) has money, his occupation, Martin's youth in the Quaker church, he manages his father's business, marries cousin Lucy Harris, war of 1812, becomes "gentleman farmer", investigates many churches, finally describes himself as an "unchurched Christian", hires Joseph Smith Sr. and Hyrum, meets Joseph, gives him money for his journey to Harmony, PA to translate, Martin takes characters from plates to New York, Martin's and Lucy's marriage strained over Joseph Smith and the gold plates, Martin takes 116 translated pages to Palmyra, breaks covenant with the Lord (to show them only to a confined group of people), pages go missing, Lucy Harris takes Joseph Smith to court, Martin is no longer asked to be scribe for Joseph to translate, Martin privileged with heavenly witness of the Book of Mormon (along with Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer), Martin finances the publishing of the Book of Mormon, eventually makes it to Salt Lake, comments while looking over the valley, "Who would guess the Book of Mormon could have done all of this?" Thanks for coming back! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

Emma's birth in Harmony, PA (1804), her father Isaac Hale, family more well-to-do than Smiths, meets Joseph, they elope, she has 11 children in all, 5 of which live to maturity, accompanies Joseph to Hill Cumorah, writes for Joseph as he translates plates until Oliver Cowdery is sent, testifies of veracity of Book of Mormon, revelation is given to Emma (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25) where she is commissioned to make a collection of sacred hymns, Joseph and Emma move to Hyrum, OH, Joseph is tarred and feathered, son Joseph Murdock Smith dies, they move to upper floor of Newel K Whitney's store, Emma receives patriarchal blessing in which she is promised she will be saved in the kingdom of heaven, they move to Far West, extermination order by Lilburn W Boggs leads to Joseph being sent to jail, Emma is left to flee Missouri with children without husband, goes to Quincy, IL, living with Sarah Cleveland, then to Commerce, IL (later named Nauvoo), 1842 Emma is elected president of the newly-organized Relief Society, selects Elizabeth Whitney and Sarah Cleveland as counselors, Eliza R Snow as secretary, women didn't teach each other, taught by Joseph Smith, John Taylor, Willard Richards, Joseph taught women to bridle tongues and provoke husbands to righteousness, Relief Society lasts 2 years, Joseph is martyred, Emma becomes a widow, last son David Hyrum is born, Brigham Young instructs saints to leave Nauvoo (and United States), many departing saints give their property to Emma, Battle of Nauvoo, puts Mansion House up for sale, moves to Fulton, IL, finds out her furnishings are being sold, comes back to Nauvoo, opens her house as hotel, Lewis Bidamon, a formerly-married bachelor, moves into hotel, Emma and he are married, Nauvoo loses appeal when temple is destroyed, hotel business tanks, Bidamon goes to California for gold, this fails, he returns, he has illicit relationship with a Nancy, they have a child (Charlie), and continue to reside in Emma's house, in 1860 joins Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of five children Julia marries catholic man and becomes catholic, Joseph Smith III serves as prophet of Reorganized Church for ~50 years, Frederick dies at age 26, Alexander and David serve as apostles of Reorganized Church, David briefly in first presidency, David ultimately is incarcerated in insane asylum for the rest of his days, Emma dies at age 74, friction between Emma and Brigham Young, concluding thoughts. Good to have you back! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon

This episode is about Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, two of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon (along with Martin Harris). Both men performed great service in the early days of the restored Church. Both in time separated themselves from the Church and the prophet Joseph Smith. Oliver Cowdery at the end of his life responded to efforts to seek him out and joined the Church before his death. David Whitmer never did come back in his lifetime. Both men stayed true to their testimonies of the Book of Mormon their whole lives. Good to see you back! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

Learn the amazing story of how the Book of Mormon came forth, and some popular theories. Translation "by the gift and power of God", printing by E. B. Grandin in Palmyra, NY, its sale, various theories on how Joseph Smith produced the book, how often it speaks of Christ, His several names as stated in the Book of Mormon, what it reveals about the nature of God, what it says about how to find happiness and peace, how to know for yourself if it is true, etc. Glad to have you back! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

April 6, 1830 "The Church of Christ" is officially organized in Fayette, New York in the home of Peter and Mary Whitmer. Just one month prior, the Book of Mormon had been published. Between then and the Church's organization believers in the Book of Mormon would meet on weekdays but go to their old churches on Sunday. Some members had been baptized before the organizational meeting on April 6. A revelation (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20) was given at that founding meeting, which contained basic principles including the duties of members and of the priesthood, their meetings, and the sacrament, and can be considered a kind of constitution for the Church. The first official missionary for the church is Samuel Smith, brother of the prophet, who goes to Mendon, NY. The mission lasts three days, he is unable to sell any copies of the Book of Mormon, but gives two away, one of which later falls into the hands of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. More missionaries are called (they're not called missionaries - they're called to "go on a journey" to preach the gospel). First "foreign" missionaries are Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer Jr., and Ziba Peterson, who are called to go west "unto the Lamanites". They go as far as Independence, Missouri and are thus the first to step foot in the land soon to be designated as Zion, or the New Jerusalem. As they pass through Kirtland, Ohio, many are baptized (127 people), including Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, and Newell K. Whitney. Statistics of the early church: More men than women, most common first name is John for men, Mary for women, most common surname is Smith, average age is 23, ancestry is mostly from the British Isles, 2nd generation get a lot of Book of Mormon names. In the early days the Church was commanded to gather - first to Kirtland, then to places like Nauvoo and the Salt Lake Valley. It wasn't until Heber J. Grant (in 1923?) that members in California were told they didn't need to gather, that they could be "in the world but not of the world". Missionaries continue to be called today, including young Elders, young Sisters, and senior missionaries. We hope you'll talk to them! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotif

In February of 1831, the Lord having just previously commanded the people of the church to gather to Ohio, Joseph and Emma arrive (first) in Kirtland.  Two months later Emma gives birth to twins, both of whom die within a few hours.  Shortly thereafter Joseph and Julia Murdock’s twins are born but Julia dies in childbirth, and Joseph gives the twins to Joseph and Emma, who adopt them.  Their names are Joseph Smith Murdock (Smith) and Julia Murdock (Smith).  Joseph is instructed by the Lord to translate the bible, and selects as his scribe Sidney Rigdon, a recent convert from Ohio and Parley P. Pratt’s former minister and friend.  When Joseph and Emma first came to Ohio they lived in Kirtland on the upper floor of Newell K. Whitney’s store.  There were many visitors and it became very difficult for Joseph to translate.  A way opened for them to go to a nearby town called Hiram and stay in the home of John and Elsa Johnson.  The Johnsons had joined the church just previously.  “Father” John Johnson had been curious about Joseph Smith and the Church, Joseph had visited him (with John’s Methodist minister Ezra Booth present) and Joseph had been an instrument in healing Elsa’s arm.  John, Elsa, and Ezra had been baptized.  Ezra had been called on a mission back to Hiram, a result of which was that a local Campbellite minister named Symonds Ryder was converted.  Symonds, the wealthiest man in town in terms of land and a prominent citizen, is called on a mission replacing a 17-year-old who had changed his mind, and asks for Joseph to write out his ordination certificate.  In it Joseph misspells his name, Symonds reasons he can’t be a true prophet and at least partly for this reason apostatizes.  Ezra also apostatizes, sending a series of letters to the Ohio Star with his grievances. Ok this is taking too long.  Summarizing more:  After Joseph receives the glorious revelation on the kingdoms of glory (Section 76) he is tarred and feathered by Symonds and others, which, to be clear, is an attempt on his life, he survives.  The story is really interesting, so I hope you can listen!  Have a great one! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book C

Revelations to Joseph Smith given in Kirtland, Ohio - Stories of how they came to be, how they were copied, who they were to, what they were about, the most and least popular, the "White Horse Prophecies", visions in the Kirtland Temple, and the Tragedy of Kirtland (Kirtland Safety Society). YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

In this episode we delve into the Kirtland Safety Society and how when it failed, many members of the Church left, some temporarily and some permanently, including members of the Quorum of the Twelve. The Kirtland Safety Society was basically a bank that was founded by Joseph Smith and other principal leaders of the Church. We talk about its founding, its collapse with the national banking crisis of 1837 (the same year it was formed), and what members of the church did in response. Why did they think it was a good idea to form it in the first place? Who invested money and who didn't? What happened to the money that was invested? What were people saying about Joseph when it failed? Who stayed by Joseph and who didn't? What did the Lord say about their time in Kirtland at the end of it all? Find the answers to these questions and more - hope you enjoy! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

In this episode Susan does a study on the lives of several of the men who knew the prophet Joseph, to see how their faithfulness over the years affected their blessings. (Susan has studied EVERY person who knew the prophet Joseph.) Here we talk about Heber C. Kimball, James E. Talmage (who was not contemporary with the prophet), Brigham Young, John Taylor, Orson Hyde, Thomas B. Marsh, Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, John W. Boynton, David Whitmer, William McLellin, William Law, and Almon W. Babbitt. Some (1) never faltered in their loyalty to the Lord's prophet and His Church. Some (2) did depart for a time, ranging from a matter of weeks to decades, but then returned. Some (3) left and never returned. And finally (4), some left and afterward fought against the Church. What happened to these men in the ensuing years of their lives? Can we see patterns for how their choices bore consequences? What blessings can be expected to be had, or missed, depending on one's faithfulness? And what can we learn about how to maintain our own testimonies? Get the answers to these questions and more in this episode. Hope you enjoy! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

The Lord revealed the "center place" for the gathering of the saints in the last days, and the place of Zion, the New Jerusalem, in 1831 to Joseph Smith. The place was Independence, Missouri - a city at that time on the western boundary of the United States (west of that was all Indian territory). At that time it was occupied by white settlers, with whom the idea that the land was consecrated for the Lord's people did not sit well. In this episode we talk about how the Lord made this land known to His prophet, how the saints attempted to settle there, why and how they were soon expelled, and how they attempted to redeem Zion in what was called Zion's Camp. Why weren't the early saints successful in inhabiting Zion? What did they do wrong, if anything? Why did the Lord command His people to go to Zion if He knew they'd be kicked out? Why did He send them to redeem Zion if He knew they wouldn't be successful? What good came out of Zion's camp? Did the Lord appoint a new location? (No.) What did the Lord say about appointing a new location? Get answers to these questions and more (and hear a great rendition of "Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing") on this episode. Glad to have you back! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

From the last episode we learned why around 1200 saints had moved from Kirtland, OH to Independence, MO, with more on the way. In this episode we learn about how the locals, who were largely frontiersmen and former southerners, didn't love the idea of the northerner religious saints moving in and kind of taking over (for some reason). Unfortunately the way the differences were handled on the Missourians' side was to resort to mob violence and other such unlawful means to make their feelings known and to force the saints out of the area. Members of the Church were killed, beaten, abused, their property destroyed, etc. until they were driven out of Independence without any compensation for the property they left behind. The political leaders did not come to their aid. They crossed the Missouri river one night to the north into Clay County (Missouri) where they were received, temporarily at least. Why did the Missourians have such beef with the saints? What did Joseph Smith and the saints in Kirtland do when they found out? What did the Lord direct them to do to redeem Zion? What was the biggest problem in that effort (Zion's Camp) and what was a tragic result? What miracles occurred? Why did it ultimately fail in its supposed purpose? What essential actual purpose did Joseph Smith say it served? What did Brigham Young say about the experience? What did the Lord say about why the saints couldn't redeem Zion? What did He say about when Zion WOULD be redeemed? What song did Clayton sing this time? Get the answers to these questions and more on this episode. Glad you can join us! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify

After the saints got kicked out of Independence, Missouri, fleeing north over the river to Clay County (Missouri - mostly Liberty), and had been there a couple of years, it became apparent that the local residents there didn't want the saints among them any more than did their cousins in Jackson county, and legal and extra-legal means were used to expel them. It was even voted in a ___ meeting that they be sent to hell. Then they decided Wisconsin would suffice, but Alexander Doniphan, a Liberty lawyer and general, used his influence to create two new counties to the north in Missouri - Caldwell and Daviess - where the saints could go live. Caldwell is where they settled a town called Far West. We also talk about the call of the first twelve apostles in our dispensation. Who were they? Who was commissioned to select them? Who stayed faithful and who didn't, and who left and then came back? And why did so many even in high leadership in the early days waver as they did? Who was the "stake presidency" in Far West? What led to their being cut off from the Church? Who else left or was cut off from the church in Far West? How was Joseph Smith doing during this time, emotionally and financially? What revelations came during this time? Can Clayton get through three verses of Ye Elders of Israel without messing up? (No) Find out the answers to all these questions and more on this episode. Thanks to Susan as always! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Mus

This is a video-only episode (except the little explanation version I do separately). For the video go to: https://youtu.be/9ModX2-auQo (YouTube). If you happen to be listening on Spotify then click the little switch to go to the video version. In this episode I take you on location to Independence, Missouri! We believe this is the place the Lord designated as the center place for the gathering of Israel in the last days and as the place that the New Jerusalem will be built, which will be a great center of the Church, along with the old Jerusalem, when the Savior comes to reign on earth. Right now (in 2025) you can see it's not quite ready. But I can show you the layout of the land, including the dedicated temple site, the visitor's center and other buildings owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Community of Christ, etc. I worked hard on this, so hope you enjoy! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

Learn about the events that led up to the infamous Extermination Order by Governor Boggs of Missouri in 1838. It reads in part, "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description". What made Governor Boggs, and indeed many Missourians, believe they were justified in expulsing fellow American citizens from an entire state and depriving them of their property and other rights, even their lives in some cases, without any compensation or justice? What good-faith efforts were made to learn the truth of what the Mormons had done or were planning on doing, prior to issuing the order? (None I know of.) Were these citizens or their descendants ever compensated for their losses? (No.) What punishment did the perpetrators of violence suffer? (None.) What did the United States government do when these grievances were brought before them? (Nothing.) When was the Extermination Order rescinded? (1976.) Alright, well it's hard not to be mad about it, and unfortunately it hangs over the state of Missouri and the United States still. But despite the somber and tragic nature of the topic, we can learn many things from the episode. Hope you learn some! Thanks for being here again! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

As we discussed last time, Joseph Smith and others were taken prisoners in Far West on Oct 31 of 1838. A death sentence was passed on them, but they were effectively saved from execution by Alexander Doniphan. While their lives were spared, they were incarcerated for the next five months. Why were they taken prisoners in the first place? What happened to Far West after the prisoners were taken? How did their trial in Richmond, Missouri go? Which three prisons were they incarcerated in? What were conditions like? What revelations were received in prison? Which apostle visited them in prison and picked Illinois as the next gathering place for the saints? What happened to General Clark (led atrocities in Far West) and Judge Austin King (sentenced Latter-day Saint leaders to prison) later in life? (Each was elected governor of Missouri.) Find out the answers to these questions and more in this episode! Glad you can join us! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

We take a moment in our account to talk about a great friend to the saints and a remarkable man - Alexander Doniphan. While others in positions of influence were seeking to harm the saints Doniphan, a lawyer, stood up for them and stood up for justice, showing an integrity seemingly lacking in others at the time. At a moment when Joseph Smith and others were about to be killed, he defied his superior officer and refused to carry out the order and threatened that officer with legal action if he carried it out, effectively saving their lives. What was his background? What was he well known for? What else did he do in his career? What was his family life like? Where did he stand during the Civil War? What did he think of Lincoln? What tragedies did he face? Who named a son after him? What is named after him today? Find the answers to these questions and more in this episode. Good to have you back! Please tell a friend! YouTube (Video) Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube Music Website Facebook Instagram Susan Easton Black on Amazon Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book Clayton Pixton on Spotify Clayton Pixton on Apple Music