Joseph Smith and Jesus

Detractors read into this statement that the Prophet was saying he did a greater work than Jesus Christ. Considering the entire text and the circumstance of the time, he seems to be saying only that he was able to keep the Church together better than others did, including Jesus Christ. Surely Joseph Smith would be the first to agree that keeping a church together is not a greater or a more significant work than what was done by Jesus.
There is nothing as significant as being the God of Israel, taking upon oneself the sins of the world, dying for all mankind that they might live, nor being resurrected. Surely, everlasting life is the greatest gift anyone could give.

Nevertheless, the Lord himself said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). To what greater work could the Savior be referring? Perhaps the Lord means a larger work, but certainly not more significant. For example, John the Baptist presumably baptized more people than Jesus, Paul may have converted more as a missionary, Moses led more Israelites out of bondage, Noah built a bigger ship, and Joseph Smith kept the Church together longer.

The point should be clear: if greater means quantity, there are many who fulfilled the Savior's promise that his followers would do "greater works," and this includes Joseph Smith.

From the beginning Satan has decoyed people away from Prophetic truths by whispering in their ears that unless a Prophet himself is perfect, he can be ignored. The above quotation from Joseph Smith is indeed bluster, and overstated. What exactly is your point?
Can we not point to the documented weaknesses/lapses in judgment of Paul, Peter, Moses, Abraham, Nathanial, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Zechariahs, Thomas, Jacob, and others? God has always used imperfect people, and He always will. This does not invalidate their work, it shows that in spite of our weaknesses, God will use us too, if we allow him.

Folly is believing the word of a man who translated imaginary gold tablets by looking at a seeing stone in his hat.

Folly is believing elaborate stories about lost civilizations that leave no archeological record.

Folly is believing Joseph Smith, who married at least 33 women, some already married, when he says that the "other" Christian Churches are not following God!


Get a grip!

Badcandie, I say, what is that gigantic piece of wood doing in your eye, it draws my attention away from your mindless, hateful drivel.

I read different things into this excerpt.

Remember that Joseph was tarred and feathered, had teeth broken, was given poison and beaten by mobbers who covered their faces and broke into his home at night when he was taking a turn watching his sick children. Because of the mobbers exposing his sick twin babies, they got worse and at least one died very soon. All in all Joseph and Emma buried 5 children. Joseph knew sorrow and suffering in a personal way for such a young man. So did Emma.

He was taunted as a very young teenager when he went to his minister friend to tell him about his spiritual experiences.

As a boy he had had a disease in the bone of his leg and had the infected bone chipped out in an operation as his dad held him, refusing liquor to deaden the pain. He had to walk on that weak leg as a man who was supposed to help his mom and siblings move, turned out to be a monster who loved to see Joseph suffer - walk on his bad leg - to their new farm many miles away which the father had gone on ahead to secure.

As a leader of the young church Joseph languished in Liberty Jail for months without proper food or winter clothing and was released as the charges once again were trumped up charges. Meanwhile, his church friends were being burned out of their homes, women raped, and all the horrible things that go along with mob rule with Joseph and other key leaders in jail.

If Joseph's sermon seems defensive, consider what he had gone through; he praised the people who stood by him. Yes, you could take these remarks as boastful - I find them rather straight forward talk to people who knew him well and had suffered along with him so all of them would identify with the courage of Paul as they were trying to be courageous in their testimony of Jesus also.