Joseph Fielding Smith: Gospel Scholar, Prophet of God

by Francis M. Gibbons

For the first time in many years, all of the biographies written about Church Presidents by Francis M. Gibbons from Joseph Smith through Ezra Taft Benson are in print and available in an economical paperback format. Elder Gibbons, who has personally known several Church Presidents, was a secretary to the First Presidency for sixteen years and also served in both the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy.

Genres: Lds, Religion

524 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 2010

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short book

I enjoyed This very much! Such cute stories about Joseph Fielding Smith. Worth reading! It was not only interesting it was fun!

[D Crook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joseph Fielding Smith, the tenth president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, deserves better than this book. Besides serving as the president of the LDS Church at a time when its membership was exploding, Joseph Fielding Smith led a rich life---born the son of Joseph F. Smith, the LDS Church's sixth prophet; working (and then leading) the LDS Church's History Department for decades, including when B.H. Roberts and Orson F. Whitney were his supervisors; writing almost two dozen doctrinal books; and serving as an apostle while Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, and David O. McKay were prophets. The insights and stories that were surely presented in his voluminous journals could have been compellingly described and discussed. Instead, one-third of this book seemed like nothing more than a travel log, describing trips by departure times and individuals met while departing and or arriving in carriages, cars, ships, and/or planes. When the author did venture outside of the recitation of the mundane details of President Smith's travel, his writing often returned to the same statements repeated (it seems) dozens of times in the book: "The son of a former president of the Church, grandson of the martyr Hyrum Smith, and great-grandson of the first Patriarch to the Church, Joseph had been raised from infancy with an understanding of the spiritual power that could be used . . . ." While this certainly might be a fair sentiment, reading it (I am exaggerating here) every other page was tiresome. Not only was the writing repetitive, but the author's tone, while apparently attempting to be deferential and respectful, at times was practically sycophantic.

I am a believer. Joseph Fielding Smith was a prophet. I wanted to learn more about him. While this book did teach me some things about him, I found myself constantly distracted by the author's word usage, tone, and style. Overall, I was disappointed in this book.

[Jessica Beevers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best biography I’ve read. Much of the later chapters become travelogues with zero context or storytelling, which became boring quite quickly. Still, it was a worthwhile read for those interested in the life of a prominent man in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on our 10th president Joseph Fielding Smith’s life. It is lengthy with 500+ pages. President Smith is special to me because once when I was a student at Brigham Young University the church history class that I was a student in was privileged to have Joseph Fielding Smith and his wife Jessie Evans visit with us briefly as a part of a field trip. Then on May 21, 1971, I took my baby and attended the laying of the cornerstone ceremony for the Provo, Utah temple. President Smith was presided at that meeting and I had the distinct witness that Joseph Fielding Smith was the Lord’s prophet on the earth at that time.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is not literary, not riveting, and a bit like reading someone's daily routine, I can't help it, I love history. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this gentle obedient man, his personal beliefs, and life challenges. It made me reflective and eager to share his story with others. (I confess. It took me 6 months to finish.)

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like mostly a re-hash of the JFS, Jr and Stewart volume, at least in the earlier years. Perhaps there are more aspects of JFS's later life that are original and distinct from the other biography, but I've read the Smith/Stewart to recently to feel like plowing on right now. Perhaps I'll pick this up again in a decade or so, when my memory is more foggy.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read the biographies of the prophet that we are studying for the year in church. I really enjoyed learning all about Joseph Fielding Smith...I didn't know much prior to reading this. He was an amazing man! It was a long slow read, but enjoyable.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, I learned so much about the great prophet.