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Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet
Rarely does a biographer capture the sense of being in a different time and mindset to the extent that readers feel they are reliving events through the eyes of the biographer’s subject. This is the skill of Dan Vogel—after twenty-five years of researching Joseph Smith’s life and publishing on such related issues as Seekerism, the Book of Mormon, views of Smith’s contemporaries about Indian origins, and the existing documents pertaining to Smith family experiences. Vogel weaves together strands of evidence into a complete fabric including, among other aspects of Smith’s environment, the content of his daily dictation of scriputre and revelation—all contributing to a nearly complete view of what occurred on any given day in Smith’s lfie. The result is as much intellectual history as traditional biography. Readers will feel engaged in the dramatic, formative events in the prophet’s life against a backdrop of theology, local and national politics, Smith family dynamics, organizational issues, and interpersonal relations. One can form a mental picture, and many will find themselves carrying on an internal dialogue about the issues raised. Vogel addresses the following broad 1. The home that Joseph Smith was raised in was religiously divided. His mother’s family was orthodox and partly mystical; his father’s family tended toward rationalism and skepticism. Joseph’s maternal grandfather published an account of seeing a heavenly light and hearing Jesus’ voice. Joseph’s paternal grandfather promoted Thomas Paine’s skeptical critique of the Bible, The Age of Reason. 2. When Andrew Jackson was elected U.S. president in 1828, it was a key transitional period in American history. Jackson was a Mason and an advocate of secularism, which alarmed evangelical Protestants. 3. The Smith family experienced a series of financial setbacks and lost their farm in 1825. Joseph felt disinherited and saw no way of escape—no chance for his family to regain its former standing in the community. 4. Joseph found solace in religion. In the early 1820s, he had a powerful conversion experience and felt that Jesus had forgiven him of his sins. This inspired him to share the gospel message with others, particularly with his own family. About the same time, Smith found a talent for preaching and delivered “passable” Methodist sermons at a nearby revival. 5. Over time, Joseph became aware that people trusted him and that he could be an influence for good or ill, that even through nefarious means, God worked through him when his heart was right. He realized this when he led groups in search of Spanish treasure in New York and Pennsylvania. Although no treasure was found, the men sincerely believed that Smith had a spiritual gift and could see where casks of gold were hidden in the earth. This training ground in spiritual leadership was invaluable because the prophet learned how to create an environment for belief—one in which people could exercise faith and be converted to Christ through the sensible influence of the Spirit, all prior to the overarching work of restoring primitive Christianity.
643 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
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June 24, 2025While it succeeds in interweaving the Book of Mormon dictation into Joseph's context (such as the 2 Nephi inclusion of explicit, heretofore unprecedented prophecies that he would be the sole authority of the Restoration right at the same time that Cowdery was seeking increased authority of his own), Vogel's consistent attempts at rendering the BoM as a window into Joseph's mind and soul feel strained more often than not (not to mention repetitive). Still, a pretty colossal and meticulous work, whose main core turns out to be more or less an extended critique of the BoM. It's not surprising to me that Vogel was a former true believer, and it's almost as if he's unconsciously using this BoM-as-window-to-the-soul approach as an excuse for said critique, giving him a reason to shout to the world, 'See?? See how bogus this all is??'. I certainly can relate to the obsession for every detailed criticism one can find. Ironically now, I'm doing the same thing, using Vogel's book as a window to his soul.
Upon finishing, final thoughts are largely the same. While he strains his arguments a bit, esp. towards the end, I can't help but feel Vogel's work towers over Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling. Not just because Bushman's is clearly apologetic, but I don't remember getting any of the same richness of detail from Bushman.
Upon finishing, final thoughts are largely the same. While he strains his arguments a bit, esp. towards the end, I can't help but feel Vogel's work towers over Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling. Not just because Bushman's is clearly apologetic, but I don't remember getting any of the same richness of detail from Bushman.
February 27, 2020
Continuing my reading of Joseph Smith era history, I now cover Dan Vogel's work. This work is interesting in that it is a voluminous, full-length tome, yet only covers the Vermont and New York periods of Joseph's life, examining the most foundational aspects of both Joseph's role as prophet and the early beginnings of the church he organized.
The first thing to note is the usage of primary sources. Vogel is virtually without peer in his work on the early sources. In reference to his "Early Mormon Documents" series, BYU professor Larry E. Morris said "Dan Vogel has made a significant and lasting contribution to Mormon studies, and he deserves to be thanked for his bibliographic work." (Joseph Smith and “Interpretive Biography”). I personally benefited from many of these documents in doing my research on Miner Hill's Cave. (See http://archival.link/mormoncave/story)
The next thing to note is Vogel's bias. He states upfront that he interprets "any claim of the paranormal—precognition, clairvoyance, telekinesis, telepathy—as delusion or fraud." In dealing with the claims of not only Joseph Smith, but the religious or folk traditions of the greater part of his subjects, this presents, out of the gate, a framework of skepticism, and a responsibility to explain what was "really" going on. Richard Bushman, a fellow Joseph Smith biographer, stated that a historian “cannot hope to rise above these battles or pretend nothing personal is at stake.” Given Vogel's divulgence of upfront personal inclinations, this seems to apply to him as well. This rankled (my former BYU D&C teacher) Andrew Hedges, who complained that "the fundamental problem with the book is that Vogel refuses to evaluate Joseph Smith on his (Joseph’s) own terms." (Andrew H. Hedges and Dawson W. Hedges, No, Dan, That’s Still Not History)
My assessment actually runs counter to this complaint. I was expecting that at each turn, Vogel would be giving the inside story, stripped from mysticism, and would spell out how it really went down. There were a few offerings in that regard, most notably the occasional discussion of hot/cold (psychic) readings (offering explanations of how he could convincingly describe--via seership--Josiah Stowell's property from of miles away in ch. 6, David Whitmer's journey from New York in ch. 23, and James Corrill's religious mind in ch. 31). Chapter 29 also includes a sensible discussion of sleep paralysis as an explanation for a nighttime fright experienced by Harris and Knight. However, the deluge of primary sources offered (so many of which include descriptions of seership and revelation as matter-of-fact) are most often presented without either commentary or irony. Particularly in cases where Joseph had nothing to prove or gain from falsifying his apparent gifts, like when he saw Emma approaching while digging a well in chapter 7, or his obvious excitement and surprise upon using the U&T for the first time "I can see anything. They are marvelous." Barring the conspiracy of a long con, throwaway incidents like these do nothing bolster to the "delusion or fraud" thesis.
My greatest appreciation for this book is the thoroughness with which the Book of Mormon is addressed. While the New York period does not have the bulk of documentation that can be found in, say, the Missouri legal episodes, the Book of Mormon is too often overlooked as a massive volume of text produced in these more obscure, hazy, yet foundational years and months. It is an extensive, detailed, primary source produced before 1831, and Vogel does well to acknowledge this, while other histories limit themselves to cursory overviews. His object in the analysis is to read in Joseph's family dynamics, religious concerns, psychological tensions, and contemporary local and greater American politics and society to demonstrate the inspirations for Joseph's authorial creations. The most compelling parts of this approach are the areas where New York folk magic makes surprise appearances in the Book of Mormon: hidden gold in the earth, slippery treasures, and seership. The remainder is by all means plausible, but starts feeling like worn out apologetic attempts to likewise read in ancient near east culture and modern LDS doctrines into the text. Masonry, Jacksonian America, and the mythologies surrounding the Indians overlay themselves passably well on the Book of Mormon text, but they are far from adequate in really accounting for it. Confirmation bias, rather than anything objective, tends to be a greater predictor of acceptance of any of these parallels. A believing approach to Joseph's claims can make room for a translator who gets heavy-handed in his English translation, and subsequently spins the text in terms familiar to him, but a skeptical approach has no recourse--beyond citing luck, creativity, or external extant sources--to account for apparitions of antiquity in the text. Furthermore, if the Book of Mormon stories were in fact playing out tensions related to Joseph, his family, in-laws, and friends, you would think he would be more eager to make sure they read those parts and "got the message," but we are not presented with any such evidence.
In that sense, it leaves more questions than it answers. To defend the pious fraud thesis seems to require a relentless uphill journey against the winds of primary sources. To Vogel's credit, he engages the sources rigorously. His alternative explanations do not require the wholesale dismissal of sources in the way that someone might try to explain the Book of Mormon as having been written in a private library with many drafts and sources material. Vogel acknowledges and runs with the historical evidence that it was indeed dictated by scribes, a process that, considered objectively, is a much more risky--and unlikely--technique for a fraud to pull off than something more secluded, shrouded, and private.
Anyhow, this is an important book, and the most exhaustive one you will find relating to the New York period. This is an invaluable resource in laying out the narrative of the facts and timeline covered in those years, and--interpretative variance notwithstanding--is an excellent piece of scholarship. Dan is a scholar and a gentleman, and the correspondence I had with him about my cave dig in 2015 was very cordial.
The first thing to note is the usage of primary sources. Vogel is virtually without peer in his work on the early sources. In reference to his "Early Mormon Documents" series, BYU professor Larry E. Morris said "Dan Vogel has made a significant and lasting contribution to Mormon studies, and he deserves to be thanked for his bibliographic work." (Joseph Smith and “Interpretive Biography”). I personally benefited from many of these documents in doing my research on Miner Hill's Cave. (See http://archival.link/mormoncave/story)
The next thing to note is Vogel's bias. He states upfront that he interprets "any claim of the paranormal—precognition, clairvoyance, telekinesis, telepathy—as delusion or fraud." In dealing with the claims of not only Joseph Smith, but the religious or folk traditions of the greater part of his subjects, this presents, out of the gate, a framework of skepticism, and a responsibility to explain what was "really" going on. Richard Bushman, a fellow Joseph Smith biographer, stated that a historian “cannot hope to rise above these battles or pretend nothing personal is at stake.” Given Vogel's divulgence of upfront personal inclinations, this seems to apply to him as well. This rankled (my former BYU D&C teacher) Andrew Hedges, who complained that "the fundamental problem with the book is that Vogel refuses to evaluate Joseph Smith on his (Joseph’s) own terms." (Andrew H. Hedges and Dawson W. Hedges, No, Dan, That’s Still Not History)
My assessment actually runs counter to this complaint. I was expecting that at each turn, Vogel would be giving the inside story, stripped from mysticism, and would spell out how it really went down. There were a few offerings in that regard, most notably the occasional discussion of hot/cold (psychic) readings (offering explanations of how he could convincingly describe--via seership--Josiah Stowell's property from of miles away in ch. 6, David Whitmer's journey from New York in ch. 23, and James Corrill's religious mind in ch. 31). Chapter 29 also includes a sensible discussion of sleep paralysis as an explanation for a nighttime fright experienced by Harris and Knight. However, the deluge of primary sources offered (so many of which include descriptions of seership and revelation as matter-of-fact) are most often presented without either commentary or irony. Particularly in cases where Joseph had nothing to prove or gain from falsifying his apparent gifts, like when he saw Emma approaching while digging a well in chapter 7, or his obvious excitement and surprise upon using the U&T for the first time "I can see anything. They are marvelous." Barring the conspiracy of a long con, throwaway incidents like these do nothing bolster to the "delusion or fraud" thesis.
My greatest appreciation for this book is the thoroughness with which the Book of Mormon is addressed. While the New York period does not have the bulk of documentation that can be found in, say, the Missouri legal episodes, the Book of Mormon is too often overlooked as a massive volume of text produced in these more obscure, hazy, yet foundational years and months. It is an extensive, detailed, primary source produced before 1831, and Vogel does well to acknowledge this, while other histories limit themselves to cursory overviews. His object in the analysis is to read in Joseph's family dynamics, religious concerns, psychological tensions, and contemporary local and greater American politics and society to demonstrate the inspirations for Joseph's authorial creations. The most compelling parts of this approach are the areas where New York folk magic makes surprise appearances in the Book of Mormon: hidden gold in the earth, slippery treasures, and seership. The remainder is by all means plausible, but starts feeling like worn out apologetic attempts to likewise read in ancient near east culture and modern LDS doctrines into the text. Masonry, Jacksonian America, and the mythologies surrounding the Indians overlay themselves passably well on the Book of Mormon text, but they are far from adequate in really accounting for it. Confirmation bias, rather than anything objective, tends to be a greater predictor of acceptance of any of these parallels. A believing approach to Joseph's claims can make room for a translator who gets heavy-handed in his English translation, and subsequently spins the text in terms familiar to him, but a skeptical approach has no recourse--beyond citing luck, creativity, or external extant sources--to account for apparitions of antiquity in the text. Furthermore, if the Book of Mormon stories were in fact playing out tensions related to Joseph, his family, in-laws, and friends, you would think he would be more eager to make sure they read those parts and "got the message," but we are not presented with any such evidence.
In that sense, it leaves more questions than it answers. To defend the pious fraud thesis seems to require a relentless uphill journey against the winds of primary sources. To Vogel's credit, he engages the sources rigorously. His alternative explanations do not require the wholesale dismissal of sources in the way that someone might try to explain the Book of Mormon as having been written in a private library with many drafts and sources material. Vogel acknowledges and runs with the historical evidence that it was indeed dictated by scribes, a process that, considered objectively, is a much more risky--and unlikely--technique for a fraud to pull off than something more secluded, shrouded, and private.
Anyhow, this is an important book, and the most exhaustive one you will find relating to the New York period. This is an invaluable resource in laying out the narrative of the facts and timeline covered in those years, and--interpretative variance notwithstanding--is an excellent piece of scholarship. Dan is a scholar and a gentleman, and the correspondence I had with him about my cave dig in 2015 was very cordial.
June 17, 2019
Dan Vogel was a masterful editor of the five-volume Early Mormon Documents, and perhaps his encyclopedic knowledge of the primary sources is part of the problem with this biography. Vogel knows the young Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon inside and out, but he doesn’t seem to know how to summarize what he knows or to ignore what he only supposes.
Vogel’s thesis is that Joseph Smith’s motivation for founding a new religion arose in conflicts that occurred within his semi-dysfunctional family. While there is undoubtedly truth to this notion, Vogel insists on taking us through the Book of Mormon blow-by-blow to explicate his argument. Some of his conclusions are clever and perceptive, others in-the-ballpark possible, and some (at best) strained. For instance, in Vogel’s reading, the Book of Mormon account of Lamanites forcing women and children to eat the flesh of their husbands and fathers while restricting the prisoners’ access to water is supposed to illustrate Smith’s “oral rage” at his father “mixed with the fever, thirst, and torture of childhood surgery.” (374) There’s always something poignant about religious skeptics putting their trust in this sort of psychobabble.
Readers of first novels can expect there to be a good deal of autobiography in them, but they should also expect a good deal of fiction. Vogel occasionally seems annoyed when there is no obvious autobiographical hook on which to hang his notions. On one occasion, he suggests that a portion of the Book of Mormon is “perhaps…literary license”(211). Well, yes, literary license is what novels are about.
Furthermore, Vogel’s knowledge of the Bible is weaker than he imagines it to be, and his solution of picking up the nearest commentary frequently leads him astray, especially when he believes its opinion is so obviously correct that it requires no citation. For instance, he argues (with Edward Gibbon) that Luke “specifically said” that the darkness at Christ’s crucifixion was “caused by an eclipse…astronomically impossible during paschal full moon.” (286) But Luke 23: 45 says no such thing. In another place, Vogel announces, on the basis of no cited authority, that the mention of Melchizedek in Psalm 110 was “intended as a statement about Israelite rulers who were seen as kingly priests.”
Any serious student of Mormonism will find much of profit in this biography. For example, Vogel notes every error and anachronism that he finds in the Book of Mormon, a considerable heap by page 557. But as biography, and especially readable biography, Vogel’s book is overly long and overly speculative.
Vogel’s thesis is that Joseph Smith’s motivation for founding a new religion arose in conflicts that occurred within his semi-dysfunctional family. While there is undoubtedly truth to this notion, Vogel insists on taking us through the Book of Mormon blow-by-blow to explicate his argument. Some of his conclusions are clever and perceptive, others in-the-ballpark possible, and some (at best) strained. For instance, in Vogel’s reading, the Book of Mormon account of Lamanites forcing women and children to eat the flesh of their husbands and fathers while restricting the prisoners’ access to water is supposed to illustrate Smith’s “oral rage” at his father “mixed with the fever, thirst, and torture of childhood surgery.” (374) There’s always something poignant about religious skeptics putting their trust in this sort of psychobabble.
Readers of first novels can expect there to be a good deal of autobiography in them, but they should also expect a good deal of fiction. Vogel occasionally seems annoyed when there is no obvious autobiographical hook on which to hang his notions. On one occasion, he suggests that a portion of the Book of Mormon is “perhaps…literary license”(211). Well, yes, literary license is what novels are about.
Furthermore, Vogel’s knowledge of the Bible is weaker than he imagines it to be, and his solution of picking up the nearest commentary frequently leads him astray, especially when he believes its opinion is so obviously correct that it requires no citation. For instance, he argues (with Edward Gibbon) that Luke “specifically said” that the darkness at Christ’s crucifixion was “caused by an eclipse…astronomically impossible during paschal full moon.” (286) But Luke 23: 45 says no such thing. In another place, Vogel announces, on the basis of no cited authority, that the mention of Melchizedek in Psalm 110 was “intended as a statement about Israelite rulers who were seen as kingly priests.”
Any serious student of Mormonism will find much of profit in this biography. For example, Vogel notes every error and anachronism that he finds in the Book of Mormon, a considerable heap by page 557. But as biography, and especially readable biography, Vogel’s book is overly long and overly speculative.
May 6, 2020
It gets 4 stars because the first 200 pages are superb... the sections that dive into am analysis of the Book of Mormon as Joseph's life was too stretched and weak. The last 80 pages or so was also excellent. Vogel knows his history, I just wish he didn't take a left turn into the BofM analysis.
December 31, 2024
Where to begin, where to begin? I can't believe I finally finished reading this. I'm so bad at academic reading that this took me over 2 years 😅😂 I ended up with 1149 highlights from this read through, so the latency separating commencement and completion was not causeless.
When it comes to original sources, I simply can't imagine the level of work that went into crafting this tome. Vogel reaches for early Mormon documents often, yes, but he isn't afraid to dig through newspapers, letters, and books from the 16, 17, and 1800s on a variety of topics. Of course, being one of the compilers of the Early Mormon Documents collection, he front-loaded a lot of the legwork, which paid dividends here. When he presents a quote, it is most typical that the date is provided alongside (not merely in the footnote), which I think is an excellent instrument for the student of history, regardless of how closely you hew to Vogel's commentary.
He had a few levels of commentary. One was to situate an event among other similar events occurring in non-Mormon communities, often providing lists of such examples. "Smith’s description of a loss of consciousness accompanying some of his early visions is comparable to the fainting spells of revivalists." Intent speculation: "Smith’s 1838 reflection was designed to inspire his followers to endure persecution rather than to give a precise history of his life." Claim assessment: "She is the only one who ever claims to have handled this breastplate, and I am inclined to doubt that her memory is substantive." Inner monologue speculation: "[Joseph] undoubtedly wondered if the lost manuscript and the death of his first-born son were signs of God’s displeasure with him." Comparison with modern knowledge: "Joseph Smith was probably unaware that 'steel' had yet to be invented and that the King James translators should have more properly rendered it [as 'bronze']." Musings on scriptural mechanics: "A curious aspect of the Lamanite curse is that no matter how wicked the Nephites become, even if they exceed the wickedness of the Lamanites, their skin remains white." There are probably more, but I can't think of them haha.
He does start the book by stating his position/bias that Smith was a pious fraud and consequently throughout the book offers naturalistic explanations for events, though only some of the time. E.g., we're told of an episode where Martin Harris awakes having felt a dark pressure on his chest, and that this was probably sleep paralysis. Cowdery and Smith's 1830 vision of Peter, James, and John is attributed to life-threatening stress, exhaustion from running, sleep deprivation, dehydration, and starvation. But then other incidents of Joseph having certain premonitions are presented without commentary.
Even though this book only covers up through early 1831, Vogel often reaches into the future to provide the reader with contrastive later developments. E.g., as concerning the Anthon incident: "In his 1838 account, Joseph Smith claimed that Anthon had not only pronounced the characters genuine but had said the 'translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian.'... In this regard, it is interesting that Smith’s own 1832 account (NOTE: and 2 Ne 27) emphasized the linguist’s inability to read the characters in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prediction that the learned would not be able to read the 'words of a book that is sealed.'" Very interesting to see how Smith changes his story and tune over time, often directly undermining the contents of the Book of Mormon. In my estimation, it takes a shrewd historian to connect dots like this.
The meat of the book is his comparison with each book in the Book of Mormon and the concurrent events of Joseph's life. At times, I felt that Vogel was squeezing a little too hard to conform the text to Joseph's life (e.g. cannibalism is Joseph's anger at his father rather than just a caricature of current Native Americans), but it's an extremely important analysis overall. To ignore an analysis of this nature is to deprive oneself of vital context concerning the Book of Mormon. Any earnest student of the Book of Mormon should make themselves aware of Universalism, Restorationism, Seekerism, Smith family dynamics, Smith family history, treasure digging and the magical world view, the mound builder myth, the Indians as Israelites myth, modalism, presence of New Testament in BoM, conflicts with Old Testament timelines, references to Masonry, the William Morgan affair and the Anti-Masonic Party, correspondences to D&C, anachronisms, Smith's financial struggles, his relationship with Martin Harris, and more. Despite Vogel's drive to overfit, this is a very good presentation of the environment that produced the Book of Mormon.
Vogel's Bible and philosophical knowledge is not his strongest suit, but that's okay. You can't have encyclopedic knowledge of everything 😂 Regarding the teleological argument (argument from design), Vogel states, "Paley was apparently unaware that the design argument had been criticized by British philosopher David Hume twenty-three years earlier ... The major problem with the argument is that it assumes purposeful design ... In reality, the universe is not so well organized." Every single counterargument for God's existence has its own counterarguments, which have their own counterarguments, but Vogel plays it off as if this debate is merely one rebuttal deep. Perhaps he was just trying to state what philosophy at the time thought?
To wrap up, this is a phenomenal work, if tedious to get through. It will get you just about as close to knowing young Joseph Smith as a twenty-first century citizen can get, and through a surprisingly empathetic lens. It tries to pattern match a little too tightly onto Joseph's life, but I would rather have that (as long as it's not too schizo) and be able to decide for myself which parallels I think are likely. To do something great, you have to be willing to fail often, as Joseph showed us, so I think I can forgive Dan the shortcomings of this book.
When it comes to original sources, I simply can't imagine the level of work that went into crafting this tome. Vogel reaches for early Mormon documents often, yes, but he isn't afraid to dig through newspapers, letters, and books from the 16, 17, and 1800s on a variety of topics. Of course, being one of the compilers of the Early Mormon Documents collection, he front-loaded a lot of the legwork, which paid dividends here. When he presents a quote, it is most typical that the date is provided alongside (not merely in the footnote), which I think is an excellent instrument for the student of history, regardless of how closely you hew to Vogel's commentary.
He had a few levels of commentary. One was to situate an event among other similar events occurring in non-Mormon communities, often providing lists of such examples. "Smith’s description of a loss of consciousness accompanying some of his early visions is comparable to the fainting spells of revivalists." Intent speculation: "Smith’s 1838 reflection was designed to inspire his followers to endure persecution rather than to give a precise history of his life." Claim assessment: "She is the only one who ever claims to have handled this breastplate, and I am inclined to doubt that her memory is substantive." Inner monologue speculation: "[Joseph] undoubtedly wondered if the lost manuscript and the death of his first-born son were signs of God’s displeasure with him." Comparison with modern knowledge: "Joseph Smith was probably unaware that 'steel' had yet to be invented and that the King James translators should have more properly rendered it [as 'bronze']." Musings on scriptural mechanics: "A curious aspect of the Lamanite curse is that no matter how wicked the Nephites become, even if they exceed the wickedness of the Lamanites, their skin remains white." There are probably more, but I can't think of them haha.
He does start the book by stating his position/bias that Smith was a pious fraud and consequently throughout the book offers naturalistic explanations for events, though only some of the time. E.g., we're told of an episode where Martin Harris awakes having felt a dark pressure on his chest, and that this was probably sleep paralysis. Cowdery and Smith's 1830 vision of Peter, James, and John is attributed to life-threatening stress, exhaustion from running, sleep deprivation, dehydration, and starvation. But then other incidents of Joseph having certain premonitions are presented without commentary.
Even though this book only covers up through early 1831, Vogel often reaches into the future to provide the reader with contrastive later developments. E.g., as concerning the Anthon incident: "In his 1838 account, Joseph Smith claimed that Anthon had not only pronounced the characters genuine but had said the 'translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian.'... In this regard, it is interesting that Smith’s own 1832 account (NOTE: and 2 Ne 27) emphasized the linguist’s inability to read the characters in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prediction that the learned would not be able to read the 'words of a book that is sealed.'" Very interesting to see how Smith changes his story and tune over time, often directly undermining the contents of the Book of Mormon. In my estimation, it takes a shrewd historian to connect dots like this.
The meat of the book is his comparison with each book in the Book of Mormon and the concurrent events of Joseph's life. At times, I felt that Vogel was squeezing a little too hard to conform the text to Joseph's life (e.g. cannibalism is Joseph's anger at his father rather than just a caricature of current Native Americans), but it's an extremely important analysis overall. To ignore an analysis of this nature is to deprive oneself of vital context concerning the Book of Mormon. Any earnest student of the Book of Mormon should make themselves aware of Universalism, Restorationism, Seekerism, Smith family dynamics, Smith family history, treasure digging and the magical world view, the mound builder myth, the Indians as Israelites myth, modalism, presence of New Testament in BoM, conflicts with Old Testament timelines, references to Masonry, the William Morgan affair and the Anti-Masonic Party, correspondences to D&C, anachronisms, Smith's financial struggles, his relationship with Martin Harris, and more. Despite Vogel's drive to overfit, this is a very good presentation of the environment that produced the Book of Mormon.
Vogel's Bible and philosophical knowledge is not his strongest suit, but that's okay. You can't have encyclopedic knowledge of everything 😂 Regarding the teleological argument (argument from design), Vogel states, "Paley was apparently unaware that the design argument had been criticized by British philosopher David Hume twenty-three years earlier ... The major problem with the argument is that it assumes purposeful design ... In reality, the universe is not so well organized." Every single counterargument for God's existence has its own counterarguments, which have their own counterarguments, but Vogel plays it off as if this debate is merely one rebuttal deep. Perhaps he was just trying to state what philosophy at the time thought?
To wrap up, this is a phenomenal work, if tedious to get through. It will get you just about as close to knowing young Joseph Smith as a twenty-first century citizen can get, and through a surprisingly empathetic lens. It tries to pattern match a little too tightly onto Joseph's life, but I would rather have that (as long as it's not too schizo) and be able to decide for myself which parallels I think are likely. To do something great, you have to be willing to fail often, as Joseph showed us, so I think I can forgive Dan the shortcomings of this book.
March 24, 2025
Joseph: The Making of a Prophet by Dan Vogel is an ambitious and deeply reflective work that tackles the life of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), in a way that is both dense in analysis and thorough in its exploration of the complexities surrounding his life and prophetic role. Vogel, known for his historical and critical approach to the study of early Mormonism, takes an analytical look at Joseph Smith's life, comparing it with scripture, historical accounts, and Joseph's own actions.
Positive Aspects:
Dense, Scripture-Based Analysis: One of the standout features of Vogel’s work is its deep engagement with scripture and historical records. He doesn't just recount events in Joseph Smith's life; he analyzes them against the backdrop of LDS scripture and the broader religious landscape of the 19th century. The book offers a nuanced exploration of how Smith’s claims to prophecy align or diverge from biblical narratives, providing readers with a critical yet thoughtful analysis of his role as a prophet.
Comprehensive Historical Context: Vogel excels at situating Joseph Smith within his historical and cultural context. He traces the early years of the Latter-day Saint movement and examines Smith's upbringing, the socio-political climate of early America, and the religious milieu in which Smith’s prophetic claims were emerging. This historical framework allows readers to better understand the challenges Smith faced, his personal motivations, and the evolution of his prophetic identity.
Critical Examination of Smith’s Prophethood: Vogel does not shy away from critically assessing Joseph Smith’s role as a prophet. His examination of Smith’s life is thorough and often critical, but it’s done with a respect for the complexities of the subject. Vogel contrasts the scriptural teachings Joseph claimed to follow with the actual events in his life, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about Smith’s character, decisions, and spiritual revelations.
Balance of Faith and Doubt: What makes Vogel’s work particularly compelling is its balanced approach. While the book doesn't shy away from pointing out inconsistencies or controversies in Joseph Smith’s life, it also explores moments of deep faith and spiritual revelation. This balance allows the book to engage both believers and critics, creating a space for thoughtful reflection without leaning too heavily toward one side or the other.
Comprehensive and In-Depth Research: Joseph: The Making of a Prophet stands out for its rigorous research and depth of detail. Vogel delves into a wide array of sources, including personal accounts, historical documents, and religious texts, to provide a comprehensive look at Joseph Smith’s life. His ability to synthesize these different sources into a coherent narrative makes the book an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the historical Joseph Smith.
Accessible Yet Scholarly: Despite the density of the material, Vogel’s writing remains accessible to a wide audience. The book strikes a good balance between scholarly rigor and readability. It is a book that is not only suited for those already familiar with LDS history but also for general readers interested in religious studies, American history, or the intersection of faith and history.
Areas for Further Exploration:
Deeper Psychological Analysis: While Vogel provides a thorough historical and scriptural analysis of Joseph Smith, a deeper psychological exploration of Smith’s motivations and inner life could have added another layer to the narrative. A closer look at his personal struggles, doubts, and moments of spiritual crisis would have provided readers with a fuller portrait of his character.
Engagement with Smith’s Later Life: Vogel does an excellent job covering Smith’s earlier years and the rise of the LDS movement, but further exploration into his later years, particularly his time in Nauvoo, could have added more depth to the analysis of his evolving role as a prophet and leader.
Conclusion:
Joseph: The Making of a Prophet by Dan Vogel is a thoroughly researched and engaging book that provides an in-depth analysis of Joseph Smith’s life and prophethood. It is a dense yet accessible read that offers a critical, balanced, and comprehensive look at one of the most influential figures in American religious history. Vogel’s ability to integrate scripture, historical context, and Smith’s personal narrative makes this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of Joseph Smith’s life and the rise of Mormonism.
Whether you're a believer, a historian, or a curious reader interested in the intersection of religion and history, Vogel’s work is a must-read. It is an honest and reflective exploration of Joseph Smith, offering both insights into his life and challenges to the narratives surrounding him. This book will undoubtedly leave readers with much to think about, especially in terms of the relationship between scripture, history, and the making of a prophet.
Positive Aspects:
Dense, Scripture-Based Analysis: One of the standout features of Vogel’s work is its deep engagement with scripture and historical records. He doesn't just recount events in Joseph Smith's life; he analyzes them against the backdrop of LDS scripture and the broader religious landscape of the 19th century. The book offers a nuanced exploration of how Smith’s claims to prophecy align or diverge from biblical narratives, providing readers with a critical yet thoughtful analysis of his role as a prophet.
Comprehensive Historical Context: Vogel excels at situating Joseph Smith within his historical and cultural context. He traces the early years of the Latter-day Saint movement and examines Smith's upbringing, the socio-political climate of early America, and the religious milieu in which Smith’s prophetic claims were emerging. This historical framework allows readers to better understand the challenges Smith faced, his personal motivations, and the evolution of his prophetic identity.
Critical Examination of Smith’s Prophethood: Vogel does not shy away from critically assessing Joseph Smith’s role as a prophet. His examination of Smith’s life is thorough and often critical, but it’s done with a respect for the complexities of the subject. Vogel contrasts the scriptural teachings Joseph claimed to follow with the actual events in his life, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about Smith’s character, decisions, and spiritual revelations.
Balance of Faith and Doubt: What makes Vogel’s work particularly compelling is its balanced approach. While the book doesn't shy away from pointing out inconsistencies or controversies in Joseph Smith’s life, it also explores moments of deep faith and spiritual revelation. This balance allows the book to engage both believers and critics, creating a space for thoughtful reflection without leaning too heavily toward one side or the other.
Comprehensive and In-Depth Research: Joseph: The Making of a Prophet stands out for its rigorous research and depth of detail. Vogel delves into a wide array of sources, including personal accounts, historical documents, and religious texts, to provide a comprehensive look at Joseph Smith’s life. His ability to synthesize these different sources into a coherent narrative makes the book an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the historical Joseph Smith.
Accessible Yet Scholarly: Despite the density of the material, Vogel’s writing remains accessible to a wide audience. The book strikes a good balance between scholarly rigor and readability. It is a book that is not only suited for those already familiar with LDS history but also for general readers interested in religious studies, American history, or the intersection of faith and history.
Areas for Further Exploration:
Deeper Psychological Analysis: While Vogel provides a thorough historical and scriptural analysis of Joseph Smith, a deeper psychological exploration of Smith’s motivations and inner life could have added another layer to the narrative. A closer look at his personal struggles, doubts, and moments of spiritual crisis would have provided readers with a fuller portrait of his character.
Engagement with Smith’s Later Life: Vogel does an excellent job covering Smith’s earlier years and the rise of the LDS movement, but further exploration into his later years, particularly his time in Nauvoo, could have added more depth to the analysis of his evolving role as a prophet and leader.
Conclusion:
Joseph: The Making of a Prophet by Dan Vogel is a thoroughly researched and engaging book that provides an in-depth analysis of Joseph Smith’s life and prophethood. It is a dense yet accessible read that offers a critical, balanced, and comprehensive look at one of the most influential figures in American religious history. Vogel’s ability to integrate scripture, historical context, and Smith’s personal narrative makes this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of Joseph Smith’s life and the rise of Mormonism.
Whether you're a believer, a historian, or a curious reader interested in the intersection of religion and history, Vogel’s work is a must-read. It is an honest and reflective exploration of Joseph Smith, offering both insights into his life and challenges to the narratives surrounding him. This book will undoubtedly leave readers with much to think about, especially in terms of the relationship between scripture, history, and the making of a prophet.
May 2, 2021
At once the most tedious and interesting of historical treatments, Dan Vogel’s Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet could be a must-read for devoted students of Mormonism’s founder. This work has been on my shelf for a few years, after I impulse bought it at the Kirtland Temple Visitor Center. Having finally read it, I am both taken by and hesitant to fully embrace Vogel’s approach to Joseph Smith.
The bulky third section of this work, titled "The Book of Mormon Project, 1828-1830," is as much a critical reading of that book as it is a historical look at Smith’s life. As such, it feels like a slog in the same way books within the Book of Mormon feel like a slog: 2 Nephi and Alma for examples. Yet, Vogel achieves something impressive in the sheer volume of parallels he makes between the Book of Mormon’s text and the social, financial, and political environments Smith grew up in.
Vogel’s approach also provides a generous dose of empathy for Smith and those around him. These are real people, rather than mere pawns under the influence of a rogue. However, in its commitment to treating Smith’s life in psychological terms—the Book of Mormon being an extension of the 19th century farm boy’s psyche—Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet feels quite speculative at times. To his credit, Vogel is pretty good at using equivocal language to distinguish hypothesis from verifiable fact.
I also respect Vogel’s willingness to accept two key things about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon which we skeptics don't always like granting: 1) that Smith didn’t write it, he dictated it (albeit likely from his own imagination, an admission which only serves to make it seem more remarkable); and 2) the accuracy of the timeline believers tout for how quickly the entire book fell from Smith’s mouth to the scribe’s page. Again, Vogel is fulling willing to regard the book as remarkable. This is so much more interesting than the us-versus-them approach I butted up against in my younger days, where believer and doubter refuse to give each other any credit.
Ultimately, Vogel comes down firmly in the belief of Joseph Smith as a pious deceiver—who never discovered any authentic golden plates, but who also displayed sincere religiosity and spiritual experience. For people who want to be persuaded one way or the other, Vogel’s book will do what every previous Smith biography I have read has done. It will bring them very close to truly knowing Joseph Smith; however, the treasure of knowing who he really was—prophet false or true—will slip just out of reach.
I recommend Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet for those who have already read other academic treatments of early Mormonism and are ready for a deeper dive. Also, keep in mind this book is not a birth to death study. It wraps up just as Smith and his followers head for Kirtland, only one year after Smith established a church. Readers shopping for their first full-length biography to read may be better served by Richard L. Bushman's Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, or Joseph Smith: The First Mormon by Donna Hill.
The bulky third section of this work, titled "The Book of Mormon Project, 1828-1830," is as much a critical reading of that book as it is a historical look at Smith’s life. As such, it feels like a slog in the same way books within the Book of Mormon feel like a slog: 2 Nephi and Alma for examples. Yet, Vogel achieves something impressive in the sheer volume of parallels he makes between the Book of Mormon’s text and the social, financial, and political environments Smith grew up in.
Vogel’s approach also provides a generous dose of empathy for Smith and those around him. These are real people, rather than mere pawns under the influence of a rogue. However, in its commitment to treating Smith’s life in psychological terms—the Book of Mormon being an extension of the 19th century farm boy’s psyche—Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet feels quite speculative at times. To his credit, Vogel is pretty good at using equivocal language to distinguish hypothesis from verifiable fact.
I also respect Vogel’s willingness to accept two key things about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon which we skeptics don't always like granting: 1) that Smith didn’t write it, he dictated it (albeit likely from his own imagination, an admission which only serves to make it seem more remarkable); and 2) the accuracy of the timeline believers tout for how quickly the entire book fell from Smith’s mouth to the scribe’s page. Again, Vogel is fulling willing to regard the book as remarkable. This is so much more interesting than the us-versus-them approach I butted up against in my younger days, where believer and doubter refuse to give each other any credit.
Ultimately, Vogel comes down firmly in the belief of Joseph Smith as a pious deceiver—who never discovered any authentic golden plates, but who also displayed sincere religiosity and spiritual experience. For people who want to be persuaded one way or the other, Vogel’s book will do what every previous Smith biography I have read has done. It will bring them very close to truly knowing Joseph Smith; however, the treasure of knowing who he really was—prophet false or true—will slip just out of reach.
I recommend Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet for those who have already read other academic treatments of early Mormonism and are ready for a deeper dive. Also, keep in mind this book is not a birth to death study. It wraps up just as Smith and his followers head for Kirtland, only one year after Smith established a church. Readers shopping for their first full-length biography to read may be better served by Richard L. Bushman's Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, or Joseph Smith: The First Mormon by Donna Hill.
October 27, 2020
The reality check for every LDS.member on their founder
Dan Vogel has engaged numerous primary and secondary sources over many years in developing his Early Mormon Documents,which are usefully played out for us in this biographical summary of the early and developing life of Joseph Smith. From the birthplace/ origin of the Smiths in Vermont,through the prophets gaining employment as a scryer or soothsayer in finding buried or lost treasure.
The occultic and unorthodox/ magical means he used came through his father's interest and by that of other locals in this somewhat secret society.
This lifelong profession to gain extra knowledge by magical means was something he could not let go of in either the former quest for power and money,or in its redevelopment in a religious way,by the bringing forth of a magical book from magical plates delivered by means of an angel.
Vogel does not mince his words,that the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,was devious and very cunning in how he brought forth his message to humankind.
I rate it this way for the arduous method of careful historical research done by the author,( who if I am right, sought to further develop the earlier masterpiece by Fawn Brodie/ Alfred Knoff,1945,No Man Knows my History,a work ahead of its time and exacting of the LDS.founder likewise.
I probably differ with the author in that he will not draw any biblically conservative critique of who the real Jesus is,and is Revelation ceased with His apostles.
I recommend this for an honest,forthright review completely hidden by rank and file Mormon leadership,to which all members are most entitled.
Free agency,choice is withheld members really seeking to find the missing pieces of the Joseph Smith history and activities of his Early life,no holds barred.This history book you can take to the bank on its accuracy.
Thank you for doing it.
DrBob Funk
Dan Vogel has engaged numerous primary and secondary sources over many years in developing his Early Mormon Documents,which are usefully played out for us in this biographical summary of the early and developing life of Joseph Smith. From the birthplace/ origin of the Smiths in Vermont,through the prophets gaining employment as a scryer or soothsayer in finding buried or lost treasure.
The occultic and unorthodox/ magical means he used came through his father's interest and by that of other locals in this somewhat secret society.
This lifelong profession to gain extra knowledge by magical means was something he could not let go of in either the former quest for power and money,or in its redevelopment in a religious way,by the bringing forth of a magical book from magical plates delivered by means of an angel.
Vogel does not mince his words,that the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,was devious and very cunning in how he brought forth his message to humankind.
I rate it this way for the arduous method of careful historical research done by the author,( who if I am right, sought to further develop the earlier masterpiece by Fawn Brodie/ Alfred Knoff,1945,No Man Knows my History,a work ahead of its time and exacting of the LDS.founder likewise.
I probably differ with the author in that he will not draw any biblically conservative critique of who the real Jesus is,and is Revelation ceased with His apostles.
I recommend this for an honest,forthright review completely hidden by rank and file Mormon leadership,to which all members are most entitled.
Free agency,choice is withheld members really seeking to find the missing pieces of the Joseph Smith history and activities of his Early life,no holds barred.This history book you can take to the bank on its accuracy.
Thank you for doing it.
DrBob Funk
March 16, 2020
Informative and WELL researched!
Read this book if you want to be the most educated that you’ve ever, ever been on the origins of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until the year 1831 and The Book of Mormon. What is fantastic about it is that Vogel is able to weave so much context into the pure primary source history. You get an education on comparative religion in the region in the early 1800s, common misconceptions and beliefs about Native Americans at the time, books and religious influences that Joseph Smith would have been exposed to at the time, the politics that would have influenced Joseph Smith and others (Jacksonian, Anti-Masonic, etc.), folk magic beliefs at the time, the psychological influences working on Joseph Smith because of family strife or other events, even the possible hallucinogenics that might have been in play. Vogel evaluates ALL possibilities and articulates so intelligently what the most likely motivations were.
Read this book if you want to be the most educated that you’ve ever, ever been on the origins of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until the year 1831 and The Book of Mormon. What is fantastic about it is that Vogel is able to weave so much context into the pure primary source history. You get an education on comparative religion in the region in the early 1800s, common misconceptions and beliefs about Native Americans at the time, books and religious influences that Joseph Smith would have been exposed to at the time, the politics that would have influenced Joseph Smith and others (Jacksonian, Anti-Masonic, etc.), folk magic beliefs at the time, the psychological influences working on Joseph Smith because of family strife or other events, even the possible hallucinogenics that might have been in play. Vogel evaluates ALL possibilities and articulates so intelligently what the most likely motivations were.
January 4, 2022
4 stars.
Fascinating and dense book, but doesn't cover much history for it's length. The first few hundred pages are pretty interesting and then in kind of wanders a bit off on tangets (a little too long for my taste). But I feel Vogel has something unique here and his argument that Joseph Smith was a 'pious fraud' is well backed-up. The deep dive into Joseph's life and how his writing of the Book of Mormon reflects that is a very interesting take as well...maybe the best explanation I've heard about how the BoM is written, actually.
Anyway, I could go on and on about this. It's a long book well worth reading, but be warned it can be a bit of a slog sometime. I feel Vogel could cut a few hundreds pages and have a better book that would be a bit more appealing, but that's just my opinion.
Fascinating and dense book, but doesn't cover much history for it's length. The first few hundred pages are pretty interesting and then in kind of wanders a bit off on tangets (a little too long for my taste). But I feel Vogel has something unique here and his argument that Joseph Smith was a 'pious fraud' is well backed-up. The deep dive into Joseph's life and how his writing of the Book of Mormon reflects that is a very interesting take as well...maybe the best explanation I've heard about how the BoM is written, actually.
Anyway, I could go on and on about this. It's a long book well worth reading, but be warned it can be a bit of a slog sometime. I feel Vogel could cut a few hundreds pages and have a better book that would be a bit more appealing, but that's just my opinion.
December 21, 2021
A very in depth treatise of Joseph Smith and how the contents of various religious books for which he is called a "translator" reflected events that were taking place in his life. This book surprised me in that it was not what I expected--instead of a straight biographical angle, Vogel uses intense study of the Book of Mormon to reflect back the early days of the future "prophet" of the Mormon faith, and to a lesser degree, the writings and "revelations" of the Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible are also mined for information as to how Smith evolved and how the fledgling Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints began to grow.
September 16, 2025
Dan Vogel posted the following on his Facebook page:
"Charlie Kirk's killer is sick and depraved. Those who celebrate Kirk's death are repulsive, and those who defend his political and religious views are equally despicable."
...
On 10 September 2025, Charlie Kirk was brutally assassinated by a radical leftist. As you can see, Dan lumps those who celebrate the assassination, and those who simply support Kirk's viewpoints, as "equally despicable."
I expect more neutrality from a historian. If he is this volatile, how much emotion did he let leak into his research? Probably more than we'd care to admit.
"Charlie Kirk's killer is sick and depraved. Those who celebrate Kirk's death are repulsive, and those who defend his political and religious views are equally despicable."
...
On 10 September 2025, Charlie Kirk was brutally assassinated by a radical leftist. As you can see, Dan lumps those who celebrate the assassination, and those who simply support Kirk's viewpoints, as "equally despicable."
I expect more neutrality from a historian. If he is this volatile, how much emotion did he let leak into his research? Probably more than we'd care to admit.
June 8, 2019
Meticulous Research that Provides a More Complete Understanding of Joseph Smith
I enjoyed Vogel's research thoroughness which provided a more complete understanding of who Joseph Smith was. In addition to the meticulous sourced documents, Vogel also pulls a vast amount of biographical detail from Joseph's written work including many insights from the Book of Mormon.
I enjoyed Vogel's research thoroughness which provided a more complete understanding of who Joseph Smith was. In addition to the meticulous sourced documents, Vogel also pulls a vast amount of biographical detail from Joseph's written work including many insights from the Book of Mormon.
December 25, 2025
Not really much of a biography. Spent the large majority of the book recounting the entire narrative of BoM. His conclusions about Smith were made in the first few chapters. Overall a poorly structured let down.
May 9, 2018
i just was looking for more info about joseph smith himself, i didnt really want a bunch of BOM summaries..
January 19, 2019
The most exhaustively researched Mo history book I've ever read. Fantastic work.
September 2, 2019
This only covers up until 1831 so it is much more thorough than Rough Stone Rolling. But in my opinion it is better written and easier to read.
September 28, 2019
Stupendous research!
Lots of research and wonderful detail. This is a great book comparing the creation of the book of Mormon to events in Joseph Smith's life.
Lots of research and wonderful detail. This is a great book comparing the creation of the book of Mormon to events in Joseph Smith's life.
March 13, 2021
And exhaustive and almost exhausting detailed history of some of the early years of Joseph Smith. Just the length can be daunting for all but those that really are interested in all the details.
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