Joseph Smith the Man and the Seer

by Hyrum L. Andrus

Book by Andrus, Hyrum L.

Genres: Religion, Church

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 2, 2008

Reviews

[Robb Menlove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rah Rah Rith: Jos-eph-Smith! Great research and quotes. Awesome stories, but ignoring anything that is less than awesome, and there was some. Responsible history is complete histroy.

[Hank Hoeft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph Smith, Jr. is one of the most important American figures of the 19th century, but that means our image of him is, for good or bad, larger than life, and his humanity, his human-ness, is buried under all the legends of adoration and/or abhorrence. Joseph Smith: The Man and the Seer, by Hyrum L. Andrus, helps put Joseph Smith’s life into context, and shows the man underneath the mantle of prophet and seer and founder of a major American religious movement. In a concise and relatively short number of pages, it does much the same that historian Richard Lyman Bushman does for Joseph Smith in his much longer and exhaustive biography, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling.

Besides Smith’s flesh-and-blood humanity, Joseph Smith: The Man and the Seer also presents a lot of details, in the words of those who knew him or met him (both those who loved him, and those who didn’t) as well as in Smith’s own words, that point to Smith’s really being the man with a charge from God Almighty to carry out a specific mission here on this earth. Hyrum Andrus does a good job of addressing why a poor, illiterate farm boy was chosen for this mission, and also shows the progression of how Smith was prepared and brought along so that he could indeed carry it out successfully.

So, is Joseph Smith: The Man and the Seer a book only a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would want to read and get something out of it, or would non-members find it interesting as well? I think that depends. (Full disclosure here: I myself am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having converted as an adult a little more than 20 years ago.) This slim volume would indeed be of interest to any member of the church who is interested in learning more about the Prophet Joseph and what he was really like. As for non-members, I think reading this book would be a bit like reading Rough Stone Rolling or the Book of Mormon itself. That is, I think anyone who approaches this book with an open mind would at the very least discover Joseph Smith was not deluded nor a charlatan, but was a sincere man totally committed to doing the work of God as he was commissioned to do.

[Tiffany Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hyrum Andrus’, “God, Man and the Universe,” is one of my favorite gospel reference books of all time. I have referred back to it again and again when I had questions. It’s profound in a way I don’t hear every day. Well researched. Incredibly insightful.

I was excited to read this book. It did not disappoint. I learned more about the character of Joseph Smith in a way I have not before, including the depth and capacity of his mind. He was so forward thinking because of this trait. He told his brethren they could never understand him - how awful to be so lonely on earth, though he walked and talked with Jesus, Heavenly Father and angels frequently.

Highly recommended.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for an audio book full of quotes, one after another. It could have been a lot drier! I especially liked hearing some quotes that I wasn't familiar with previously. The book could use a bit more organization.

[David Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an older book, yet it is always great to read about the Prophet Joseph Smith. A quick read with many familiar stories of Joseph Smith.

[Roberto Galindo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half the book is direct quotes, although very well researched. I love the chapters, well planned.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compilation of person stories and direct quotes. My teen loved it too. Great starter book for insights into his personality, family life, character, and gifts.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really inspiring book that strengthened my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith.

[Kandace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very well researched book, which I always appreciate. It seemed like it could have had a better editor because it had a few quotes repeated in different chapters and some sections that seemed to correspond being separated by another section altogether. I did learn some cool things though and I love reading quotes, of which there are plenty. But just like historians know Jesus lived and changed the world, that doesn't necessarily meant they know he's the Son of God and the Savior of Mankind. So can a historian show that Joseph Smith lived and his teachings were always consistent and he also changed the world; but only the Spirit of God can confirm that he's a prophet.

[Isaac Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly short book, but it was quite a slog to get through for me. Not quite sure why, but I just didn’t find it very engaging. Gut feel is that it was me and not the book. Will give it another shot down the road.

[Grandma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful - I recommend it to everyone. I learned more about the many visions of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

[Kristopher Swinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost a 4, had he not gotten bogged down in pet topics at the end.