in the day of jesus, every act and every circumstance of his life was ridiculed and belittled by his jealous enemies. but the record of his career, from which the present world of christians makes up its judgment of him, was not written until all insignificant or paltry things had been forgotten; and now his character, illuminated by the eternal sunshine of heaven, stands outlined against the blue vastness of the past in sublime simplicity. let us view joseph smith in the same light—see him as he towered in the full radiance of his labors; see him the reconciler of divergent sects and doctrines, the oracle of the almighty to all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples.
joseph smith had been a retiring youth—the spirit made him bold to declare to rulers and potentates and all mankind, the gospel again revealed. he had been a humble farmer lad—divine authority sat so becomingly upon him that men looked at him with reverent awe. he had been unlearned in the great things of art and science—he walked with god until human knowledge was to his eye an open book, the celestial light beamed through his mind.
his lofty soul comprehended the grandeur of his mission upon earth; and with divine fortitude he fulfilled the destiny which god had ordained for him before the world was.
when he had achieved the prime of his manhood, he seemed to combine all attractions and excellencies. his physical person was the fit habitation of his exalted spirit. he was more than six feet in height, with expansive chest and clean cut limbs—a staunch and graceful figure. his head, crowned with a mass of soft, wavy hair, was grandly poised. his face possessed a complexion of such clearness and transparency that the soul appeared to shine through. he wore no beard, and the full strength and beauty of his countenance impressed all beholders at a glance. he had eyes which seemed to read the hearts of men. his mouth was one of mingled power and sweetness. his majesty of air was natural, not studied. though full of personal and prophetic dignity whenever occasion demanded, he could at other times unbend and be as happy and unconventional as a boy. this was one of his most striking characteristics; and it was sometimes held up to scorn by his traducers, that the chosen "man of god" should at times mingle as a man of earth with his earthly brethren. and yet it is a false ridicule; for savior and prophets must, like other men, eat, drink and wear apparel. they have the physical necessities and the affections and enjoyments which are common to other men. and it is this petty human fact—that a divine apostle with an earthly body has hunger and thirst to appease, that he cannot always be prophesying, but has hours to smile with the gay and to weep with the saddened—which leaves him "without honor in his own country."
but whether engaging in manly sport, during hours of relaxation, or proclaiming words of wisdom in pulpit or grove, he was ever the leader. his magnetism was masterful, and his heroic qualities won universal admiration. where he moved all classes were forced to recognize in him the man of power. strangers journeying to see him from a distance, knew him the moment their eyes beheld his person. men have crossed ocean and continent to meet him, and have selected him instantly from among a multitude.[1]
it was a part of joseph smith's great mission "to combat the errors of ages; to meet the violence of mobs; to cope with illegal proceedings from executive authority; to cut the gordian knot of powers; to solve mathematical problems of universities with truth—diamond truth." he performed a work, "not pagan ire, nor tooth of time, nor sword, nor fire, shall bring to naught."
the prophet's life was exalted and unselfish. his death was a sealing martyrdom, following after that which was completed upon calvary for the redemption of a world.