Joseph Smith: Prophecy, Process, and Plenitude

Title

Joseph Smith: Prophecy, Process, and Plenitude

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2005

Authors

Givens, Terryl L. (Primary)

Pagination

55-68

Volume

44 Issue

4 Terms of use

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Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

Joseph Smith was an explorer, a discoverer, and a revealer of past worlds. He described an ancient America replete with elaborate detail and daring specificity, rooted and grounded in what he claimed were concrete, palpable artifacts. He recuperated texts of Adam, Abraham, Enoch, and Moses to resurrect and reconstitute a series of past patriarchal ages, not as mere shadows and types of things to come, but as dispensations of gospel fullness equaling, and in some cases surpassing, present plenitude. And he revealed an infinitely receding premortal past—not of the largely mythic Platonic variety and not a mere Wordsworthian, sentimental intimation—but a fully formed realm of human intelligences, divine parents, and heavenly councils.

Prophecy

Prophet

Smith, Joseph, Jr.