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Views of General Joseph Smith (Part 1 of 8)

Table of Contents: Views of General Joseph Smith (Part 1 of 8)

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Most Mormons know that Joseph Smith ran for the presidency of the United States.  Was it a serious run?  Did Joseph really think he was going to win?  Dr. Derek Sainsbury will answer those questions, and we’ll talk about Joseph Smith’s Presidential platform.  I was surprised to learn that General Joseph Smith was pushing his military expertise!

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Derek: On January 29, 1844, they nominate him. And he immediately starts writing a political pamphlet called “The Views of General Joseph Smith,” on the powers and policy of the United States government. And it’s mailed to all the leaders of government in the United States, and to all the major newspapers.

GT:  General Joseph Smith!  He is emphasizing his military background.

Derek:  Right, because obviously he can’t win our election or even affect an election as Prophet Joseph Smith. Right? Because  it’s got to appeal to a wider group and he is a general in the Navajo Legion by state commission. In fact, he’s a Lieutenant General. He’s the only Lieutenant General between George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant in the history of the United States.

GT:  So who mentioned Lieutenant General?

Derek:  Governor Carlin.

GT:  Oh really?

Derek: Yeah,  not necessarily because he thinks he deserves it, but that’s the commission when they do the Nauvoo Legion. That’s the commission that Joseph Smith requests. Both parties when in those early days, are [courting the Mormon vote.] It’s so evenly split [between] Democrat and Whig in Illinois. They’re stumbling over each other.

Now for those of you on YouTube, you’ll notice a 3-D reproduction of Joseph Smith in his military dress uniform.  It was done by a fantastic artist named Adam Worthington.  He has kindly allowed me to use it in this video, and if you would like a copy of it yourself, please go to Adam’s website, knowbrotherjoseph.com and you can not only see this amazing reproduction, but other 3-D renderings of Joseph Smith and Emma.  These are available for purchase, so please support Adam’s amazing artwork!

General Joseph Smith - Views of General Joseph Smith (Part 1 of 8) - Mormon History Podcast
Dr Derek Sainsbury tells about General Joseph Smith’s 1844 campaign for President of the United States.

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More Podcasts with these Guests:

  • *Why Joseph's POTUS Run was Downplayed (Part 8 of 8)
  • Why Joseph Destroyed Expositor (Part 7 of 8)
  • Theo-Democracy in Deseret (Part 6 of 8)
  • Anti-Slavery Missionaries in the South (Part 5 of 8)
  • Electioneer Missionaries (Part 3 of 8)

Get more information on the people and things discussed in this episode:

  • Guest: Derek Sainsbury
  • Historical Mentions General Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith POTUS, Mormon History
  • Tags: Church History, General Joseph Smith, GT Podcast, iTunes, Joseph Smith POTUS, Politics, Storming the Nation

Tell me when the next episode drops!

PrevPrevious EpisodeRick on Hot Seat (Part 5 of 5)
Next ExpisodeMormons: Originally Swing Voters! (Part 2 of 8)Next
  • Date: July 9, 2020
  • Guest: Derek Sainsbury
  • Historical Mentions General Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith POTUS, Mormon History
  • Tags: Church History, General Joseph Smith, GT Podcast, iTunes, Joseph Smith POTUS, Politics, Storming the Nation
  • Posted By: RickB

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Rick Bennett, Host of Gospel Tangents

Rick Bennett is the friendly, independent historian at the heart of Gospel Tangents LDS Podcast: The Best Source for Mormon History, Science, and Theology. When he isn't interviewing Mormon scholars, prophets, and others, he is teaching math and statistics at Utah Valley University. He also freelances as a research biostatistician in the fields of Dermatology and Traumatic Brian Injuries, as well as in the network television/cable T.V. industries as a sports statistician. Rick holds a Master of Statistics Degree from the University of Utah.

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