--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - John A. Widtsoe collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 7 number: 1 published: 1903-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'John A. Widtsoe, "Joseph Smith as Scientist. I", *Improvement Era* 7, no. 1 (November 1903): 1–8.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0701unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0701unse start_page: 1 end_page: 8 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0701unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Joseph Smith as Scientist. I IMPROVEMENT ERA. Vol. VIL NOVEMBER, 1903. No. 1. JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST. BY DR. JOHN A, WIDTSOE, DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, LOGAN, UTAH. I.— INTRODUCTORY. Persons who are not acquainted with the labors and writings of the great Prophet Joseph Smith, are prone to believe that in no way did he furnish intellectual food to his followers. Those, how- ever, who know, though it be only in outline, the comprehensive character of the system of theology which he taught, are not surprised to ;find principles enunciated in his writings which clear away mists of uncertainty in every department of human knowl- edge. The purpose of these articles is to show that even though the mission of Joseph was chiefly of a spiritual nature, yet he recog- nized definitely the fundamental laws and many of the facts of natural science; and that, in many cases he stated natural laws which later have been discovered and accepted by men of science. Such a demonstration will not of itself be sufficient to establish a testimony of the truth of Joseph Smith's mission: but it may re- move an obstacle from the way of those who are seeking for truth. At the same time it may show the falsity of the assertion 2 IMPROVEMENT ERA. frequently made by enemies of the Church, that the writings of Joseph Smith are devoid of ideas that can furnish intellectual stimulus to an educated mind. Throughout these articles the word science will be used in the narrow, popular sense of biological and physical science, meaning the systematically arranged knowledge of external nature. The domains of political and mental science, in which Joseph Smith made numerous suggestions of fundamental importance, are not at all considered in this series of papers, Joseph Smith had few educational advantages during his life; and his scientific teachings did not rest upon information gained in schools or from books. His parents fully appreciated the value of an education, but the pioneer lives which they led, and their nu- merous financial misfortunes, made it impossible for them to realize their desires for the education of their children. The Prophet's mother writes that when Joseph was about six years old, Hyrum, the elder brother, was sent to an academy at Hanover, New Hampshire, and the smaller children to a common school.* It is probable that throughout the wanderings of the family the children were given such meager schooling as was possible. Joseph was a "remarkably quiet, well-disposed child," and his life up to the age of fourteen was marked only by those trivial cir- cumstances which are common to childhood.f A few months after his fourteenth birthday, the future prophet beheld his first vision. In his autobiography he mentions that at the time "he was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor."J This would indicate that at this age he was spending little or no time in school. During the time that elapsed between his fourteenth and eighteenth years, there is nothing to show that the boy was receiving scholastic education. The Prophet says that he was left to all kinds of temptations, and mingled with all kinds of society.§ Nothing is * History of the Prophet by his Mother, Improvement Era, Vol. 5, p. 166. t Ibid p. 247. t History of the Church, Vol 1, p. 7. § Ibid p. 9. JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST. 3 said about the acquirement of book learning. About the age of nineteen he writes, "As my father's worldly circumstances were very limited, we were under the necessity of laboring with our hands, hiring out by day's work and otherwise, as we could get opportunity. In the month of October, 1825, I hired with an old gentleman by the name of Josiah Stoal. During the time I was thus employed, I was put to board with a Mr. Isaac Hale — was it there I first saw my wife (his daughter), Emma Hale. On the 18th of January, 1827, [when the Prophet was a little more than twenty-one years old] we were married, while I was yet employed in the service of Mr. Stoal. Immediately after my marriage, I left Mr. Stoal's and went to my father's, and farmed with him that season."* From his eighteenth to his twenty-second year, then, there is evidence that he worked as an ordinary laborer, and at- tended no school. It seems, moreover, that Joseph Smith was not a boy to gather information from books, for his mother says of him, when he was eighteen years old, that "he seemed much less inclined to the perusal of books than any of the rest of our children, but far more given to meditation and deep study."t From the records extant, the conclusion is justifiable that from his fourteenth to his twenty-second year Joseph Smith received practically no school education, and did no extensive reading. What he might have gathered from conversation with others during that time is un- known to us. However, it is known that the heavenly messengers who visited him at intervals gave him much valuable information, which more than compensated for his poor scholastic advantages. One month before his twenty-second birthday, the golden plates were delivered to the Prophet, and the next two and a half years he was engaged with various assistants in translating the Book of Mormon; though at different times during this period he farmed and did other manual labor. During this period (twenty- two to twenty-four and a half years of age), he most certainly attended no school nor gave special attention to worldly knowledge. On the 6th of April, 1830, when the Prophet was twenty-four * History of the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 16, 17. t History of the Prophet Joseph, Improvement Era, Vol. 5, p. 257. 4 IMPROVEMENT ERA years and four months old, the Church was organized. The life led by the Prophet from this time to 1844, when he was assassin- ated, was not conducive to the gathering of information, and quiet, deep reflection. During almost the whole of this period his life was in danger; scores of times he was arrested on trumped-up charges; the Church was driven from place to place; he built at least three cities, and two temples; organized and governed the body of the Church; taught the doctrinal system accepted by his followers; organized the public ministry of the Church for spread- ing the Gospel among all men, wrote his autobiography; compiled the revelations given him, and made a revision of parts of the Bible. The mistake must not be made, however, of assuming that because the Prophet' s education had been limited, he lacked a due appreciation of schools and scholastic attainments. On the con- trary, at a very early date in the history of the Church, schools were organized even for the older men, that they might improve their time andmake up in a manner for the lack of opportunity during their early days. During the winter of 1832-3, a school of the prophets was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, and another in Inde- pendence, Missouri, at which the elders of the Church received various instructions. In the discussion relative to the building of temples, references to schools being held in them were always made, and, in fact, in the fall of 1835, when a portion of the Kirt- land temple v/as finished, "schools were opened in the various apartments." Many "were organized into a school for the purpose of studying the Hebrew language."* The reading of Greek had previously been begun. In these languages as well as in German, the Prophet acquired considerable facility. His studies tended, of course, towards the interpretation of the Bible and the explana- tion of Gospel truths; though at times his investigations appeared quite foreign to his special work, as when, in 1838, he began the methodical study of law. When the city of Nauvoo was chartered, a section was in- cluded, providing for the establishment of a university, to be called the University of the City of Nauvoo, under the direction Autobiography of P. P. Pratt, p. 140. JOSEPH SMIIH AS SCIENTIST. 5 of which should be taught "all matters pertaining to education, from common schools up to the highest branches of a most liberal collegiate education."* In numerous revelations did the Lord urge the Prophet and the Church to gather information from every source, of which the following quotations are good illustrations: "Teach ye diligently, that you may be instructed in theory, in principle, of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and perplexities of the nations, and a knowledge also of countries and kingdoms. Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning even by study."t "Obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man."$ "Study and learn and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues and peoples."§ "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance." || A more comprehensive outline of education can hardly be imagined. The energetic manner in which the Church has acted upon these instructions, during its whole history, need not be recounted here. However much the Prophet sought for knowledge, even from books, in his later life, the fact remains that the evidence in our possession indicates that, up to the time of the organization of the Church, his book learning was very slight, and that during the years immediately following, his time was so fully occupied with the details of organization that little or no time was given to edu- • cation, as ordinarily understood. These statements are of especial importance, in view of the fact that all the principles to be dis- cussed in the succeeding papers of this series were enunciated be- fore the end of the year 1833. The associates of the Prophet are unanimous in saying that his spiritual and intellectual growth was marvelous, from the time * History of Joseph Smith, George Q. Cannon, pp. 341, 343. t Doctrine and Covenants, 88: 78, 79, 118. t Ibid 93: 53. § Ibid 90: 15. II Ibid 131: 6. that the work of the ministry fell upon him. He was transformed from a humble country lad to a leader among men, whose great- ness was felt by all, whether unlearned or educated, small or great. Of himself the Prophet said, "I am a rough stone. The sound of the hammer and chisel was never heard on me until the Lord took me in hand. I desire the learning and wisdom of heaven alone." Certainly, his whole history shows that the great learn- ing which he did manifest was acquired in a manner very different from that followed by the majority of men. The mission of Joseph Smith was of a spiritual nature; and therefore, it is not to be expected that the discussion of scientific matters shall be found in the Prophet's writings. The revelations given to the Prophet deal almost exclusively with the elucidation of so-called religious doctrines, and with such difficulties as arose from time to time in the organization of the Church. It is only, as it appears to us, in an incidental way that other matters, not strictly of a religious nature, are mentioned in the revelations. However, the Church teaches that all human knowledge and all the laws of nature are part of its religious system; but that some prin- ciples are of more importance than others in man's progress to eternal salvation. While on the one hand, therefore, . it cannot reasonably be expected that Joseph Smith should deal in his writ- mgs with any subject peculiar to natural science, yet, on the other hand, it should not surprise any student to find that the Prophet at times considered matters that do not come under the ordinary defi- nition of religion, especially if they in any way may be connected with the laws of religion. Statements of scientific detail should not, therefore, be looked for in Joseph Smith's writings, though, as will be shown in paper No. 7, these are not wholly wanting; but rather, we should expect to find general views of the relations of the forces of the universe. It is not in harmony with the Gospel spirit that God, except in special cases, should reveal things that man by the aid of his natural powers may gain for himself; hence, it would be improbable that much scientific detail should be found in the Prophet's writ- ings. — The Lord spoke to the Prophet as follows: "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought, save it was to ask me but, behold, ; JOSEPH SMITE AS SCIENTIST. 7 I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you Must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."* Such a doctrine makes it unreasonable to look to the Prophet's work for a gratuitous mass of scientific or other details, which will relieve man of the labor of searching out for himself nature's laws. So well established is this principle that in all proba- bility many of the deepest truths contained in the writings of Joseph Smith will not be clearly understood, even by his followers, until, by the laborious methods of mortality, the same truths are estab- lished. It is even so with the principles to be discussed in the fol- lowing papers. They were stated seventy years ago, yet it is only recently that the Latter-day Saints have begun to realize that they are identical with recently developed scientific truths; and the world of science is not yet aware of it. However, whenever such harmony is observed, it testifies of the divine inspiration of the humble, unlearned boy prophet of the nineteenth century. More- over, the absence of such scientific detail, as would in all probability have been used had the Prophet known of it, is additional testimony that he did not get his information from books. The Prophet Joseph does not use the language of science; which is additional proof that he did not know the science of his day. This may be urged as an objection to the assertion that he mnderstood fundamental scientific truths, but the error of this view is easily comprehended when it is recalled that the language of science is made by men, and varies very often from age to age, and from country to country. Besides, the God who spoke to Joseph Smith, says, "These commandments were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding."t If God had spoken the special language of science, the unlearned Joseph Smith would not, per- haps, have understood. Every wise man explains that which he knows in the language of those to whom he is speaking, and the facts and theories of science, can be quite easily expressed in the language of the common man. It is quite needless to expect * Doctrine and Covenants 9: 7, S t Doctrine and Covenants 1 : 24. 8 IMPROVEMENl ERA. scientific phraselogy in the writings of Joseph Smith. The absence of the language of science is further proof that the knowledge of Joseph Smith was not obtained from books or men. Finally, another important fact must be mentioned. Men in all ages have speculated about the things of the universe, and have invented all kinds of theories to explain natural phenomena. In all cases, however, these theories have been supported by experi- mental evidence, or else they have been proposed simply as personal opinions. Joseph Smith, on the contrary, laid no claim to experi- mental data to support the theories which he proposed, nor did he say that they were simply personal opinions, but he repeatedly as- serted that God had revealed the truths to him, and that they could not, therefore, be false. If doctrines resting upon such a claim can be shown to be true, it is additional testimony of the truth of the Prophet's work. In the following papers it will be shown, by a series of com- parisons, that, in 1833, the teachings of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, were in full harmony with the most advanced scientific thought of today, and that he anticipated the world of science in the statement of fundamental facts and theories in physics, chem- istry, astronomy and biology. References to the literature used are frequently made, for the benefit of those who desire to verify the quotations made. This work has been done in all soberness, and with no desire to force facts into the line of argument. For that reason, much valuable matter of an indirect nature, has been left untouched. Lack of time has prevented the discussion of other direct scientific evidences of the truth of the mission of Joseph Smith.* (to be continued.') * It may be observed that all the reasoning in the following papers is based upon statements made in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. For various reasons, the Book of Mormon has been left for later study.