What motivated Joseph Smith(Mormon Religion) to do what he did in history?
2007-05-20 18:44:17 · 5 answers · asked by koreanskyboy 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
His grandfather was involved with Thomas Paine as a printer of supporter, and grandmother was deeply into christian mysticism. Joesph's father was swindled out of a great deal of money regarding a china silk scam. He was also taken to visions (was were many christians in the early frontier) one of which was recorded as "Lehi's Dream' about a spacious building. Joseph Sr wasn't particularly religious, and was more into folk magic and divination.
Young Smith had a leg infection early on nearly resulting in amputation, although a portion of bone was removed - without anesthesia. He also became intimate with buried treasure-seeking using a 'peep stone', and was well-known throughout western NY state farmers.
He became a methodist exhorter in the mid 1820's after his visit with god and jesus (didn't make much of an impression on him), and was also arrested for Glass-looking in 1826.
The Book of Mormon is based on what was then 'new-age' thought regarding the origins of the Indians, "A View of the Hebrews" and Solomon Spaulding's unpublished manuscript (written several years earlier).
"Inside the Mind of Joseph Smith" is an interesting postulation of "What was he thinking.." and why.
2007-05-21 03:47:37 · answer #1 · answered by Dances with Poultry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might get some good answers from some former Mormons but mostly you'll get joke answers. I'm no expert but I did learn a little about LDS. He was supposedly motivated by frustration, feeling disconnected, wondering which church was right, when the angel Moroni came to him and told him that there was really one church, and it was for him to divulge. So, supposedly, he then was led to the golden tablets where he found the Book of Mormon. But his motivation, from what I learned, was a curiosity and feeling that there was not a church for him. The idea of LDS was that G-d showed him the One true church. Others will say that his motivation was money, that he was in deep debt and needed to get money desperately. I don't know. But the church teaching is what I initially said.
BTW I'm not Christian or Athiest
2007-05-20 18:54:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
He was motivated by all of the different religions that were setting up camp in his hometown of Palmyra, New York. He didn't know which one was right and neither did his family. So he read the Bible one day which said if he lacked wisdom to ask of God. A frustration of finding out which religion was right for him motivated his desires. He wanted to know for sure because he was concerned on the welfare of his soul. He didn't know his standing with God or if he was on the right path in his life.
2007-05-21 08:41:02 · answer #3 · answered by kelride 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just look up freemasons for all the motivation of symbols, thats where he stole them from
2007-05-20 18:49:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He just wanted to know what church was the true church of Christ.
2007-05-21 11:34:27 · answer #5 · answered by mormon_4_jesus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋