The Book of Mormon: Coincidence, Conspiracy, or Divine Calling?

Welcome to Day 28 of our 60-Day Challenge! But before we tackle today’s question, let’s take a moment to reflect on the question from Day 27 - Who was Joseph Smith, and was he truly called as a prophet?

As a believer in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I can testify that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God. But I don’t expect you to take my word for it—I want to show you why his life, mission, and prophetic calling are unlike anything the world has seen in modern times.

A Young Boy with a Question

Joseph Smith was born in 1805 in Vermont, but his story really begins in 1820, at the age of 14.

At the time, America was experiencing a religious revival—churches were everywhere, each claiming to teach the truth. Young Joseph, confused about which church to join, turned to the Bible for guidance.

Then he read James 1:5:

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Believing in this promise, Joseph went into a quiet grove of trees near his home, knelt down, and prayed to God for answers.

And that’s when something miraculous happened.

The First Vision: The Beginning of the Restoration

In response to Joseph’s prayer, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in what we now call the First Vision.

Joseph described it this way:

“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me… I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the other—‘This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!’”

During this sacred moment, Joseph was told not to join any church, for the true gospel had been lost from the earth due to apostasy.

This event set the foundation for what would become the restoration of Christ’s original church.

The Angel Moroni and The Book of Mormon

A few years later, in 1823, Joseph was visited by an angel named Moroni, who revealed the existence of ancient golden plates buried in a nearby hill.

These plates, Moroni explained, contained a record of ancient inhabitants of the Americas—a sacred history written by prophets who lived centuries before Christ.

With divine guidance, Joseph translated the plates, and in 1830, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ was published.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God, a second witness alongside the Bible that Jesus Christ is our Savior.

The Restoration of the Priesthood

After The Book of Mormon was published, Joseph was visited by:
✔ John the Baptist, who restored the Aaronic Priesthood
✔ Peter, James, and John, who restored the Melchizedek Priesthood

These visits gave Joseph and his followers the authority to baptize, confer the Holy Ghost, and administer sacred ordinances—just as Christ’s apostles did in the New Testament.

And then, on April 6, 1830, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially organized, marking the beginning of the restoration of Christ’s true church on the earth.

Elijah, Temples, and Eternal Families

The restoration of Christ’s church didn’t just bring back priesthood authority—it also restored temples and sacred ordinances for the dead.

In 1836, the prophet Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple, fulfilling Malachi 4:5-6, which prophesied:

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.”

Through Elijah’s return, Joseph received the sealing power, allowing families to be bound together for eternity.

This is why we build temples—not as places of weekly worship, but as sacred houses of the Lord where we can:
- Be sealed to our families forever
- Perform baptisms for the dead
- Make sacred covenants with God

The sealing power restored by Elijah ensures that our relationships do not end at death. This doctrine is at the heart of God’s Plan of Happiness.

Joseph Smith’s Martyrdom

Because of his teachings and his role in restoring Christ’s church, Joseph Smith faced extreme persecution.

On June 27, 1844, Joseph and his brother Hyrum were murdered by a mob in Carthage Jail.

His final words?

“O Lord, my God!”

Joseph sealed his testimony with his blood, just like the prophets of old.

Was Joseph Smith Foretold in the Bible?

Many scriptures point to a great latter-day restoration:

- Isaiah 29:4, 11-12 – A prophecy about a sealed book that would be delivered to an unlearned man. (The Book of Mormon?)
- Ezekiel 37:15-17 – A prophecy about two records (the Bible and The Book of Mormon) coming together.
- Revelation 14:6 – A vision of an angel bringing the everlasting gospel to the world. (The Angel Moroni?)

The fulfillment of these prophecies strengthens our testimony that Joseph Smith was truly called of God.

So, Was Joseph Smith a True Prophet?

Yes. I know he was.

Do you?

Next Up: Question 28

Joseph Smith was known for having very little formal education. His own wife said he could barely write a coherent letter.

So here’s your next challenge:

If Joseph Smith wasn’t a prophet, where did all the wisdom in The Book of Mormon come from? Could he have written it himself?

Do some research, and we’ll explore the answer in the next lesson!

Transcription:

       Hi, my name is Joe Cirillo with Gospel First, and thanks for your decision to follow me on the exciting journey to find Christ restored church in our day. But before I give you question 28, Did you find the answer to question 27? Who was Joseph Smith, and was he truly called a prophet? So, let's take a closer look at Joseph Smith's life in ministry, and then you decide.

Joseph Smith Jr. was from 1805 to 1844, was born in Sharon, Vermont, and is regarded by members of the church and other Restorationist movements as a prophet called of God. Chosen to restore the true gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days after a period of widespread apostasy. Well, in 1820, at the age of 14, Joseph Smith sought guidance from God to know which church to join.

According to his account, during a prayer in a grove of trees near his home in Palmyra, New York, He was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ who instructed him not to join any church because the fullness of the gospel had been lost through apostasy. Well, the event known as the First Vision is considered the foundational event of his prophetic calling.

In 1823, Joseph Smith was visited by an angel named Moroni who revealed the location of ancient golden plates hidden in a hill near his home. These plates inscribed with a record of ancient inhabitants of the Americas were translated by Joseph Smith through the gift and power of God into what became known as the Book of Mormon.

Well, this book is regarded by the members of the Restored Church as scripture. Alongside the Bible is another witness of Jesus Christ. The publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830 is seen as a pivotal moment in the restoration of the gospel. Joseph Smith was also visited by ancient biblical figures, including John the Baptist and the Apostles Peter, James, and John.

They conferred upon him the Aaronic and the Melchizedek priesthood, giving him the authority to act in God's name, perform sacred ordinances, and organize Christ's church once again on the earth. And on April 6th, 1830, Joseph Smith officially restored the Church of Jesus Christ. Named the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter days.

Why Latter days? It's because it's the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter days, or the last days. While he served as the Church's first prophet and president, teaching the Christ's original church was restored through him with the same structure, ordinances, and authority as ancient times, which is recorded in Ephesians 4.

11. Now, in 1836, the prophet Elijah also appeared to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple and restored the sealing power which allows families to be bound together for eternity. Both on earth and in heaven. Well, he emphasized the importance of building the temples where members could receive sacred ordinances, including baptism for the dead and eternal marriage.

Joseph Smith's ministry was met with opposition and persecution. He was arrested multiple times and faced intense hostility from many who opposed his teachings. And on June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith, along with his brother Hyrum, was killed by a mob while imprisoned in Carthus Jail, Illinois. His death marked him as a martyr to the Latter day Saints.

Now, while Joseph Smith is not explicitly named in the Bible, there are several biblical passages that foreshadow his role as a prophet and the restoration of the gospel. Here are a few scriptures that the Restored Church often refers to in relation to Joseph Smith. Isaiah 29, verse 4, And now shall be brought down, and shall speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be as one with the familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

Isaiah 29, verses 11 to 12 says, And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that has learned it. Saying, read this, I pray thee, and he says, I cannot. For it is sealed and the book is delivered to him. That is not learned saying, read this, I pray thee, and he says, I am not learned.

Well in this chapter, Isaiah speaks of people whose words would come out of the out of the dust, and of a book that is sealed, which is members of the Restored Church, interpret as the prophecy of the Book of Mormon coming forth. We believe this refers to the Nephite civilization whose record, the Book of Mormon, was buried and later translated by Joseph Smith.

Isaiah 29, verse 14 states, For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent men shall be hid. Well, this is a prophecy about the restoration of gospel truth through Joseph Smith, at a time when religious confusion and apostasy was prevalent. In Ezekiel, chapter 37, verses 15 to 17 says, The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, for Judah.

And for the children of Israel, his companions. Then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, And for all of the house of Israel, his companions. And join them one to another into one stick, And they shall become one in thy hand. Ezekiel's prophecy about the stick of Judah. And the stick of Ephraim being joined together is a reference to the Bible, which is the book of Judah, and the book of Mormon, which is Ephraim, coming together as two records that testify of Jesus Christ.

Well, Joseph Smith's role in bringing forth the book of Mormon is the fulfillment of this prophecy. In Acts chapter 3, verse 21 says, Whom the heaven must receive, and until the times of restitution of all things. Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began. Well, this passage speaks of the times of restitution of all things before the second coming of Christ.

Latter day Saints believe this refers to the restoration of the gospel, which Joseph Smith initiated with the restoration of priesthood keys, the translation of the Book of Mormon, and the establishment of the church. Revelations chapter 14, verse 6 says, And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, to preach unto them that dwell on the earth.

Well, in the book of Revelation, John speaks of an angel flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach to all nations. Latter day Saints believe this refers to the angel Moroni, who appeared to Joseph Smith and led him to the golden plates. which were later translated in the Book of Mormon, thus restoring the fullness of the Gospel.

Genesis chapter 49, verse 22 to 26 says, Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall. Meaning that his generation will cross the ocean. The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot him, and hated him. Meaning that the Bobs hated Joseph Smith and was killed by a bullet.

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. From this is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep.

Lie thunder, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of the father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors onto the outmost bound of the Everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from the brethren. Meaning that Joseph's generation would be in the land of North and South America.

The everlasting hills, well that refers to the Rocky Mountains, which go from the tip of Alaska down to the tip of South America. As we can see in this passage, Jacob blesses his son Joseph. And the latter days interpret part of this blessing as a prophecy about Joseph Smith and the work that he would do.

The reference to Joseph's descendants being a fruitful bough and prevailing in the last days is believed to foreshadow the role of Joseph Smith as a restorer in the latter days. So according to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and many other restorationist movements, I have come to know for myself and I have received the witness by the Spirit.

The Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet called of God. He was chosen to restore the true Church of Jesus Christ and re establish the authority to act in God's name through his priesthood. His experiences, revelations, and the fruits of his ministry include the Book of Mormon, the restoration of sacred ordinances, and the global growth of the restored church of Jesus Christ is evidence of his prophetic calling.

So, here's question number 28. Joseph Smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well worded letter, according to his wife and many others. Could he have written the Book of Mormon? And if he did write the Book of Mormon, where or how did he accumulate so much wisdom in under 22 years of life?

Now you can search out the answer if you Google it and see what it brings up. And of course, I'd love to hear your thoughts.