Images of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Davis Bitton

BYU Studies Quarterly Volume 36 | Issue 2 Article 19 4-1-1996 Images of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Davis Bitton Susan Easton Black Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq Recommended Citation Black, Susan Easton (1996) "Images of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Davis Bitton," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 36 : Iss. 2 , Article 19. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol36/iss2/19 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the All Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in BYU Studies Quarterly by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact , . Black: <em>Images of the Prophet Joseph Smith</em> by Davis Bitton images of the prophet joseph smith salt lake ap bibliography index papercity aspen books 1996 viii 198 pp back 11.95 1195 DAVIS BITTON reviewed by susan easton black associate dean of general education and honors and professor of church history and doctrine brigham young university historian davis bitton earned his academic spurs during his graduate years at princeton and his professorial tenure at the university of utah of the ten books he has written best known to LDS scholars are his co authored work with leonard J arrington the mormon experience A history of the latter day saints 1979 and his detailed reference book guide to mormon diaries and autobiographies 1977 As a past president of the mormon history association and as an emeritus professor bitton is widely respected for his contribution to latter day saint history prophet joseph smith is the most recent conimages of the propbetjosepb tribution to mormon literature by davis bitton it is not a conventional biography of the founder of mormonism his perceptive fife ilfe of joseph smith dramatically differs from the approach to the life monochrome but faithful biography by john henry evans the objective work by donna hill and the biased portrayal by fawn must be any effort to brodie bitton despairs how flawed write the life of another person but then confesses we humans keep trying vii Bit joseph smith bittens bittons tons newest book is not a treatise on the life of ofjoseph or his teachings the purpose is to present alternative explanations for contrasting perceptions of joseph smith from his own time to the present the author includes a chapter on the views of modern interpretive scholars bitton is generous in his applause of the conbackmanjr tributions of his colleagues milton V backman jr gordon A madsen hugh nibley and richard L anderson the authors discussion of portrayals of joseph smith from hostile blackguard to jacksonian hero captivates the reader of images with a panoply of written portraits the interpretative arch deceiver are views of joseph as mystic manic depressive and archdeceiver balanced with testimonials acknowledging him as prophet revelator and friend bitton does not challenge the perceptions he 1 241 Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1996 1 242 byustudies BYU YU studies B BYU Studies Quarterly, Vol. 36, Iss. 2 [1996], Art. 19 presents for he believes people see what they want to see As the mosaic unfolds the author disclaims any personal bias in the recitations conveniently avoiding a conflict by dubbing himself just a historian however he is quick to concede that the extreme negative images of joseph smith are not the view of contemporary admirers outside of the mormon faith and just as quickly bitton negates the notion that joseph smith was a god to his followers in mid america bines from a fines in the 1840s despite one possible reading of these lines iines latter day saint hymn mingling with gods he can plan for his brethren death cannot conquer the hero again 2 his stance allows each reader to discern whether the viewpoints presented are deficient inconsistent shifting exaggerated or consonant with personal beliefs in such a paradigm of reality it is expected that the sentiments of the serious reader may shift from one perspective to another until the weight of personal bias sways the pendulum of thought for the author believes people act not according to the way things are but the way they think they are 165 to engage his audience pithy quotes dot the beginning of each chapter since the text includes chapters comparing joseph smith to ancient prophets presents other ennobling views and is sold wherever LDS books are sold it seems curious that bitton begins his treatise with the hostile views his litany of negative attention grabbing descriptions of joseph smith creates a dramatic effect impostor pretender fanatic and despot these labels shape the repetitious drumbeat of the anti smith rhetoric only one label seems original to josephs opponents fallen prophet the other labels can also be attributed to the vagrants scoundrels and other undesirables in nineteenth century america the chapters on folklore memory and the physical stature of the prophet are arguably the most original contributions in the text the posthumous joseph smith as he lived on in the collective memory of his faithful contemporaries is portrayed with editorial finesse the carefully selected examples depict the prophet with a supernatural glow and enough epic qualities to make him an ideal source of inspiration for embellished folklore tall he may have been the author concurs but he then wonders how he could have been thin favored and stout and round at the same time 107 332 132 112 https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol36/iss2/19 2 prophet joseph smith review of images of the propbetjoseph Black: <em>Images of the Prophet Joseph Smith</em> by Davis Bitton 243 bitton rightfully asks what is the value of these stories 99 his answer does not discount any story as less than valuable not in discovering the life of the prophet but in discovering the popular mind of his people 100 As historian bitton entertains a variety of borderline psychological assumptions he turns from a mere interpretive recitation of facts to armchair psychology choosing to divert into the realms of the mind leaves him an easy prey to criticism bitton uses phrases and jargon that are in vogue among popular psychologists blown the whistle roller coaster existence landed on his feet carries baggage with it 4 5 13 21 but are not so readily accepted by cautious colleagues nor are his interpretative comments such is the stuff of hero worship or the words of the book of mormon passed through joseph smith 48 53 typical of an empirical scholar the brain of ofjoseph his editorial comment but the trauma was doubtless severe and profoundly affected josephs psychic development 2 introduces more speculative questions than bitton is prepared to answer when writing of joseph smith as a jacksonian hero the author struggles to find the most appropriate heroic yardstick the five steps to becoming a hero developed by literary scholar roy porter making approach of joseph campbell mythmaking are replaced by t (...truncated)