Writing in
the Millennial Star in 1943,
then-president of the Church Heber J. Grant wrote about the central role the
Prophet Joseph Smith plays in the truth claims of the Church:
Joseph Smith
and Mormonism
I have met hundreds of men who have said
"If it were not for Joseph Smith I could accept your religion." Any
man who does not believe in Joseph Smith as a prophet of the true and living
God has no right to be in the Church. That revelation to Joseph Smith is the
foundation stone. If Joseph Smith did not have that interview with God and
Jesus Christ the whole Mormon fabric is a failure and a fraud. It is not worthy
anything on earth. But God did come. God did introduce His Son. God did inspire
that man to organize the Church of Jesus Christ and all the opposition of the
world is not able to withstand the truth. (Heber J. Grant, "Fundamentals
of Mormonism," Millennial Star, Vol. 105, No.
13 [1943], p. 193)
Such
comments are still important 76 years later, as there are many even within the
Church who explicitly reject the teaching of Joseph Smith and/or try to dilute
them (e.g., relegating the Book of Mormon to “inspired fiction”) and some are
even embarrassed by him (see how many are hoping “Praise to the Man” will be
excised from the new hymnal). In reality, the Church stands or falls on of Joseph Smith being a true prophet of God.
On the role
of Joseph Smith in Latter-day Saint theology, see: