J. Golden Kimball on the Question of Joseph Smith being a Prophet of God Being an "All-or-Nothing" Deal

In his sermon delivered at the April 1909 General Conference, J. Golden Kimball said the following about the truth claims of Joseph Smith being “all-or-nothing”:

 

I have read about the Prophet Joseph Smith. I have the story of the Prophet, and it is a wonderful story for a boy to tell. About those two personages that came to him, also John the Baptist, Peter, James and John. To me it is very wonderful. Do you believe it? If that is not true, Joseph Smith was the biggest fraud that ever came to a people on earth. There has never been a more sacrilegious thing uttered by man, if it is not true. Now, I say, do you believe it? Do I believe it? I believe everything that has been revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. If any principle that has been revealed to the Prophet is not true, then it is all wrong, as far as I am concerned. There is no use of mincing over it. Every Latter-day Saint in the Church should receive every truth, or else none of it. I believe it all. I believe every word of it. I “believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and I believe the Lord will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” I believe all that God has revealed, as fast as I can understand and comprehend it: and I believe that God will yet reveal many great and important things. I am not sure if we will be prepared to receive all or not. Joseph Smith said the Lord had revealed things to him which if he had repented to the people they would have taken his life. It is a good thing he didn’t: we have more truths and doctrine than we now live up to. (Bonnie Taylor, ed. J. Golden Kimball: His Sermons [Latter-day Publishing, 2007], 102)

 

 One cannot be neutral or indifferent when it comes to the question of whether Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. There is no mid-way position. If he was a false prophet, Latter-day Saints such as myself (rightfully) will face eternal destruction at the final judgment; however, if one rejects a true prophet of God (which Joseph Smith was), then non-LDS (and, sadly, functionally, many so-called members of the Church, too) are under the wrath of God thereby.

On the role and status of the Prophet Joseph Smith in Latter-day Saint theology, be sure to check out:

Joseph Smith Worship? Responding to Criticisms of the Role and Status of the Prophet Joseph Smith in Latter-day Saint Theology

If you are not a Latter-day Saint (including those critics I sometimes engage with), I do have a final statement that will be shocking to them, but I do mean it with Christian love and sincerity—I truly hope and pray for the day when you can sing this hymn with me: