Originally posted by Sparko
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"My object is to let you know that I am right here on the spot where I intend to stay. I, like Paul, have been in perils, and oftener than anyone in this generation. As Paul boasted, I have suffered more than Paul did, I should be like a fish out of water, if I were out of persecutions. Perhaps my brethren think it requires all this to keep me humble. The Lord has constituted me curiously that I glory in persecution. I am not nearly so humble as if I were not persecuted. If oppression will make a wise man mad, much more a fool. If they want a beardless boy to whip all the world, I will get on the top of a mountain and crow like a rooster: I shall always beat them. When facts are proved, truth and innocence will prevail at last. My enemies are no philosophers: they think that when they have my spoke under, they will keep me down; but for the fools, I will hold on and fly over them."
Joseph followed these statements with his own "boasting", in the same way that Paul made outrageous "boasts" to contrast his position with the position of those who the Corinthians were starting to listen to. Paul starts the next chapter of 2 Corinthians with the statement "boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable." Paul says that boasting was necessary at times against the wicked/hard-hearted (though it may do little good, being unprofitable).
The people who had personally attacked Joseph were right there in the crowd; THAT IS THE CONTEXT.
Now, let's look at another context. Consider this, in a personal letter to Emma Smith:
"I will try to be contented with my lot, knowing that God is my friend. In him I shall find comfort. I have given my life into his hands. I am prepared to go at his call. I desire to be with Christ. I count not my life dear to me [except] to do his will."
Now if you claim he was only humble in private, but not in public, consider also the following statement, made in public:
"I do not think there have been many good men on the earth since the days of Adam; but there was one good man and his name was Jesus. Many persons think a prophet must be a great deal better than anybody else....I do not want you to think that I am very righteous, for I am not."
Again, there are SO NUMEROUS the instances where Joseph Smith indicated that he depended on Christ for salvation, and so clear his teachings that he was nothing more than a flawed human being, that accusations whereby anti-mormons pretend that Joseph Smith supposedly taught that he was better than Jesus won't be taken seriously by any honest investigator.
-7up
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