Similarities Between Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith
They were both messengers:
Mal 3:1 “Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me… This messenger is Joseph Smith…and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant. The Messenger of the Covenant is Jesus Christ.
They both were sent by God:
Joseph Smith said, “For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.” (Joseph Smith—History 1:25)
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:16-17)
They both endured bitter persecution:
Joseph Smith reports early persecution in Joseph Smith—History 1:22 saying, “though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me.”
Jesus said, “For neither did his brethren (his family) believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” (John 7:5-7)
Both were pastors of a flock:
Jesus led the people without an official mandate from the church. “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)
Joseph Smith organized a church. On the day he organized it he said, “The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April— Which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, Jun., who was called of God, and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the first elder of this church…” (D&C 20:1-2)
Both were accused of blasphemy:
Jesus confronted his accusers by asking them a question. “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” (John 10:36)
Joseph Smith has been accused of blasphemy because he saw the Father and the Son standing side by side in bodies of glorified flesh and blood. He testified, “For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father— That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” (D&C 76:23-24)
Both raised a man from the dead:
Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead is recorded in John 11. The words he used are recorded as, “And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” (John 11:43)
Joseph raised William Huntington from the dead as recorded in the memoir of William’s friend Levi Curtis. (Source Levi Curtis, “Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” Juvenile Instructor 27, no. 12) (15 June 1892): 385-86) The recollection includes quite a lot of detail and is quite long. Notice that Joseph Smith did not promote himself by recording this story anywhere. I, a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have never heard this story until researching this essay.
“About the month of August, 1856, William D. Huntington and I went into Hobble Creek Canyon to get a tree or log suitable for making drums. After we had finished our labor and started for home, both of us riding on the log, our conversation naturally turned upon the doctrines of the Church and experiences of the past, when the life and labors of the Prophet Joseph were touched upon. This subject aroused into more than usual earnestness the mind and conversation of my associate. He said that in Nauvoo he lived in the family of and worked for Joseph Smith at the time the Prophet had such a wonderful time with the sick, when nearly everybody was stricken down and he himself was among the afflicted, and was one of those who were healed by Joseph. He said he had been sick some weeks and kept getting weaker, until he became so helpless that he could not move. Finally he got so low he could not speak, but had perfect consciousness of all that was passing in the room. He saw friends come to the bedside, look at him a moment and commence weeping, then turn away. He further stated that he presently felt easy, and observing his situation found that he was in the upper part of the room near the ceiling, and could see the body he had occupied lying on the bed, with weeping friends, standing around as he had witnessed in many cases where people had died under his own observation. About this time he saw Joseph Smith and two other brethren come into the room. Joseph turned to his wife Emma and asked her to get him a dish of clean water. This she did; and the Prophet with the two brethren accompanying him washed their hands and carefully wiped them. Then they stepped to the bed and laid their hands upon the head of his body, which at that time looked loathsome to him, and as the three stretched out their hands to place them upon the head, he by some means became aware that he must go back into that body, and started to do so. The process of getting in he could not remember; but when Joseph said “amen,” he heard and could see and feel with his body. The feeling for a moment was most excruciating, as though his body was pierced in every part with some sharp instruments. As soon as the brethren had taken their hands from his head he raised up in bed, sitting erect, and in another moment turned his legs off the bed. At this juncture Joseph asked him if he had not better be careful, for he was very weak. He replied, “I never felt better in my life,” almost immediately adding, “I want my pants.” His pants were found and given him, which he drew on, Joseph assisting him, although he thought he needed no help. Then he signified his intention to sit in a chair at or near the fireplace. Joseph took hold of his arm to help him along safely, but William declared his ability to walk alone, notwithstanding which, the help continued. Astonishment had taken the place of weeping throughout the room. Every looker-on was ready to weep for joy; but none were able or felt inclined to talk. Presently William said he wanted something to eat. Joseph asked him what he would like, and he replied that he wanted a dish of bread and milk. Emma immediately brought what he called for, as one may easily comprehend, every hand was anxious to supply the wants of a man who, a few moments before was dead, really and truly dead! Brother Huntington ate the bowl of bread and milk with as good a relish as any he ever ate. In a short time all felt more familiar, and conversation upon the scene that transpired followed. William related his experiences, and the friends theirs. Joseph listened to the conversation and in his turn remarked that they had just witnessed as great a miracle as Jesus did while on the earth. They had seen the dead brought to life. At the close of his narrative to me William Huntington remarked: “Now I have told you the truth, and here I am a live man, sitting by the side of you on this log, and I testify that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.” Source
Both Jesus and Joseph Smith washed the feet of their brethren:
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in conjunction the the first sacrament administered at the last supper. He said of it, “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am, If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” (John 13:13-16)
Joseph Smith washed the feet of 300 men who were gathered to learn about the gospel at his School of the Prophets. He explained the ordinance further in Doctrine and Covenants 88:139-141. “And he shall be received by the ordinance of the washing of feet, for unto this end was the ordinance of the washing of feet instituted. And again, the ordinance of washing feet is to be administered by the president, or presiding elder of the church. It is to be commenced with prayer; and after partaking of bread and wine, he is to gird himself according to the pattern given in the thirteenth chapter of John’s testimony concerning me. Amen.”
Both were betrayed, arrested, and killed for their teachings:
Jesus’ betrayal is recorded in John 18 when Judas Iscariot shows the Jewish leaders which man to take on a dark night in Gethsemane. Jesus’ crucifixion is recorded in John 19.
Joseph Smith was betrayed by George M Hinkle with supporting documents provided by William W Phelps. Joseph was killed by a mob of angry men while awaiting trial in Liberty Jail on 27 June 1844.