“Here are some of the Prophet's words, as uttered in the schoolhouse. With uplifted hand he said: "I am a witness that there is a God, for I saw Him in open day, while praying in a silent grove, in the spring of 1820." He further testified that God, the Eternal Father, pointing to a separate personage, in the likeness of Himself, said: "This is my Beloved Son hear ye Him." O how these words thrilled my entire system, and filled me with joy unspeakable to behold one who, like Paul the apostle of olden time, could with boldness testify that he had been in the presence of Jesus Christ!” Edward Stevenson (May 1, 1820-January 27, 1897) "The Home of My Boyhood," Juvenile Instructor 29, no. 14 (15 July 1894): 443-45.

Brigham Young: “After I was baptized and built quite a number of branches, I had to see the prophet in the fall. I wanted the hand of [the] prophet in my hand, his eye to look in mine; I wanted to look in his eye, and I wanted to read that man’s heart, and I wanted to know for myself and not for another. I saw him and heard him speak; he was chopping in the woods. [He] stopped and shook hands with us. All right. He put down his ax. I said, I can chop this, so we chopped and loaded a little while, and then [he] said come, let’s go to the house. “I knew then for myself and not for another. I wanted to see this man that dictated and led and guided and the Mormons. where they lived together. and then for the world I defy it to produce any community like this that is governed and controlled by words and words alone.” fairlatterdaysaints.org/conf…

Why the hate for Brigham Young? Here's why: "I am an eye witness that Joseph did live and was an apostle, the prophet of God. I am a positive witness that Joseph Smith [was] all he professed to be and great deal more in the eyes of heaven. I am apostle here to testify that Joseph was a true prophet of God that he brought forth the Book of Mormon by the power of God by the means of Urim [and] Thummim, he translated it, that he gave us the revelations that [are] contained in this Book of Doctrine [and] Covenants, that they are true and [right and] besides many others I am here to testify that Joseph was father to this people that he did strive with all the powers he had to sanctify this people send the gospel to the nations [of the] earth to teach them the way of life and salvation, to sanctify those gathered themselves together to build temples administer in ordinances of holy priesthood and held the keys of it to the people that they might enter into the celestial kingdom. I am a witness also that he was father to his brethren. I am a witness that he brought forth the doctrine that is taught the people now. I am a witness that he was willing to die for his testimony and the people and he did lay down his himself, he sacrificed his family, he sacrificed his feelings, his mission upon the earth, and he did go like a lamb to the slaughter and like a sheep to be shorn opening not his mouth went to go and be slain and was slain and I am a witness of it." LDS archives, Brigham Young, 27 June 1854; MS 4534 box 2, disk 2, 1854 images 114-145 Carruth transcription 11 May 2009, page 11-12

Russell M Nelson, speaking of Abortion: "Man-made rules have now legalized that which has been forbidden by God from the dawn of time! Human reasoning has twisted and transformed absolute truth into sound-bite slogans that promote a practice that is consummately wrong." churchofjesuschrist.org/stud…

Essential Brigham Young. Journal of Discourses was recorded by and published by George Watt. He hardened the words of Brigham Young considerably, and inserted his own comments into the published record. LaJean Carruth is an expert on Watt's shorthand. Here is what she says: "But while we neither condemn nor excuse Watt’s changes, it is vital that we understand that what was published differs, often significantly, from what the speakers actually said. That what we read in the Journal of Discourses and in the Deseret News (which is the same material) is too often the words of George Watt and other shorthand reporters, not the words of Brigham Young and other speakers. If we are to understand the teachings, ideas, speaking and style, and personality of Brigham Young and others, it is vital to read what they really said. The original shorthand record is the closest we have, until sound recording came in the late 1890s. And even after that, shorthand records are often the closest we have to what really went on — what was said." fairlatterdaysaints.org/conf…

Brigham Young: "My name is had for good and evil upon the whole earth, as promised to me. Thirty years ago Brother Joseph, in a lecture to the Twelve, said to me, “Your name shall be known for good and evil throughout the world;” and it is so. The good love me, weak and humble as I am, and the wicked hate me; but there is no individual on the earth but what I would lead to salvation, if he would let me; I would take him by the hand, like a child, and lead him like a father in the way that would bring him to salvation." JD 11:101 I go back to this insightful statement by Elder Corbridge in April 2014 General Conference: "Opposition, criticism, and antagonism are companions to the truth. Whenever the truth with regard to the purpose and destiny of man is revealed, there will always be a force to oppose it. Beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, down to the ministry of Christ, and on down to our day, there has always been and will ever be an effort to deceive, derail, oppose, and frustrate the plan of life. Look for the biggest dust cloud billowing above the most dirt that is kicked at One who was most opposed, challenged, and rejected, beaten, abandoned, and crucified, One who descended below all things, and there you will find the truth, the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind. Why did they not leave Him alone? Why? Because He is the truth, and the truth will always be opposed. And then look for one who brought forth another testament of Jesus Christ and other scripture, look for one who was the instrument by which the fulness of the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ were restored to the earth, look for him and expect to find the dirt flying. Why not leave him alone? Why? Because he taught the truth, and the truth will always be opposed."

“After this, on the 22d of September, 1827, before day, Joseph took the horse and wagon of old Mr. [Knight], and taking his wife, he went to the place where the plates were concealed, and while he was obtaining them, she kneeled down and prayed.” Art by Oliver Johnson Martin Harris, “Mormonism—No. II,” Tiffany’s Monthly 5, no. 4 (August 1859): 164 (Joel Tiffany’s transcription of Harris’s oral statement, taken in Ohio in late January 1859 and read back to Harris for accuracy).

“Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” It comes from a letter Joseph Smith wrote to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 15 December 1840 (published in Times and Seasons, 1 January 1841; also in History of the Church 4:227).

Revelation

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121

A Mr. Palmer, for whom Joseph worked as a boy said of Joseph's first vision, "it was the sweet dream of a pure minded boy." This was the common character assessment of the Smith family, until Joseph started seeing visions. see Truman Madsen, “Prologue,” p. 235; Andrus, They Knew the Prophet, pp. 1–2

"For [Joseph], sharing visions was one of the highest forms of communion. I love his effusion to William Phelps after writing a scolding letter to the Saints in Missouri. Suddenly he stopped and, seeking relief from the strains of berating his brethren, broke out: “Oh Lord when will the time come when Brother William thy servent and myself behold the day that we may stand together and gase upon eternal wisdom engraven upon the hevens while the magesty of our God holdeth up the dark curtain until we may read the round of Eternity to the fullness and satisfaction of our immortal souls.” Bushman, "Oliver's Joseph" published on Scripture Central

"We never knew we were bad folks until Joseph told his vision. We were considered respectable till then, but at once people began to circulate falsehoods and stories in a wonderful way." - “Look for the biggest dust cloud billowing above the most dirt that is kicked at One who was most opposed, challenged, rejected, beaten, abandoned, and crucified, One who descended below all things, and there you will find the truth, the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind. Why did they not leave Him alone? Why? Because He is the truth, and the truth will always be opposed. And then look for one who brought forth another testament of Jesus Christ and other scripture. Look for one who was the instrument by which the fulness of the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ were restored to the earth. Look for him and expect to find the dirt flying. Why not leave him alone? Why? Because he taught the truth, and the truth will always be opposed.” William Smith, "Another Testimony," Deseret Evening News, 20 January 1891. Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge’s April 2014 general conference talk, “The Prophet Joseph Smith.”

Joseph Smith: “Go in all meekness, in sobriety, and teach Jesus Christ and him crucified; not to contend with others on account of their faith, or systems of religion, but pursue a steady course. … All who observe it not, will bring persecution on their heads.” HC 2:431

From a newspaper interview in 1843 - "Speaking of revelations, he stated that when he was in a “quandary,” he asked the Lord for a revelation, and when he could not get it, he “followed the dictates of his own judgment, which were as good as a revelation to him; but he never gave anything to his people as revelation, unless it was a revelation, and the Lord did reveal himself to him...The Lord does reveal himself to me. I know it. He revealed himself to me first when I was about fourteen years old, a mere boy. I will tell you about it..." josephsmithpapers.org/paper-…

"Dough Heads" A favorite statement by Joseph Smith - "Prest. Joseph said he wanted all the brethren to speak their minds on this subject and to say what was in their hearts whether good or bad. He did not want to be forever surrounded by a set of “dough heads” and if they did not rise up and shake themselves and exercise themselves in discussing these important matters he should consider them nothing better than “dough heads”. He gave some good advise which seemed to have due effect…" (spelling standardized) Council of Fifty, Minutes, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL, 10 Mar. 1844; in Council of Fifty, “Record,” p. [24]; handwriting of William Clayton; CHL.