★★★★★ 5
Stuff They Don't Teach You In Church
Format: Paperback
Fawn Brodie did her research and cites primarily sources from LDS sources such as journals from people who knew Joseph Smith and from Joseph Smith himself. I trust that the information is reliable. I learned more about Joseph Smith than I was ever taught in Sunday School or LDS seminary.
Fawn Brodie does speculate in some areas, such as Joseph's motives but she supports her assumptions with evidence, again, from primary sources.
It was a quick read for me. I did have to get out a dictionary at some places, which is rare for me. Brodie paints a picture of the Joseph Smith that very few people knew.
I enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it for LDS church members who want to know the history of one of enigmatic people in history, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The book points out not just the negative aspects of Joseph's life but Brodie balances it with the positive. Unlike Charles Manson, Jim Jones, or David Koresh, Joseph Smith truly cared about his followers and treated people well. I don't like how he seduced women, however and that detracts from his character. I do think he was a con man, however.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2021
