Joseph Smith
Not referred to in Tablet of Joseph[edit]
"The Tablet of Joseph does not refer to Joseph Smith."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 21, 1942, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1611)
Noting specific about Joseph Smith in the teachings, nor any statement to be made on his position[edit]
"JOSEPH SMITH--Statements in Book of Mormon"
"As there is nothing specific about Joseph Smith in the teachings, the Guardian has no statement to make on his position..."
Not considered a Prophet, minor or otherwise, though he was sensitive to the spiritual currents flowing as a result of the appearance of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh and the Revelation of Their Messages of hope and divine Guidance[edit]
"Joseph Smith we do not consider a Prophet, minor or otherwise. Certainly no references he made would have foretold the coming of this Revelation in his capacity as a Prophet."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 21, 1942, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1611)
"Regarding your question concerning Joseph Smith and the 'Book of Mormon'; as the Bahá’í Teachings quite clearly outline the succession of Prophets from the days of Christ as being Muhammad, the Báb, and finally Bahá’u’lláh, it is obvious that Joseph Smith is not a Manifestation of God.
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, August 18, 1941: Bahá’í News, No. 416, November 1965, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1727)
"As for the status of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Faith, he is not considered by Bahá’ís to be a prophet, minor or otherwise. But of course he was a religious teacher sensitive to the spiritual currents flowing in the early 19th century directly from the appearance of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh and the Revelation of Their Messages of hope and divine Guidance. In this respect you might find chapter ten in the late Hand of the Cause George Townshend's book, 'Christ and Bahá’u’lláh,' interesting."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, February 7, 1977, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1728)
