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Title: Good history; Poor biography
Review: Historian Richard Bushman has written a detailed, objective account of Joseph Smith and his times. But to what end? Can any history of a person claiming direct communication with the Divine be "objective"? Indeed, should it? The revelatory experiences Joseph Smith claimed to have had either happened or they did not. If Joseph's accounts were true, of what relevance is it that other individuals in his age also claimed revelations? If God actually instructed Joseph Smith to engage in polygamy, of what relevance is it other charismatic leaders were preaching free love? If Joseph Smith or his associates somehow concocted volumes of fake scripture, it is of no more importance to me than Mark Hoffman's works -- interesting, but worthless.Richard Bushman tells an interesting -- perhaps even excellent -- history of the man Joseph Smith and his times. Unfortunately, his is not an especially useful approach for understanding the character and calling of a prophet of God.
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