Primary Sources
- Smith, Joseph. The Essential Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City: Signature
Books, 1995. Call Number: BX 8630 .Sm61e 1995 copy 2
This book, with forward by Marvin S. Hill, acknowledges Dean
Jessee's research regarding the questionable reliability of accounts of
Joseph Smith's sermons due to heavy editing of often incomplete transcripts.
This compilation of many of his sermons and writings has taken care to present
writings that are unquestionably Joseph Smith's, and offers them in their
original manuscript or early published forms. Much of the contradictions,
digressions, etc. that have been edited out of official versions are preserved
in this volume. [Beth Higginson]
- Millet, Robert L., ed. Joseph Smith: Selected Sermons and Writings.
New York: Paulist Press, 1989. BX 8630 .Sm61m 1990
Contains personal reflections, sermons, revelations, translations
and prayers of Joseph Smith. Retains original spelling and punctuation,
except in those sources now canonized or published officially by the Church.
The section on sermons is actually quite small, but contains several sermons
from the Lectures on Faith series (including the King Follett discourse.)
[Beth Higginson]
- Smith, Joseph F., ed. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith Taken from
his sermons and writings as they are found in the Documentary History and
other publications of the Church and written or published in the days of the
Prophet's ministry. 21st ed. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972. BX
8630 .Sm61t 1972 (found in Hum - Ref)
Arranged first chronologically, and secondarily by topic. Lacks
scholarly sourcing that might indicate who transcribed or edited the sermons
or selections of sermons.[Beth Higginson]
- Burton, Alma P., comp. Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1956. BX 8630 .Sm61b
Very similar to Joseph F. Smith's compilation. Also arranged
by topic with very few sources. Doesn't reference where or when sermons
were given. [Beth Higginson]
Secondary sources
- Dean C. Jessee. "Priceless Words and Fallible Memories: Joseph Smith as
Seen in the Effort to Preserve His Discourses." BYU Studies 31:2 (1991):
19-40.
Excellent article on the fallibility of those who attempted to
preserve the sermons of Joseph Smith. Problems include long periods of time
between the recording of transcripts (often containing only 5-25% of any
given sermon) and the editing of them into fuller versions, biases of the
editors that influence the finished text, the fact that Joseph Smith spoke
extemporaneously, so there were no drafts to help document his discourses,
etc. He also succeeds, however, in identifying distinguishing features of
Joseph Smith’s own style. A very important article. [Beth Higginson]