Joseph Smith as Moses

Posted on March 30th, 2006 by Clark Goble

Brigham Young is often called the American Moses, primarily because of his colonizing prowess. However I’ve long thought that Joseph Smith was more apt to be considered a type of Moses. Consider all the parallels between Joseph Smith and Moses. For instance Joseph and Hyrum parallel Moses and Aaron. Admittedly Hyrum wasn’t quite the speaker for Joseph that Aaron was for Joseph. (One might say that was Sidney Rigdon prior to his breakdown) Still, the closeness between prophetic brothers seems somewhat unique between Joseph and Moses (unless one counts the sons of Mosiah). The biggest parallel though (and problem for Brigham) is over Zion.

Consider that Joseph gathered the members as their leader and prepared them for Zion. And where was Zion? It was Missouri. Over time, despite frequent apostasy, Joseph tried to prepare the Church to receive Zion. If Brigham has a parallel, it is not Moses but one of the prophets of the diaspora like Ezekiel. After all what Brigham led the Saints to wasn’t our Jerusalem, despite all the geographic names in Utah modeled after Israel. Rather Brigham led the Saints away from Zion with a temporary gathering to await a future return to our New Jerusalem.

Other parallels? Well the obvious ones. Moses was the figure in Judaism. Yes Abraham was important, yet it was Moses who really brought together the people of Israel and made them into a religious community. It was through Moses that the primary scriptures of important to the Jews was given. It was through Joseph that nearly all our scriptures have come.

The more one thinks about it the stronger the parallels are. None of this is to knock Brigham Young. But I really love the parallels with Joseph.

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Comments

8 Responses to “Joseph Smith as Moses”

Seth R. [Visitor] on March 30th, 2006 8:46 pm

Nah, I’m voting for Brigham on this one.

He led us into the wilderness. And we’re still camped there. Massive irrigation projects notwithstanding.
Bookslinger [Visitor] on March 30th, 2006 9:50 pm

I’ve long had the idea that Moses was more congruent to Joseph Smith, especially in regard to spiritual things. Both were restoration prophets in several aspects. Both brought forth old and new scripture. Both spoke face-to-face with the Lord on multiple occasions.

I think Brigham was more of a Joshua, and that the main congruence between Brigham and Moses was the trek.
Clark Goble [Member] on March 30th, 2006 10:46 pm

Joshua was also the warrior and Brigham was in a de facto war his whole life in Utah. And was quite successful despite tragedies like the MMM.
Anonymoose [Visitor] on March 31st, 2006 1:15 am

Brigham wins this one, he was the Moses…perhaps Joseph was more like, hmmm, say Joseph!?!?
danithew [Visitor] on March 31st, 2006 12:53 pm

The Joseph Smith/Muhammad comparison can be interesting as well.
LDS Patriot [Visitor] on March 31st, 2006 4:15 pm

My take:

Joseph = Abraham

Brigham = Moses
Capt. Obsidian [Visitor] on March 31st, 2006 7:07 pm

“But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.”
D&C 28:2

Moses = head of dispensation
Joseph = head of dispensation

I vote for Joseph.
Robert C. [Visitor] on March 31st, 2006 7:22 pm

I always thought that Joseph Smith was compared to Joseph, Jacob’s son (where’s that BOM passage with the comparison of Josephs?), and since the next prophets were Moses and BY who both led out an exodus of the people, the comparison stuck. Mind you, I have no evidence for this being the case, just my own thinking….