Do Latter-day Saints Worship Joseph Smith? Who We Worship, and How We Honor a Prophet

Who we worshipWho Latter-day Saints worship

The first Article of Faith answers it: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” (Article of Faith 1). Joseph Smith wrote that sentence, and he didn’t put himself in it.

The Doctrine and Covenants, in the revelation that organized the Church in 1830, says God gave men “commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship” (D&C 20:19). Jesus said the same to Satan: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10).

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In practiceWatch what Latter-day Saints actually do

If you want to know whom a church worships, watch its prayers and its sacraments.

Prayer

The risen Christ taught the Nephites, “ye must always pray unto the Father in my name” (3 Nephi 18:19). Every Latter-day Saint prayer, public or private, is addressed to Heavenly Father and closed “in the name of Jesus Christ.” No Latter-day Saint prays to Joseph Smith.

The sacrament

The center of every Sunday meeting is the sacrament, and the prayer over the bread asks that members “eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him” (Moroni 4:3). Joseph’s name isn’t in it.

Salvation

Nephi wrote, “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26). The source is Christ. Joseph Smith never claimed to be the source of forgiveness.

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The First VisionJoseph Smith pointed away from himself

The founding event of the Restoration ends with God pointing to His Son. Joseph said the Father, “pointing to the other,” said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (JS-H 1:17). Joseph’s message for the rest of his life was the same. In 1832 he and Sidney Rigdon testified of Christ: “this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God” (D&C 76:22–23).

His own scriptures don’t treat him as more than a man, either. The Lord told him, “how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men” (D&C 3:6), and later, “You have not kept the commandments, and must needs stand rebuked before the Lord” (D&C 93:47). Nobody publishes revelations rebuking the man they worship.

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HonorHonoring a prophet isn’t worship

Latter-day Saints honor Joseph Smith the way the Bible honors its prophets. “There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10). Hebrews 11 is a roll call of honor: “By faith Abel … By faith Enoch …” (Hebrews 11:4–5). Proverbs says, “The memory of the just is blessed” (Proverbs 10:7), and Jesus said the woman who anointed Him would be remembered “wheresoever this gospel shall be preached” (Matthew 26:13).

Critics often point to the hymn “Praise to the Man,” which begins, “Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer” (Hymns, no. 27). Read that line again: the reason for the praise is that Joseph communed with Jehovah and that Jesus anointed him. It’s a tribute to a martyred prophet, written by W. W. Phelps after Joseph was killed, the same way Christians sing about Paul or honor Stephen. Praise in the sense of honor isn’t worship. Paul himself said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

The Doctrine and Covenants says Joseph “has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it” (D&C 135:3). Notice the two words “save Jesus.” Even the highest praise Latter-day Saints give Joseph puts him beneath Christ.

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Acts 10 · Revelation 19True servants of God refuse worship

The Bible gives a simple test. When Cornelius “fell down at his feet, and worshipped him,” Peter “took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man” (Acts 10:25–26). When the crowd at Lystra tried to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, they tore their clothes and cried, “We also are men of like passions with you” (Acts 14:14–15). When John fell at an angel’s feet, the angel said, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant … worship God” (Revelation 19:10).

Joseph Smith fits that pattern. He called himself a servant, recorded his own rebukes, and taught everyone to pray to the Father in Christ’s name. That’s what a prophet does.

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Check the premiseThe presuppositions baked into the question

Before this question can be answered fairly, the person asking has to justify a few assumptions packed inside it:

1. That honoring a prophet means worshipping him. Christians honor Moses, Paul and Stephen without worshipping them. Deuteronomy 34:10 and Hebrews 11 praise prophets by name.
2. That a hymn about Joseph Smith is a prayer to him. “Praise to the Man” praises Joseph because Jesus “anointed” him. Latter-day Saint prayers go only to the Father, in Christ’s name (3 Nephi 18:19).
3. That Latter-day Saints rely on Joseph for salvation. The Book of Mormon says remission of sins comes through Christ (2 Nephi 25:26), and the sacrament prayer is about remembering Him (Moroni 4:3).
4. That the asker knows our worship better than we do. The fair way to find out what a church worships is to read its prayers and attend a meeting. Visitors are welcome every Sunday.

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FAQQuick answers

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Sources

• King James Bible (churchofjesuschrist.org): Deuteronomy 34:10 · Proverbs 10:7 · Matthew 4:10 · Matthew 26:13 · Acts 10:25–26 · Acts 14:14–15 · 1 Corinthians 11:1 · Hebrews 11:4–5 · Revelation 19:10
• Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 25:26 · 3 Nephi 18:19 · Moroni 4:3
• Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price: D&C 3:6 · D&C 20:17–19 · D&C 76:22–23 · D&C 93:47 · D&C 135:3 · JS-H 1:17 · Article of Faith 1
• W. W. Phelps, “Praise to the Man,” Hymns, no. 27

• Featured image and in-article graphic: original graphics by thebookofmormon.ai (painterly backgrounds; no photographs or likenesses of real people).