Joseph Smith and "The Age of Reason"

I have just started to read Richard Lyman Bushman's cultural biography of Joseph Smith titled Rough Stone Rolling. I didn't have to read into it very far until a connection that I sensed a long time ago was confirmed.

A comparison of the religious concept put forth by Joseph Smith, Jr. and the Deistic philosophy written about by Thomas Paine reveals some similar qualities. In fact, Mormonism appears to be a reworking of classical Christianity's mythology within the context of a Natural worldview. It is obvious to me that Joseph Smith was acquainted with Natural Philosophy. He either came to know of it by an outside source or by his own meditation. If by an outside source, then it is likely that it came from Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason" since it is the most outstanding and widespread book written on the subject. It is even more likely because this book was in Joseph Smith, Sr.'s library.

Asael Smith, Joseph Sr.'s father, was a Universalist. The Christian brand of Universalism teaches that all mortal beings will be saved through Jesus Christ and that they all will inherit God's Kingdom. When Joseph Sr. considered joining a Christian congregation, his father gave him a copy of The Age of Reason in hopes of convincing him otherwise. It worked. When Joseph Sr. considered joining a different congregation later on, he was again told by his father to read the book and again he was convinced not to join the church.

It is likely that Joseph Jr. had "The Age of Reason" available to him.

Reminiscence of his grandfather's Universalism can be found in Joseph Jr.'s doctrine of baptism for the dead and the three degrees of glory. It is Mormon doctrine that essentially every person will eventually accept baptism and bow a knee to Jesus Christ. True, eternal, lasting damnation is reserved for only the most select of the wicked.

A recollection of natural philosophy is most apparent in the Mormon doctrine of matter being eternal. This includes the doctrine of a material spirit. Compare the revelation given to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 131:7-8 with page 177 of "The Age of Reason."

"There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter. "

And

"Who can say by what exceedingly fine action of fine matter it is that a thought is produced in what we call the mind? And yet that thought when produced... is capable of becoming immortal, and is the only production of man that has that capacity."

Joseph Smith is speaking of spirit while Thomas Paine (though it may not be obvious in the quote) is speaking of consciousness. What unifies these two concepts is that they are each speaking of what they consider the immortal part of the soul. The content may not be sufficiently equivalent, but the description of each as "fine matter" suggests the possibility that Thomas Paine's words influenced Joseph's description of his related concept.

Another vital influence that Paine may have had upon Joseph is his proof that revelation is only revelation to the individual it was revealed to. This entails that no person can be liable to revelation given to any other person. It is this concept that makes the Mormon doctrine of the Holy Ghost so essential. In Mormonism, every individual is capable of having truth revealed to them in a spiritual manifestation. This is the only way in which revelation can be valid. It is the primary doctrine that sets the church apart from others. It's primary fault is that the manifestation known as the Holy Ghost can not be undoubtedly confirmed as actual revelation. Faith is required on behalf of the believer to see it as such.

To suggest that Thomas Paine or some other Natural Philosopher influenced the doctrines of Joseph Smith is not to suggest that his station as prophet is in question. I think Joseph would admit that God only rarely taught him in a flash-bang sort of way, but instead usually taught him through the world around him. Joseph was often left to discover God's truth by way of his own mind and heart. The concepts of Thomas Paine and similar ideologists are not unattainable without them being presented. They can be found through the workings of an individual's reason. And certainly, God knows them. It is not impossible that Joseph Smith never read a word of Thomas Paine, but instead found an inkling of naturalistic thinking within his own self that came out in his doctrine.