Despite some (no not all, not all, not all) mainstream Mormons unfortunately sometimes lacking a sense of humor by seeking to be overly pious, in original Mormonism under the guidance of Joseph Smith there was definitely a spirit of playfulness, fun and laughter a lot of the time.
The following is excerpts from Humor and Mormonism (Posted on April 27, 2013 by Jettboy):
When many, both in and outside of the Church, think of Mormons, the last thing that comes to mind is a sense of humor. Jokes are more likely to be aimed at them. There might be stereotypes of happy couples with smiling children or cheerful young men and women, but this image won’t include laughter. To some extent piousness has infiltrated the subconscious of the Latter-day Saints a little too much. A good joke might be hard to find among serious calls to repentance.
As questionable as speculation, I wonder if the Prophet Joseph Smith would approve of the member’s seeming lack of joviality. He certainly didn’t like the lack of that quality when he was alive. Brigham Young learned from him that music, theater, and dancing were not of themselves sinful like he was taught growing up. Life is to be enjoyed within reasonable limits and not pined away in perpetual sorrow.
Despite all the information we have about the Prophet Joseph Smith, perhaps what has been ignored today by both believers and critics was his sense of humor and good nature. Even his contemporary enemies acknowledged those aspects of him. In fact, more than once they were scandalized by his amusements. Said one commentator hearing him speak, “His language and manner were the coarsest possible. His object seemed to be to amuse and excite laughter in his audience.” (Charlette Haven to Sister Isa, Jan. 22, 1843, in Mulder and Mortensen, Among the Mormons, pg. 118-119). He loved to make boastful claims in order to bring attention to his subject or stress importance.
An unquestionable example of hyperbole that all other instances of the same can be compared with is a statement about Emma’s cooking:
Emma’s lot must have been a difficult one, for he was always bringing home a group to dinner. But she was a good cook. “When I want a little bread and milk,” Joseph told William W. Phelps, “my wife loads the table with so many good things it destroys my appetite.”
– Leonard J. Arrington, “Joseph Smith and the Lighter View,” New Era, Aug 1976, pg. 8.
It is the same with many of the so-called boastful statements of Joseph Smith about his station in life, such as having more education than a college professor has. Many have looked at how he described his religious role and consider it blasphemy. High profile visitor John Quincy Adams heard such a boast and understood the humor behind his declarations. Adams commented that Joseph had too much power, and was answered back, “Remember, I am a prophet!” Quincy noted, “The last five words were spoken in a rich, comical aside, as if in hearty recognition of the ridiculous sound they might have in the Ears of a Gentile.” (Quincy, Josiah. Figures of the Past: From the Leaves of Old Journals. Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1883. Pg. 378-379).
Joseph Smith didn’t like the high mindedness of those who considered themselves too holy and self-righteous. He was even known to try and make them uncomfortable. As one story goes:
“I am aware that a great many have so much piety in them, that they are like the Baptist priest who came to see Joseph Smith. Joseph had the discernment of spirits to read a man, and a peculiar faculty of using up the old sectarian tone to “my dee-e-er brethren.” When he heard that good old tone he used to imitate it; and whenever one of the class, who are so filled with piety, and the good old tone, came to Nauvoo, Joseph used forthwith to take a course to evaporate their sanctimoniousness . . .
. . . After he got through chatting, the Baptist stood before him, and folding his arms said, “Is it possible that I now flash my optics upon a Prophet, upon a man who has conversed with my Savior?” “Yes,” says the Prophet, “I don’t know but you do; would not you like to wrestle with me?” That, you see, brought the priest right on to the thrashing floor, and he turned a summerset right straight. After he had whirled round a few times, like a duck shot in the head, he concluded that his piety had been awfully shocked, even to the centre, and went to the Prophet to learn why he had so shocked his piety. The Prophet commenced and showed him the follies of the world, and the absurdity of the long tone, and that he had a super-abundant stock of sanctimoniousness.”
-- Jedediah M. Grant, “Instructions to Newcomers,” Journal of Discourses, 3:66–67
