Excerpts from Insights into the Mind and Personality of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Donald Q. Cannon
... Through my study of the teachings of Joseph Smith, I learned something about Joseph as a man—the human dimension. For one thing, I learned that Joseph had a sense of humor. He employed humor in his teaching because he understood that humor is helpful in reaching one’s audience. Some examples of his humor are the following:
You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins.[17]
... If we go to hell, we will turn the devils out of doors and make a heaven of it.[19]
All ye lawyers who have no business, only as you hatch it up, would to God you would go to work or run away.[20]
It is best to let Sharp publish what he pleases and go to the devil, and the more lies he prints the sooner he will get through.[22]
Mr. Sollars stated that James Mullone, of Springfield, told him as follows:—”I have been to Nauvoo, and seen Joe Smith, the Prophet: he had a gray horse, and I asked him where he got it; and Joe said, ‘You see that white cloud.’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well, as it came along, I got the horse from that cloud.’”[23]
When a man undertakes to ride me I am apt to kick him off and ride him.[24]
I have said more than I ever did before, except once at Ramus, and then up starts the little fellow (Charles Thompson) and stuffed me like a cock-turkey with the prophecies of Daniel, and crammed it down my throat with his finger.[25]
In addition to using humor, Joseph Smith tried to incorporate colorful expressions that people could relate to and understand. He wanted to talk their language to help them comprehend his message. Here are some examples:
I tried to prevail upon him, making use of the figure, supposing that he should get into a mud-hole, would he not try to help himself out? And I further said that we were willing now to help him out of the mud-hole. He replied, that provided he had got into a mud-hole through carelessness, he would rather wait and get out himself, than to have others help him.[26]
A little tale will set the world on fire.[27]
Hit pigeons always flutter.[28]
Feelings of charity came easily and naturally to Joseph Smith. As he taught:
Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.[34]
There is a love from God that should be exercised toward those of our faith, who walk uprightly, which is peculiar to itself, but it is without prejudice; it also gives scope to the mind, which enables us to conduct ourselves with greater liberality towards all that are not of our faith, than what they exercise towards one another. These principles approximate nearer to the mind of God, because it is like God, or Godlike.[36]
... My heart is large enough for all men.[38]
