For a Viewpoint on Mormonism look at Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith that aired November 4-8, 2013,  click Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  

Reviewed by Eric Johnson

During 2014, LDS members will be studying the latest manual published by their church, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith. We will evaluate this book regularly, chapter by chapter, by showing interesting quotes and providing an Evangelical Christian take on this manual. If you would like to see the church manual online, go here. Latter-day Saints study this material on the second and third Sundays of each month (thus, chapters 1-2 are January, chapter 3-4 are February, etc.)

Consider a few quotes marking Joseph Fielding Smith, according to the January 2014 Ensign magazine (official publication of the LDS Church) titled “True and Faithful: Inspiration from the Life and Teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith”):

“As with all of God’s prophets, Joseph Fielding Smith was foreordained to come to earth according to the divine timetable of the Lord.” (p. 46)

“Joseph Fielding Smith was renowned in the Church as a scriptorian and gospel scholar. Beginning in his youth, he had an unquenchable desire to ‘seek learning, even by study and also by faith’ (D&C 88:118).” (p. 47)

“On one occasion President Heber J. Grant (1856-1945) complimented President Smith’s scholarship by stating, ‘I consider you the best posted man on the scriptures of the General Authorities of the church that we have.'” (p. 48) For more, see here.

• Chapter 1: Our Father in Heaven
• Chapter 2: Our Savior Jesus Christ
• Chapter 3: The Plan of Salvation
• Chapter 4: Strengthening and Preserving the Family
• Chapter 5: Faith and Repentance
• Chapter 6: The Significance of the Sacrament
• Chapter 7: Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Jesus Christ
• Chapter 8: The Church and Kingdom of God
• Chapter 9: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
• Chapter 10: Our Search for Truth
• Chapter 11: Honoring the Priesthood Keys Restored by Joseph Smith
• Chapter 12: The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood
• Chapter 13: Baptism
• Chapter 14: The Gift of the Holy Spirit
• Chapter 15: Eternal Marriage
• Chapter 16: Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth
• Chapter 17: Sealing Power and Temple Blessings
• Chapter 18: Living by Every Word that Proceeds from the Mouth of God
• Chapter 19: In the World but Not of the World
• Chapter 20: Love and Concern for all Our Father’s Children
• Chapter 21: Proclaiming the Gospel to the World
• Chapter 22: Prayer: A Commandment and a Blessing
• Chapter 23: Individual Responsibility
• Chapter 24: The Work of Latter-day Saint Women

Also see reviews of these other manuals:

• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley (2017), 25 chapters, reviewed by Eric Johnson
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter (2016), 24 chapters, reviewed by Eric Johnson
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson (2015), 24 chapters, reviewed by Eric Johnson
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith (2014), 24 chapters, reviewed by Eric Johnson
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow (2013), 24 chapters, reviewed by Eric Johnson
• Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith (2012), 24 chapters, reviewed by Eric Johnson
• Teachings of Presidents of the Church, An overview and analysis of the different topics covered in the series of manuals produced by the LDS Church since 1998.