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JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST
JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST
John A. Widtsoe, A. M., Ph. D. THE GENERAL BOARD YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 1908 Copyright 1908 by John A. Widtsoe. Preface In the life of every person, who receives a higher education, in or out of schools, there is a time when there seems to be opposition between science and religion; between man-made and God-made knowledge. The struggle for reconciliation between the contending forces is not an easy one. It cuts deep into the soul and usually leaves scars
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INTRODUCTORY.
INTRODUCTORY.
[Sidenote: Scientific discussions not to be expected in the Prophet's work.] The mission of Joseph Smith was of a spiritual nature; and therefore, it is not to be expected that the discussion of scientific matters will be found in the Prophet's writings. The revelations given to the Prophet deal almost exclusively with the elucidation of so-called religious doctrines, and with such difficulties as arose from time to time in the organization of the Church. It is only, as it appears to us, in an i
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THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF THE UNIVERSE.
THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF THE UNIVERSE.
[Sidenote: Until recent days many believed that matter could be created or destroyed.] It was believed by the philosophers of ancient and mediaeval times, especially by those devoted to the study of alchemy, that it was possible through mystical powers, often of a supernatural order, to annihilate matter or to create it from nothing. Men with such powers transcended all known laws of nature, and became objects of fear, often of worship to the masses of mankind. Naturally enough, the systems of r
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Chapter III.
Chapter III.
[Sidenote: All forms of energy may be converted into each other. Energy can not be destroyed.] It is only when matter is in motion, or in the possession of energy, that it is able to impress our senses. The law of the indestructibility and convertibility of energy, is of equal fundamental value with that of the indestructibility of matter. A great variety of forces exist in nature, as, for instance, gravitation, electricity, chemical affinity, heat and light. These forces may all be made to do w
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Chapter IV.
Chapter IV.
[Sidenote: The modern theory of light was established only about the year 1830.] The nature of light has been in every age a fascinating subject for study and reflection. Descartes, the French mathematician and philosopher, advanced the hypothesis that light consists of small particles emitted by luminous bodies, and that the sensation of light is produced by the impact of these particles upon the retina of the eye. Soon after this emission or corpuscular theory had been proposed, Hooke, an Engl
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Chapter V.
Chapter V.
In the seventh book of the Republic of Plato [A] occurs the following passage: [Footnote A: Golden Treasury edition, pp. 235, 236.] [Sidenote: The realities of nature are known by their effects.] "Imagine a number of men living in an underground cavernous chamber, with an entrance open to the light, extending along the entire length of the cavern, in which they have been confined, from childhood, with their legs and necks so shackled, that they are obliged to sit still and look straight forward,
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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSE.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSE.
[Sidenote: The laws of the motions of the heavenly bodies have been learned very slowly.] From the dawn of written history, when the first men, watching through the nights, observed the regular motions of the moon and stars, humanity has been striving to obtain a correct understanding of the relation of the earth to the. First it was believed that the sun, moon, and stars revolved in circles around the earth (which for a time was supposed to be flat instead of spherical). The great Greek philoso
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Chapter VII.
Chapter VII.
[Sidenote: The history of the world written in the rocks.] God speaks in various ways to men. The stars, the clouds, the mountains, the grass and the soil, are all, to him who reads aright, forms of divine revelation. Many of the noblest attributes of God may be learned by a study of the laws according to which Omnipotent Will directs the universe. Nowhere is this principle more beautifuly illustrated and confirmed than in the rocks that constitute the crust of the earth. On them is written in s
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Chapter VIII.
Chapter VIII.
[Sidenote: A complete philosophy must consider living beings.] The student of the constitution of the universe must take into account living beings. Plants, animals and men are essentially different from the mass of matter. The rock, apparently, is the same forever; but the plant has a beginning, and after a comparatively short existence dies. Animals and men, likewise, begin their earthly existence; then, after a brief life, die, or disappear from the immediate knowledge of living things. Man,
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THE LAWS GOVERNING THE INDIVIDUAL.
THE LAWS GOVERNING THE INDIVIDUAL.
[Sidenote: Faith is the assurance of the existence of "things not seen."] For the government of the individual the first principle in Mormon theology is faith. Joseph Smith defined faith in the words of the Apostle Paul, "Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." To this the Prophet added "From this we learn that faith is the assurance which men have of things which they have not seen."[A] On this principle, with this definition, many young persons who ha
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Chapter X.
Chapter X.
The second principle for the government of the individual, according to Mormon theology, is repentance. So commonly has this principle been discussed from its relation to moral law that its counterpart in all human effort has often been overlooked. [Sidenote: Repentance follows faith.] To repent is first to turn from old practices. Thus, he who violates any of God's laws renders himself liable to certain punishment, but, if he repents, and sins no more, the punishments are averted. Naturally, su
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Chapter XI.
Chapter XI.
A repentant man turns from previous violation of law, and accepts every new law that may be revealed to him. Repentance is obedience; and the repentant person is always ready to obey righteous laws. Baptism is one of the laws of the Kingdom of God. "Except ye repent and be baptized ye can in nowise enter the Kingdom of God." The repentant person must of necessity accept this law with the others with which he may be familiar. [Sidenote: The equivalent of baptism found in science.] Students of sci
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Chapter XII.
Chapter XII.
[Sidenote: The gift of the Holy Ghost is a gift of intelligence.] Baptism by water is insufficient to open the door to God's Kingdom. The Gift of the Holy Ghost, obtained by the laying on of Hands by one having authority, completes the ordinance. Not only Joseph Smith, but the Savior Himself taught distinctly that to enter the Kingdom of God, a person must be baptized by water and by fire; and the promise is given that those are "baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Hol
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THE DESTINY OF EARTH AND MAN.
THE DESTINY OF EARTH AND MAN.
[Sidenote: Whence? Where?] To every intelligence the question concerning the purpose of all things must at some time present itself. Every philosophical system has for its ultimate problem the origin and the destiny of the universe. Whence? Where?—the queries which arise before every human soul, and which have stimulated the truth-seekers of every age in their wearisome task of searching out nature's laws. Intelligent man cannot rest satisfied with the recognition of the forces at work in the un
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Chapter XV.
Chapter XV.
[Sidenote: Why am I on earth?] In the preceding chapter the law of evolution was shown to be the cementing law of nature, which explains the destiny of man. To live is to change, and (if the change is right) to grow. Through all the ages to come righteous man will increase in complexity and will grow towards a condition of greater knowledge, greater power and greater opportunity. While the great law of evolution may be quite sufficient for the general survey, it does not explain the special cond
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THE REGION OF THE UNKNOWN.
THE REGION OF THE UNKNOWN.
[Sidenote: The six senses, need help to reorganize many phenomena of nature.] The five senses are the great gateways through which all the knowledge in man's possession has been obtained. Examine the matter as we may, the truth of this statement persists. By seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling, only, is man brought into contact with external nature and himself, and is furnished material upon which the intellect can act. True it is, that the sense of feeling may be divided into a numbe
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THE FORCE OF FORCES.
THE FORCE OF FORCES.
[Sidenote: Nearly all thinkers believe in God or an equivalent.] In every philosophy of the universe, the question concerning the primary cause of the phenomena of nature always arises. Ancient and modern philosophers, alike, have discussed the probability of the existence of this primary cause and its properties. Plato, putting the words into the mouth of Socrates, declares, "I do believe in the Gods."[A] Aristotle, the greatest of early thinkers, assumed that a God exists, from whom all other
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CONCLUSION.
CONCLUSION.
[Sidenote: Joseph Smith's early educational opportunities were very limited.] Joseph Smith had few educational advantages during his life. His scientific teachings do not rest upon information gained in schools or from books. His parents fully appreciated the value of an education, but the pioneer lives which they led, and their numerous financial misfortunes, made it impossible for them to realize their desires for the education of their children. The Prophet's mother writes that when Joseph wa
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A SUMMARY RESTATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES.
A SUMMARY RESTATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES.
[Sidenote: Philosophy and its methods.] In its broadest sense, philosophy includes all that man may know of the universe—of himself and of the things about him. To be worthy of its name, a system of philosophy must possess certain comprehensive, fundamental principles, which if clearly understood, make intelligible to the human mind any or all of the phenomena in the universe. The simpler these foundation principles are, the greater is the system as a philosophy. In the words of Spencer, "Philos
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Chapter XX.
Chapter XX.
It has been shown in the preceding chapters that Joseph Smith recognized and stated the fundamental laws of all science, the fundamental principles of physical and biological science and astronomy, together with a great number of scientific facts, and made these statements usually in advance of workers in science. It is a surprising fact that a young man of twenty-eight, who had had no educational advantages of schooling, or reading, or society, should state clearly and correctly known laws of s
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I.
I.
"—the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness."— Isaiah, xxvii: 10. It is a fact, which has impressed itself upon all readers of history, that countries which have been the homes of the most powerful and cultured nations, are now great stretches of the veriest desert. No country teaches this truth better than the extensive valley of the Mesopotamia which looms giant-like in the dawn of history. Upon its plains and highlands, the great nations of a
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II.
II.
"Science moves, but slowly, slowly, moving on from point to point."— Locksley Hall . A plant feeds in two ways—by its leaves, and by its roots. The leaves feed from the air; the roots from the soil. In the air is found a colorless, heavy gas, known as carbon dioxide, which is made up partly of the element of carbon, or charcoal. When an animal or a plant is burned at a low heat, it first chars, showing the presence of charcoal; then if the burning be continued, it disappears, with the exception
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III.
III.
"Therefore will I make solitary places to bud and blossom, and to bring forth in abundance, saith the Lord."— Doctrine and Covenants . Sixty years ago the facts of plant feeding, as just outlined, were practically unknown. The erroneous ideas of the preceding century still held full sway. In 1840 Liebig published his treatise on agricultural chemistry which threw a faint light on the relation of the plant and the soil. During the twenty years following, the indispensable nature of some of the pl
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