The Life of Joseph Smith, the Prophet — Text and Context

A Narrative Forged in Adversity

Cannon’s preface and the early chapters reveal a biography written under constraint. The author acknowledges that “the circumstances which surrounded its preparation were not favorable to the collection and arrangement of materials,” yet he asserts the work is “truthful and just.” This tension between imperfection and conviction runs through the text. The opening chapters trace Joseph Smith’s lineage and early life, emphasizing his “humble extraction” and the “godliness and fair fame” of his ancestry. Cannon uses scriptural cadences, describing Smith’s first vision with the phrase “This is my Beloved Son: Hear Him,” and frames the angel Moroni’s visits as a series of “successive visits and ministrations.” The narrative voice is reverent, often employing elevated diction that aligns Smith’s story with biblical prophecy.

Persecution as a Structural Motif

Throughout the excerpts, persecution is not merely a theme but a structural device. Chapter 42 details the Prophet’s imprisonment in Liberty Jail, where he and his companions were “loaded with chains” and “poisoned.” Cannon reports that “human flesh was served to them as meat,” which the guards called “Mormon beef,” and that Smith warned his companions not to touch it. Such graphic details recur, reinforcing a narrative of innocence besieged. The legal system is depicted as corrupt: a “drunken jury” and judges “hardened” against the Saints. Cannon’s language—calling the examination a “farce”—leaves no doubt about his perspective. This pattern of oppression and divine endurance gives the biography a hagiographic quality, where suffering validates Smith’s prophetic role.

The Author’s Imprisonment and the Text’s Authority

Cannon’s own incarceration lends the biography a unique authority. He writes that sending the work away is “like being torn from a beloved companion,” a metaphor that personalizes the narrative. The preface’s location—“Utah Penitentiary, October 1, 1888”—is a paratextual detail that colors every page. Cannon’s imprisonment mirrors Smith’s, creating a parallel between author and subject. This is not a dispassionate history but a testimony from one who shares the Prophet’s fate. The biography thus functions as both a record and a defense, with Cannon’s voice occasionally breaking through to address the reader directly, as when he hopes the example and teachings of Joseph may be “of eternal benefit to all who read this Life.”

Language of the Restoration: Scripture and Testimony

Cannon’s prose is steeped in the language of Latter-day Saint scripture and testimony. He refers to Smith as “the Prophet of the last Dispensation” and describes the angel Moroni’s visits with phrases like “vision of Cumorah” and “the sacred box.” The narrative frequently shifts into a homiletic register, as when Cannon writes that “beyond and above this sphere was the star of eternal faith, whose light no prison walls could shut out from trusting souls.” Such passages blend historical report with devotional reflection. The biography also incorporates documents and letters, but the excerpts show Cannon’s own voice dominating, often using parallel structure and biblical allusions. This stylistic choice reinforces the work’s purpose: to edify believers and persuade skeptics through a narrative that is as much sermon as history.

Readers approaching Cannon’s biography should attend to its dual nature: it is both a historical account and a personal testimony, written by a man who shared his subject’s faith and suffering. The preface’s prison setting and the author’s explicit hope to benefit readers provide a lens through which to interpret the work’s emphases. Rather than expecting a neutral chronicle, one encounters a narrative that uses persecution, scriptural language, and direct address to build a case for Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling. The excerpts offer a concentrated view of Cannon’s method: weaving together detail, doctrine, and devotion.

I finished that old biography of Joseph Smith and found myself thinking about how faith shapes the telling of a life—how devotion lingers in every page. It reminded me of another book I loved, Lives of the electricians — Context and Discussion, for how quietly it honors its subjects’ inner worlds. Both left that tender ache with me, like a prayer held too long.