Joseph Smith

A Prophet

By: Donald W. Hemingway

Narrated by: Marvin Payne

Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Live in the period of 1830-1844. Feel the thoughts of Brewster Cabot who followed, loved, and suffered persecution with one proclaimed to be a prophet, Joseph Smith, the man who started The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

©2002 Donald W. Hemingway (P)2006 Big Happy Family, LLC

Vert good if you understand what you are getting

Any additional comments?

This is not a biography of Joseph Smith but rather a series of journal entries from a fictitious character who is an early convert to Mormonism. This character takes the listener through the process of his conversion, his gathering to Zion in Kirtland, Missouri, and Nauvoo and the persecutions and troubles of those time periods. The character interacts with Joseph Smith along the way but this is not a book about Joseph Smith per se. As a convert, the character portrays the events through the lens of a believer though the author includes the other side of the story via apostates or the main character's own internal debates as events unfold.

I found the book entertaining and a worthwhile listen because I understood what the book was before I started. In that regard, the title of the book is misleading. The author's portrayal of historical events were accurate and his writing style was very appropriate to the time period and kept me engaged. If you are interested in learning more about the early history of the LDS Church in an entertaining way then you will enjoy this book.

I will not spoil the ending but there is a twist at the end that some reviewers did not like. Though I knew something was coming, the twist caught me by complete surprise and I thought that it was an incredible move by the author (in a good way). It proved to me that the author was out to write a great book and not just follow a traditional script.

AWESOME

I LISTENED TO IT ONCE, DIDN'T CARE FOR IT MUCH, THEN BY ACCIDENT IT STARTED AGAIN ON MY IPOD, (LIKE A YEAR LATER) AND I GOT CAUGHT UP IN IT.
PUT MYSELF IN THE HISTORY OF LIVING THERE AND GOING THOUGH THE
WHAT THEY DID. THE AUTHOR AND NARRATOR WAS SO GOOD, IT WAS EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND PUT YOUR HEART INTO THEIR BELIEFS AND HARDSHIPS.
LOVE IT AND GOING TO LISTEN TO IT RIGHT NOW TO SEE IF I MISS ANYTHING AT THE END. THE END WAS THE MOST SURPRISING TO ME. NEED TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND THAT PART AGAIN.

From the eyes of a friend

I enjoyed the point of view of Josephs friend and his conversion. I felt like I had a more rich understanding of the world of Joseph Smith and all he dealt with.

Joseph Smith: A Prophet

This is an interesting fictional account of the Prophet's life. Luckily it does retell the LDS church history in an accurate and respectful manner. It also has some good, uplifting parts, but the ending is a little confusing and the overall message in unclear.

A MUST READ LDS BOOK!

What made the experience of listening to Joseph Smith the most enjoyable?

THE ENTIRE BOOK IS INCREDIBLE! A MUST READ! NARRATOR DID A SUPER JOB!!

Who was your favorite character and why?

JOSEPH SMITH AND HIS FAITHFULL FOLLOWERS AND EVEN IN THE SAD TIMES THEY GIVE THANKS TO GOD! IT HAS TAUGHT ME SO VERY MUCH! ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS AND MISSONS THEY SERVED, TEACHING THE GOSPEL! IT MADE ME CRY DUE TO THE MOBS WHO PERSECUTED THE MORMONS, AND HAVING TO CONSTANTLY KEEP LEAVING THERE HOMES TO MOVE. ALL THE PPL WHO LOST THERE LIVES! THANK YOU FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL BOOK! ONE OF MY FAVORITES!

Learning the Entertaining Way

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If they are interested in the life of Joseph Smith but are bored by your run-of-the-mill biography, then yes.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked that Hemingway included a story line. Joseph Smith's biography was, in a way, snuck into the story.

Any additional comments?

Payne's voice is a bit theatrical for my taste. At first, I thought I wouldn't finish the book but I got over it and am enjoying it now. With Hemingways extensive detail and Payne's deep voice, it is easy to zone out. I found myself skipping back regularly.

Very spiritual and interesting

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. it gave insite into history of the LDS Church that I knew but learned more about although fiction.

Worth the listen

Would you consider the audio edition of Joseph Smith to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print so I can't say. I thought the audio was excellent and the narratrion very good.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the way it opened my eyes to how someone living in the circumstances depicted could interpret the events completely differently than history would remember them.

Have you listened to any of Marvin Payne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. I would be more inclined to buy a book knowing he was the narrorator.

Any additional comments?

This book is cleaver in that you never can be certain if the doubts of the main character are building an eventual weight that with cause him to change his intense convictions or if he is going to be faithful to the end. I am 75% through this book and have no idea if the author is trying to cast Mormons in a positive or negative light. Very enjoyable.

Fictional narrative surrounding true events.

This is a fictional story surrounding the true events of the LDS church history from the perspective of a man who joined the church early on and followed the leaders to Nauvoo.

historical accuracy

A good depiction of the life of the prophet Joseph Smith and his time. Enjoyable read of historical fiction