Rough Stone Rolling

Rough Stone Rolling is a historical biography of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion. Written by Richard Lyman Bushman, this work draws from primary sources and historical documents to examine Smith's life from his childhood through his death. The book traces Smith's religious experiences, the founding of the Mormon church, and his role as both spiritual and temporal leader of a new religious movement. The narrative follows the development of Mormon theology and practice while documenting the social and cultural context of 19th century America. Bushman presents details of Smith's family relationships, his interactions with followers and critics, and the various locations where early Mormon history took place. The text includes analysis of Smith's translations, revelations, and administrative decisions during the church's formative years. This biography grapples with questions of religious authority, American identity, and the intersection of divine claims with human limitations. Through its historical investigation, the book explores broader themes about prophetic leadership and the emergence of new religious movements in American society.

Readers describe this biography as thorough and scholarly while remaining accessible. Mormon and non-Mormon readers note Bushman's balanced approach in addressing controversial aspects of Joseph Smith's life. Readers appreciated: - Extensive primary source documentation - Examination of Smith's folk magic practices and treasure seeking - Context about 19th century religious movements - Discussion of multiple versions of key events Common criticisms: - Too apologetic/defensive of Smith's actions - Dense academic writing style - Insufficient analysis of polygamy - Lack of criticism regarding Smith's banking ventures Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (850+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Presents facts without pushing conclusions" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes bogs down in minutiae" - Amazon reviewer "Helped me understand Smith as a complex human rather than either a prophet or fraud" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🔷 Author Richard Bushman, while a practicing Mormon himself, aimed to write an academically rigorous biography that would be respected by both religious and secular scholars—a goal widely considered successful based on the book's reception. 🔷 "Rough Stone Rolling" draws its title from Joseph Smith's own words, when he said "I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain... knocking off a corner here and a corner there." 🔷 The book took Bushman over 30 years to research and write, involving extensive work in archives and examination of primary sources that hadn't been thoroughly analyzed in previous Smith biographies. 🔷 Prior to writing this biography, Bushman was already a distinguished historian at Columbia University, specializing in early American history and winning the Bancroft Prize for his book "The Refinement of America." 🔷 The biography covers previously overlooked aspects of Smith's life, including his involvement in folk magic and treasure seeking, which were common practices in early 19th-century America.