Why did Joseph Smith decided to be a candidate in the 1844 presidential election? It is hard to believe that he thought he could win the election, but he was not a frivolous candidate.
Joseph Smith said on February 8, 1844:
I would not have suffered my name to have been used by my friends on anywise as President of the United States, or candidade for that office, if I and my friend could have had the privilege of enjoying our religious and civil rights as American citizens…But this as a people we have been denied from the beginning. Persecution has rolled upon our heads from time to time…. because of our religion; and no portion of the government as yet stepped forward for our relief. And in view of these things, I feel it to be my right and privilege to obtain what influence and power I can, lawfully, in the United States, for the protection of injured innocence.
Clearly, Joseph Smith was trying to gain as much influence as possible to protect his people, even if he probably knew that he could not become president. In fact, he even speculated that he could be killed because of his campaign.
Joseph Smith‘s platform was contained in a pamphlet titled General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States.
Among other interesting ideas, he proposed the abolition of slavery by the year 1850. His solution to the problem was to
pay every man a reasonable price for his slaves out of the surplus revenue arising from the sale of public land, and from the deduction of pay from members of Congress. Break off the shackles from the poor black man, and hire them to labor like other human beings
Was this solution economically impractical? According to Dr. Garr
…the way that ultimately the United States settled the slavery issue was through civil war – a conflict that cost more than fifteen billion dollars and more than 600,000 lives….a conflict that left the South in economic ruin and implanted bitterness and hatred in the hearts of millions…In retrospect, it would seem that Joseph Smith’s solution to the slavery was more sensible than Civil War.
Joseph Smith was killed on June 27, 1844 and obviously he never became president. The American people could not find a better solution to slavery and it went through a terrible Civil War.
I can’t avoid thinking how different could have been U.S. history if the American people has listened to Joseph Smith’s counsel.
http://giuseppemartinengo.com/166/why-did-joseph-smith-run-for-president-in-1844
Why did Willard Mitt Romney decide to be a candidate in the 2008 & 2012 presidential elections? It is hard to believe that he thought he could win the election, for he WAS an un-electable candidate.
Blah, blah and further more; BLAH!
But this as a people we have been denied from the beginning. Persecution has rolled upon our heads from time to time…
Yes, this VICTIM mantle is something you MORMONs have clung to quite well.
I; for one; would think that a Prophet of GOD would have seen this coming!