Twenty years ago, Richard Lyman Bushman’s biography of Joseph Smith the Prophet was published. The book has had a huge impact on English-speaking Latter-day Saints. He recently reflected on Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling in an interview at the Latter-day Saint history blog From the Desk. What follows here is a copost to the full interview.

Rough Stone Rolling: Richard Bushman Reflects 20 Years Later

As Richard Bushman reflected on his biography of Joseph Smith and its impact, he noted the indications that it filled a need among Latter-day Saints:

What stands out now is my surprise at the reception of my biography of Joseph Smith.

Walking into a book signing soon after publication, I met a man with about ten copies in his arms. He was sending a copy to each of his children, as well as a few others.

The book met a much larger need than I anticipated.

Part of why his work was so important was because Bushman wrestled with how to write for both believing members (who want affirmation, a prophet they can follow) and non-believers/scholars (who demand critical historical rigor). He chose a middle path: being explicit that he comes down on Joseph Smith’s side (i.e., not a fraud, not insincere) but also trying to present enough transparency and nuance that a “general audience” could accept much of the historical picture without rejecting it wholesale:

I had to keep in mind I was writing for two audiences—the Saints and the general reader.

Sometimes I would head off in one direction and sometimes in the other. …

I did not expect it to win over everyone, but I hoped it would offer a plausible account of a real person.

I think it has served its purpose for the past two decades.

This, of course, leads to comparisons to John Turner’s new biography of Joseph Smith:

When I published Rough Stone Rolling in 2005, I spoke for a moment when many Church members were ready for more candor about Joseph’s character and exploits.

Most general readers will probably be more comfortable with John Turner’s biography of Joseph Smith, The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.

Both biographies were designed to meet a need at a specific time in history and will likely be preferred by different audiences.

That being said, Richard Bushman reflected on areas that, in hindsight, he wished he had given more space. Most notable was plural marriage. Elsewhere, he has mentioned that he underemphasized certain problematic episodes, especially involving Helen Mar Kimball (14 years old at marriage) and some of Joseph’s marriages to women already married to other men. He has also expressed regret that he didn’t explore more how the women fared, or the interpersonal/social consequences more fully. In the From the Desk interview, he reaffirmed this, noting that he should have given more coverage to Joseph Smith’s wives:

They should have at least been named and given a place of their own in his history. I was wrong to think I could simply sample them.

I should have said much more about Sarah Ann Whitney, the young wife whose marriage to Joseph darkened Smith’s reputation so badly.

Bushman added a few other things that he would do differently today:

I missed on a few things, such as later charges of attempted murder. …

I think Joseph was more inventive and ingenious than I claimed. I am amazed at the number of religious initiatives he instituted.

There were both positive and negative areas that he wished he had covered differently.

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For more of Richard Lyman Bushman’s reflections on Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, head on over to the Latter-day Saint History blog From the Desk. There is a lot of interesting material there, including some reflections on melancholy that Joseph Smith experienced.

While you’re there, check out the page about Global Mormonism: Latter-day Saints Around the World.