- Loved by his people

- Had cheery temperament- Resolute in duty

Lesser-known aspects of the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith affirm his prophetic calling, said Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the Sunday afternoon session.

Elder Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve concluded that through his extensive personal research, the Joseph he came to meet was a man of the frontier: young, emotional, dynamic, and so loved and approachable by his people that they often called him "Brother Joseph."

His comparative youth, lack of formal education, and rapid acquisition of knowledge overarched his entire ministry, said Elder Oaks. "His growth was extremely rapid."

Elder Oaks noted that the Prophet suffered an excruciatingly painful bone surgery at age 7, and, as a father, lost five of nine children. He was physically attacked on many occasions. He lived in poverty. Among the first of the revelations published in the Doctrine and Covenants was a "crushing rebuke" to him from the Lord.

Despite his travails, the youthful Prophet had a "native cheery temperament" and often played with people and "frolicked with little children in a manner shocking to some accustomed to the exaggerated sobriety of other ministers."

"Despite his familiar and friendly style, the Prophet Joseph Smith was resolute in doing his duty," said Elder Oaks. He "experienced severe opposition and persecution throughout his life, but in the midst of all of this, he never wavered from his divine calling."

Elder Oaks noted that his legal research also shed new light on an the event that led to the martyrdom of Joseph Smith - the closing by the city of an opposition newspaper in Nauvoo.

"Mormon historians - including Elder B.H. Roberts - had conceded that this action was illegal, but as a young law professor pursuing original research, I was pleased to find a legal basis for this action in the Illinois law of 1844. The amendment to the United States Constitution that extended the guarantee of freedom of the press to protect against the actions of city and state government was not adopted until 1868, and was not enforced as a matter federal law until 1931."

Elder Oaks noted two other areas of personal research in little-known areas that shed light on the character of Joseph Smith. Studying the lengthy trial of the assassins of Joseph and Hyrum, he said, "Nothing in our discoveries . . . disclosed anything that reflected dishonor on the men who were murdered."

In addition, regarding the financial activities of Joseph during the panic and depression of the 1840s - ruinous on the frontier - a federal judge "found no fraud or other moral impropriety by the Prophet."

"Like other faithful Latter-day Saints, I have built my life on the testimony and mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith," said Elder Oaks. "In all of my reading and original research, I have never been dissuaded from my testimony of his prophetic calling and of the gospel and priesthood restoration the Lord initiated through him."