Joseph Smith — "I have a right to reveal all things, and to teach all things."
I have a right to reveal all things, and to teach all things.
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Understanding this quote
What it means
The quote asserts an absolute, divinely-granted authority to receive and communicate truth without restriction. Smith claims the right—presumably from God—to disclose any spiritual knowledge and instruct others on any doctrine. It is a declaration of unlimited prophetic mandate: no subject is sealed off from revelation, no teaching falls outside his commission. The statement positions him not merely as a minister but as a uniquely empowered conduit between the divine and humanity.
Relevance to Joseph Smith
Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, claiming divine visions beginning in 1820. He produced the Book of Mormon as revealed scripture, received ongoing revelations compiled in the Doctrine and Covenants, and introduced doctrines including celestial marriage and a distinct theology of God. This quote captures his core self-understanding: he was not interpreting existing scripture but actively receiving new divine dispensations with no doctrinal ceiling on what he could reveal.
The era
The early 19th century in America—the era of the Second Great Awakening—was marked by intense religious ferment, competing denominations, and mass revival meetings. Upstate New York, where Smith grew up, was called the burned-over district for its repeated revivals. Questions of which church held divine authority were urgently debated. Claims of direct revelation were credible to many seekers, making Smith's sweeping assertion of prophetic authority both powerfully resonant and fiercely controversial.
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