Quote of the Day: Mormon Scholar Richard Lyman Bushman

“I do think there is a growing willingness to respect Joseph Smith because of the success of the Mormon Church. With so many sensible, likable people who are Mormons and who believe in him, it’s not as easy to dismiss him as it was in the 19th century.”

-Richard Lyman Bushman, author of “Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling,” a new scholarly biography of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bushman was quoted by Beliefnet in an interview timed to the observance of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Smith on Dec. 23, 1805.