Joseph Smith, with the exception of his October 1840 discourse on priesthood, did not commit to writing his own sermons and teachings. He spoke and he taught, and we are indebted to his associates for writing and compiling what he said.
Several books of teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith have been compiled and published, and serve as a source for the great doctrines the Prophet taught.
In the 1970s, Truman Madsen suggested to this compiler that someone ought to put together a collection of reminiscent sayings, statements, and doctrinal pronouncements of Joseph Smith, as remembered in the sermons, writings, and journals of those who heard him and knew him Ñ the recollections of things he said, not published together elsewhere.
This book is an effort to do just that, and in so doing, add to our understanding to the Prophet Joseph Smith.