Why was Joseph Smith a controversial figure?

Answer 1

Joseph Smith, Jr. was a controversial figure because he identified himself as a prophet. As early as 14, he claimed to be visited by the resurrected Jesus Christ and by various other Biblical figures, such as Peter, James, John, and Adam. Many of his followers fell away because he was also a normal guy, throwing parties for neighbors, doing yardwork, and teaching games to the neighbor kids. They felt that a man who was receiving visitations from God should act much more pious and spend most of his time in the church building.

And so, to those outside the Church, he was controversial because of his religious teachings, and to those inside of the Church, he was controversial because of his lack of religiousity.

Also in part that most of his proof of the golden tablets received by the angel were never seen. He dictated the tablet writings while reading them in a hat to obscure it from his friend who wrote the Book of Mormon. Because of this, many of his claims were hearsay where as many prophets before him proved themselves through miracles with witnesses.

In fact, the golden plates were seen by 11 men and held or carried while covered by a cloth by several others, including Joseph's wife. Their testimony of seeing and handling the plates is included in every modern copy of the Book of Mormon.

Except for his followers, Joseph Smith had a terrible reputation among the ordinary American citizen. It was cruel that he and his brother were murdered while in prison in Missouri. One huge complaint was his belief in polygamy.