What methods did Joseph Smith use to improve American life?

Answer 1

He bore testimony that God and Jesus Christ existed, that he saw an spoke with them. That the gospel was once again upon the earth in all of its fulness. That the priesthood was once again restored to the earth. That it was not only faith that saved but also by ones works. That full emersion was the correct mode of baptism. That man existed after death. He did all of this by persuasion and long suffering. He gave his life for what he believed in. That the true gospel would fill the whole earth and that Christ would come and set up a righteous government.

Answer 2

Joseph Smith was a religious leader, but did involve himself in politics and social issues. Smith published a pro-slavery essay in 1836 but later opposed the practice. He is said to have favoured a strong central bank and high tariffs to protect American business and agriculture.

Reid L. Neilson, Terryl L. Givens (Joseph Smith, Jr.: Reappraisals After Two Centuries) said that for two years, every Mormon migrant to Missouri was required to deed over his property to the church and receive back a stewardship suitable for his or her talents and resources. In time, these plans for radical economic reform proved impractical and were abandoned.

Wikipedia says 'Smith taught that "Congress has no power to make a law that would abridge the rights of my religion," and that they were not under the obligation to follow laws they deemed as being contrary to their "religious privilege". Smith may have thus felt justified in promoting polygamy despite its violation of some traditional ethical standards.'