Master of Languages Summary and Analysis

Joseph Smith became an avid learner, especially following Zion's Camp. In March 1833, he began a School of the Prophets, teaching spiritual things that were not discussed in Ms. Brodie's text. Further, he and other leaders began to learn Hebrew from a Jewish Rabbi, and English grammar. His English teacher remarked many years later, even after he had become disaffected from the church, that Joseph was a rapid learner. Joseph delighted in learning, and felt that the Lord had opened his mind to learn things of the world that would be needful for him as the prophet. He especially enjoyed the study of languages.

In 1835, he received, via the purchase by some unknown member of the church, several papyri. These had been acquired during the period of looting of Egyptian tombs, and many sarcophagi and papyri had come...