The Profile of a Prophet

Elder Hugh B. Brown, who would later serve as a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared a powerful testimony-building experience that occurred while he was living in England. Prior to World War II, Brown, who had a background in law and the military, developed a friendship with a prominent English jurist. Knowing of Brown's legal training and his membership in the Church, the non-member friend approached him with a unique request. He asked Brown to prepare a legal brief defending Mormonism, proposing that he would listen to the arguments and judge them as he would in a court of law ([Profile of a Prophet - BROWN, HUGH B. | Deseret Book](https://www.deseretbook.com/product/5244548.html)). Accepting the challenge, Brown met with his friend, and together they established what they called a 'profile of a prophet.' They outlined the characteristics, actions, and biblical precedents that would logically define a true prophet of God if one were to be called in modern times. They reasoned that such a prophet would need to claim divine revelation, be visited by heavenly messengers, produce new scripture, and face persecution, much like the prophets of the Old and New Testaments. After establishing this comprehensive profile, Brown systematically measured the life, claims, and accomplishments of Joseph Smith against their agreed-upon criteria ([The Profile of a Prophet - Hugh B. Brown BYU Speeches](https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/hugh-b-brown/profile-of-a-prophet)). He presented the historical facts of the First Vision, the translation of the Book of Mormon, and the restoration of priesthood authority. As Brown laid out the evidence, he bore a strong and powerful apostolic-style testimony of Joseph Smith's prophetic calling. The logical and spiritual weight of the presentation deeply impacted his friend, demonstrating how both reason and faith can unite to confirm the truthfulness of the restored gospel. This experience became a classic narrative in Latter-day Saint history, illustrating a profound and reasoned defense of the Prophet Joseph Smith ([An Apostle’s Reported Experience | Dan Peterson](https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2026/06/an-apostles-reported-experience.html)).