February 21. On this date in 1942, a letter addressed to an individual believer on behalf of Shoghi Effendi stated that "The Tablet of Joseph does not refer to Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith we do not consider a Prophet, minor or otherwise. Certainly no references he made would have foretold the coming of this Revelation in his capacity as a Prophet."

 

February 21. On this date in 1942, a letter addressed to an individual believer on behalf of Shoghi Effendi stated that "The Tablet of Joseph does not refer to Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith we do not consider a Prophet, minor or otherwise. Certainly no references he made would have foretold the coming of this Revelation in his capacity as a Prophet."

1611. Tablet of Joseph

"The Tablet of Joseph does not refer to Joseph Smith.

"Joseph Smith we do not consider a Prophet, minor or otherwise. Certainly no references he made would have foretold the coming of this Revelation in his capacity as a Prophet."

(Ibid.)

The Bahá’í notion of progressive revelation exlcudes many key figures who have generated significant religious movements, whether in the distant past like Confucius or in the 19th Century like Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and Joseph Smith. All religious founders are not universally accepted as prophets.