James Franklin Stoddard III

James Franklin Stoddard III—beloved father of 10 children and the founder of the Joseph Smith Foundation—passed away with faith and peace after a courageous battle with stage 4 lung cancer on the morning of September 6, 2021 in Provo, Utah.

James’ life was defined by unparalleled love for his children, an unshakeable witness of Jesus Christ and the Prophet Joseph Smith as well as an unwavering devotion to the Gospel. Unknown to his parents, beginning at only age 11, he would spend hours each day (5+ on weekends) studying the scriptures and teachings of the prophets. In 2005, James chose to sacrifice what could have been a profitable career to begin producing documentaries—and later books and other online material—to defend the character of Joseph Smith and promote a greater understanding of true doctrine and history.

James produced or executive-produced eight documentary films and co-authored three groundbreaking historical books, including Faith Crisis Vol. 1: We Were NOT Betrayed! and Faith Crisis Vol. 2: Behind Closed Doors. He received thousands of emails and letters from individuals whose lives were changed by his sacrifice.

Books:
Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim: Book of Mormon Translation on Trial
Faith Crisis 1: We Were NOT Betrayed!
Faith Crisis 2: Behind Closed Doors—Leonard Arrington & the Progressive Rewriting of Mormon History

Documentary Films:
Nephites in Europe (Episodes 1 & 2, Quest for the Nephite Remnant) (2019)
Hidden Bloodlines: The Grail & the Lost Tribes in the Lands of the North (2017)
Unlocking the Mystery of the Two Prophets: Revelation 11 (2017)
The Prophet Joseph: More than we know (2015)
Statesmen & Symbols: Prelude to the Restoration (2014)
For Our Day: Divinely Sanctioned Governments (2013)
For Our Day: Covenant on the Land (2013)
Creation and Evolution: A Witness of Prophets (2007)

James had unique gifts for reaching “the one”—to carefully listen and truly empathize with those around him. During various expos and events, he could scarcely break away to eat or use the restroom because of the lines of individuals who wanted to speak with him because they knew he truly cared.

On July 24, 2021, knowing his time was short, James gave a last testimony during the Restoration Days event in Utah County, sharing his plea for Latter-day Saints to remain true to the Restoration, along with sharing his own witness and testimony of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith.

Over the last year, James became known among the various doctors and nurses as the father who was battling lung cancer and surviving impossible odds because he wanted to “stay alive as long as he could for his kids.” His last words were the repeated tender exclamations of “Goodbye! I love you guys!”

Ultimately, James’ greatest priority and passion was spending time with and investing in the lives of his children. James took his sons and daughters everywhere with him—meeting with influential traditionalist thought leaders, serving ward callings, going on walks, or brainstorming entrepreneurial business opportunities.

We all have family jokes centering on his large accumulation of toys—he was always on the lookout for some creative new innovation to broaden his children’s imagination and enrich their playtime. Visitors to the Stoddard home were often surprised to find an outdoor playset INSIDE our home with multiple dollhouses and other toys. James Stoddard loved his kids!

James was an attentive homeschool father who transformed the education approach in the Stoddard home to one focused on practical service-oriented projects and a Christ-centered curriculum, rooted in the scriptures. His trailblazing example has inspired many other families to adopt Joseph Smith’s principles of education in their own homes!

In addition to his work as a software engineer and educator, James was passionate about restoring higher standards, whether through refined recreation, clean entertainment, uplifting music, etc. He loved playing basketball as a teen (including being chosen to play on the all-state basketball team in Idaho). He would later coach high school basketball for both public and private schools. James enjoyed dancing, writing poetry, reading literature as well as analyzing and scoring music.

James Stoddard taught his children that “Life is about joy!” and that true joy comes only through living a pure and holy life. In 2018, he organized the Raising the Bar initiative to provide a place for like-minded families to network, socialize and encourage one another in living pure.

“Always build, never tear down,” he told his kids. “If you are ever demeaning or tearing down anyone or anything, you are doing the wrong thing. Convert through love and persuasion.” His unique vision for “Raising the Bar” was to establish a refuge where no member was allowed to mock another member’s standards. Instead, he believed that by respectfully sharing individual stories and testimonies, an inspiring example could be left for individuals who were struggling. This vision will be continued on by the Raising the Bar team and Stoddard children!

James worked in private, public, religious, corporate, and home education as well as engineering, videography, property development, and natural health. He started and operated several family businesses and above all, enjoyed working with his kids. James spent his free moments working on Highland Cathedral Estate, a planned family retreat and learning facility with perennial gardens and walking trails specializing in experimental farming techniques and four-season food production.

James worked as a release-time Seminary teacher and as an instructor at the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC). He was a direct descendant of Asael and Mary Duty Smith, the Prophet Joseph Smith’s grandparents, and other notable Latter-day Saint Church history figures. He is survived by nine sons and daughters: Hannah, James, Leah, Asael, Isaiah, Ephraim, Mary, Ezra, and Eliza. He is preceded in death by one son, Joseph.

We (James’ children) remember well that whenever parting, our Dad would bid goodbye by calling out, “Keep the faith!” Our Dad used the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform our home and begged us to share that hope with others! Living the principles, consecrating our time and talents, raising our standards, and following in the footsteps of our Master, Jesus Christ has filled our home with joy (even in the midst of suffering and pain) and it is our desire to continue the legacy our father began—to share that hope with the world!

We would love to hear YOUR stories or memories of how James or his work blessed your life and strengthened your testimony of the Gospel. Send us your story!

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 11, 2021 at the Salem 10th Ward Chapel, 160 South 460 West, Salem, Utah. Friends may call from 8:30-9:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment to follow at the Manti City Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com or http://josephsmithfoundation.org/memorial/

If you are not able to attend in person, you are welcome to watch the funeral via Zoom. https://salem10th.web.app/sacrament (Passcode: salem10)