Heaven out of Hell?

"Well, if we go to hell, we'll turn the devil out of doors and make a Heaven out of it."~ Joseph Smith, Jr


Why do Mormons like this saying?  First, it sounds very boastful of Joseph.  Why would he think that he would be able to do anything like that is beyond me.  


Second... do you think he would mention Jesus somewhere in there.  Oh, I can hear all the Mormons saying, "Well that's a given."  No, not so much.  Joseph also said "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet . . . " (History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 408-409).  Yet...


Joseph had a bit of an ego.  To say the least.  


My thinking on the subject is rather abstract, but hear me out.  First, let's look at the quote, and this is a "prophet" speaking... not just any ol' man.  The founding "prophet" of the church.  He says, "if we go to hell", but isn't he teaching the "Restored Gospel"?  Shouldn't he know if he's going to heaven or not?  Why should there be any question... So, he must have been answering someone.  Ok.  Fair enough.  He did get a lot of grief in his day... and still even now, but I think he deserves it.  Moving on... "We'll turn the devil our of doors and make a Heaven out of it."  How?  With God?  Or just you, Joey?  Didn't one time mention Jesus.  He just said "we".  Most Christians, if daring to make a statement such as that, would at least say something along the lines of, "God willing" or "with God", "Jesus will," or something like that.  But it seems that Joey's ego got ahead of him and he didn't seem to care if he was going to hell.  And wait!  The LDS doctrine doesn't even believe in hell now, so what gives?  If the founding "prophet" said that there was a possibility of him going there, that means two things...


1.  He didn't think his "gospel" was enough to save Him, because if he did, he would have stood firm behind it.


2. He thought he could be responsible for something that is impossible.  


"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" - Might want to read that one again...