(These following quotes are from standard LDS sources. The LDS Collectors Library CD ROM from Info-bases was used.)
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843-44, p. 346
“Here then is eternal life – to know the only wise and true God; and you have to got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power.”
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 57
“The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like himself; when we have been proved in our present capacity, and have been faithful with all things he puts into our possession.’
Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p. 5
“If there ever was a thing revealed to man perfectly, clearly, so that there could be no doubt or dubiety this was revealed to me, and it came in these words: ‘As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become.’”
Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p. 706
“Thus those who gain eternal life, which is exaltation, become like God. They believe what he believes, know what he knows, and exercise the same powers he possesses. Like him they become omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. They have advanced and progressed and become like him. They are the ones who receive and inheritance in the Celestial City.”
John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, p. 53
“It is evident, therefore, that since the Father, son and Holy Ghost are distinct personages, the word “God” is not only a name, but may be used also as a title describing and attainment or office… In the same manner the title “God” may be applied to anyone who has attained to Godhood, that is, who has risen so high as to partake sufficiently of the essence of divinity.”
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol. 2, under Godhood
“Logically and naturally, the ultimate desire of a loving supreme Being is to help his children enjoy all that he enjoys. For Latter-day Saints, the term “godhood” denotes the attainment of such a state—one of having all divine attributes and doing as God does and being as God is. Such a state is to be enjoyed by all exalted, embodied, intelligent beings (see Deification; Eternal Progression; Exaltation; God; Perfection). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all resurrected and perfected mortal become gods. (cf. Gen. 2:22; Matt. 5:48). They will dwell again with God the Father, and live and act like him in endless worlds of happiness, power, love, glory, and knowledge; above all, they will have the power of procreating endless lives. Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus Christ attained godhood (see Christology) and that he marked the path and led the way for others likewise to become exalted divine beings by following him (cf. John 14:3).”
It should be evident that early LDS leaders (including Joseph Smith) believed and taught that man can become a god. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism was published in 1992 and therefore reiterates the teachings of early Mormonism.