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Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1805 - 1844

Biography

Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844) was a prophet and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Smith, Jr. was born on December 23, 1805, to parents Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. He was the fifth of eleven children. He worked on the family farm in Vermont and later in western New York. A series of remarkable spiritual experiences prepared him for his prophetic calling. Beginning in 1820 at Palmyra, New York, Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in vision. Through revelation, he translated and published the Book of Mormon, organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830, and received revelations to guide the Church. By inspiration, he called Apostles and other Church leaders, defined doctrines, and taught the principles and ordinances that would lead to exaltation. Under his leadership, Latter-day Saints founded communities in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. He was sustained as First Elder of the Church on April 6, 1830. On June 27, 1844, at Carthage, Illinois, Joseph Smith died a martyr to his faith.

Citation:
Book of Mormon. Japanese. Morumon-kyō, 1909 (1950 printing): t.p. (Josefu Sumisu [in Japanese])

Book of Moemon. Armenian. Girkʻ Mōrmōni, 1937: t.p. (Kart. Chōzēf Smitʻh)

Britannica.com, Oct. 13, 2010 (Joseph Smith, originally Joseph Smith, Jr. (b. Dec. 23, 1805, Sharon, Vt., U.S.; d. June 27, 1844, Carthage, Ill.), prophet and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

The Book of Mormon, 1830: title page (Joseph Smith, Junior)

Doctrine and covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, 1835: title page (Joseph Smith, Junior)

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, page 1331 (Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844), the Prophet Joseph Smith, founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; born December 23, 1805 in Sharon, Vermont; moved to Palmyra, N.Y. in 1816; founded the Church in Fayette, N.Y. April 6, 1830; migrated with the Church to Kirtland, Ohio in 1831; then to Far West, Missouri in 1838; finally to Nauvoo, Ill. (which he founded) in 1839; killed by a mob in Carthage, Ill. June 27, 1844)

Found in 20 Collections and/or Records:

Lorenzo Brown diary and autobiography

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 497
Scope and Contents Includes Lorenzo Brown's handwritten diary and autobiography. Brown's autobiography starts in 1856 when his diary begins. Describes his conversion to the Mormon Church, life in Nauvoo, Illinois, and relationship with Joseph Smith, the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brown then describes his migration to Salt Lake City, Utah, settling in Las Vegas, Nevada, a move to the St. George, Utah area, service on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...
Dates: 1856-1902
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Lorenzo Brown diary and autobiography

James G. Duffin diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1696
Scope and Contents Handwritten and bound diaries. Also included are bound photocopies of the handwritten journals. The items are for the years 1887 through 1889 when Duffin served as a missionary for the Mormon Church in the Southern States Mission. The diaries also cover the years 1901 through 1906 when Duffin was president of the Southwestern States Mission (1900-1904) and of the Central States Mission (1904-1906) also for the Mormon Church. Duffin includes handwritten copies of letters both sent and...
Dates: 1887-1906
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / James G. Duffin diaries

Barzillai Frost travel journal

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 3276
Scope and Contents

Journal kept by Barzillai Frost during his travels in the West in 1843. Includes an account of his visit to Nauvoo, Ill., and his meeting with Joseph Smith and other prominent Mormons. A photocopy and transcript of the diary are also included in the collection, as well as articles and biographical information on Frost.

Dates: 1843
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Barzillai Frost travel journal

Joseph Leland Heywood diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 179
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries for the years 1856 and 1857. In volume 1, Heywood traveled to California on government business. He left Salt Lake City for Washington, D.C. on 22 April 1866 and gives a short description of the overland journey to Atchison, Kansas. The remainder of the volume discusses political troubles in Washington, D.C. In volume 2, after resolving his affairs in Washington, D.C. and visiting family in Massachusetts, Heywood returned to Utah via St. Louis and Independence, Missouri....
Dates: 1855-1856
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Joseph Leland Heywood diaries

William Huntington diary and autobiography

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 272
Scope and Contents Handwritten diary including a retrospective account of Huntington's life. Huntington writes about his early life, his conversion to the Mormon Church, and his experience as a Mormon in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. He also writes about the death of Joseph Smith, the first president of the Mormon Church, service in the Nauvoo Legion militia organization, and preparations of the Mormons to migrate to the mountains. Huntington made diary entries in 1846. The item was transcribed by O. B....
Dates: 1784-1846
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Huntington diary and autobiography

George Lake diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230237692]
Identifier: MSS SC 720
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an account covering 1870-1879 of Lake's Latter-day Saint church mission to England and his leadership of a new Mormon settlement in Arizona. Appended is the "Last Address" by Joseph Smith.

Dates: 1870-1879
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / George Lake diary

William Law diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230324508]
Identifier: MSS SC 2526
Scope and Contents

Typewritten copy of a diary. The journal was kept from 1 Jan. to 28 June 1844 when Law was in Nauvoo, Illinois. Law writes about his excommunication from the Mormon Church, a visit from Hyrum Smith (1800-1844), and the operation of the Nauvoo Expositor newspaper. He also and gives his opinion of Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and comments on his death.

Dates: 1844
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Law diary

James Madison Monroe journal

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230329424]
Identifier: MSS SC 2997
Scope and Contents Includes summary of Monroe's activities from September 1841 through June 1842, including his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and activities as clerk of the Utica (New York) Conference. Then follows attendance record for a school he taught at Nauvoo, Illinois, August 1842- January 1843 and November 1843-March 1844. Last part of journal tells of his service as teacher of the children of Joseph Smith, John Taylor, and Brigham Young, April-May 1845. Typed title...
Dates: 1841-1845
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / James Madison Monroe journal

Mormon War papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS FM 7
Scope and Contents

Microfilmed copies of original joint legislative committee journals (1838-1839), legislative proceedings (1838-1841), correspondence and orders (1838-1839), evidence given at the court of inquiry held in November 1838 to investigate Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and others for high treason, and certificates dealing with indictments against Mormons (1841) pertaining to the Mormon disturbances in Missouri (1838-1841). The film is 16 mm. and 35 mm. and is photonegative.

Dates: 1838-1841
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Mormon War papers

John Murdock journal and autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233631024]
Identifier: MSS SC 997
Scope and Contents

Materials include two copies of the typescript of an autobiography covering, 1792-1867, and journals, 1830-1859. Murdock was a Campbellite who joined the Mormon Church in 1830. He lived with Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the Mormon prophet, in 1833 and participated in "Zion's Camp" in 1834. He lived in Kirtland, Ohio; Nauvoo, Illinois; and Lehi, Utah and was in Missouri during the persecution of Mormons in that state.

Dates: 1830-1867
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John Murdock journal and autobiography

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