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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 13 Collections and/or Records:

Jacob G. Bigler autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230326263]
Identifier: MSS SC 2757
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typescript of an autobiography. Bigler writes about his relationship with the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), his life in Nauvoo, Illinois, his migration to Utah, and his life in Nephi, Utah. Bigler served on a mission for the Mormon Church in Ireland and was active in Mormon Church activities in Nephi.

Dates: 1907

John Lowe Butler autobiographies

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 390
Scope and Contents

Collection includes three typewritten versions of the autobiography of John Lowe Butler. The autobiographies describe Butler's conversion to the Latter-day Saint Church, building Nauvoo, Illinois, officiating in the temple, experiences as Joseph Smith's bodyguard, the martyrdom of Smith, the expulsion from Nauvoo, the journey to Utah, the colonization of Spanish Fork, Utah, the Utah War and genealogical information of the Butler family, family wills and patriarchal blessings.

Dates: 1957-1970

Mary Field Garner autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230334267]
Identifier: MSS 1141
Scope and Contents

Typewritten excerpts from an autobiography. Garner writes about her conversion to Mormonism, her life in Nauvoo, Illinois, her memories of Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and the "mantle" of the prophet falling on Brigham Young (1801-1877), her journey to Utah, and her life in Slaterville, Utah.

Dates: approximately 1880

Ebeneezer Emory Gore autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230324037]
Identifier: MSS SC 2473
Scope and Contents Typewritten carbon copy of an autobiography with pencilled corrections composed in Lawrence, Kansas in 1904. Gore participated in an overland journey to Jacksonville, Oregon in 1852 and presents many insights into frontier and pioneer life. Gore was familiar with the Mormons in Kirtland, Ohio and in Nauvoo, Illinois. After the Mormons arrived in Kirtland, "the chicken-roosts suffered ... and the herds of stock frequently became reduced." When confronted the Mormons "would acknowledge the...
Dates: 1904

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

Elias Hutchings autobiography

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2470
Scope and Contents

Handwritten autobiography and photocopies of the item. Hutchings was born in New Hampshire and lived later in Vermont, New York, Ohio, Iowa, and Illinois. He was baptized a member of the Mormon Church in 1830, participated in the "Zion's Camp" march of 1834, served on a mission to New York and Pennsylvania, and personally knew Joseph Smith (1805-1844), first president of the Mormon Church. Hutchings died in 1845 in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Dates: circa 1842

Wandle Mace autobiography

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 786
Scope and Contents Contains the handwritten autobiography of Wandle Mace. Account includes information about Mace's youth in New York City; joining the Mormon Church in the 1830s; moving to Illinois; helping build the Nauvoo Temple; service in the Nauvoo Legion; and, fighting in the Battle of Nauvoo in 1846. Also includes accounts of living in Iowa for over a decade prior to making their way west to Utah; traveling to Utah in a wagon train in 1859; moving to Southern Utah and settling in Kanab; and all major...
Dates: 1890

Andrew Moore autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230334861]
Identifier: MSS 1094
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of typewritten excerpts from Moore's autobiography. Moore writes about his conversion to the Mormon Church and his experiences in that faith while living in Missouri and Illinois. He also tells about the death of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844).

Dates: 1845

Job Smith autobiography and letters received

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230320589]
Identifier: MSS SC 2202
Scope and Contents

Typewritten autobiography and photocopies of handwritten letters received by Smith. Also included are typescripts of Job Smith's "Recollections" of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), and photocopies of handwritten and typewritten certificates. The letters are from prminent Mormon Church leaders. Also included is a photocopy of a handwritten patriarchal blessing received by Smith.

Dates: 1860-1902

George Spilsbury autobiography

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 117
Scope and Contents

Handwritten autobiography with a photocopy of the item. The volume includes handwritten copies of letters received and patriarchal blessings of family members. Spilsbury writes about travelling in southern Utah as a patriarch, gives a brief description of his mission to Wales, talks about some of the prophecies of the first president of the LDS Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), and describes the exodus west of Mormons from Nauvoo, Illinois to Utah. Dated from 1843 to 1911.

Dates: 1843-1911