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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 7 Collections and/or Records:

Hyrum L. Andrus book drafts

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232501301]
Identifier: MSS 553
Scope and Contents

Typewritten book drafts with handwritten corrections. One of the drafts is for Andrus' book "Doctrinal Commentary on the Pearl of Great Price" which was first published in 1960. The other draft is of his book "Joseph Smith: The Man and the Seer" which was first published in 1967. Andrus comments on the Mormon scripture, the Pearl of Great Price, and writes a biography of Joseph Smith, the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dates: 1960-1967

Copyright certificate

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230309095]
Identifier: MSS SC 1123
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of copyright certificates that were partially printed and partially handwritten. These state that the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), "deposited in this office the title of a book the right wehereof he claims as author." The document relates to the publication of the Book of Mormon. The item also explains the claimed authorship of the book as being composed by ancient writers.

Dates: 1829

God, Man, and the Universe

 File — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232501319]
Identifier: MSS 717
Scope and Contents

Typed manuscript of a book published by the Bookcraft Company in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1968. Andrus writes on how Mormons view the universe and man's purpose in it.

Dates: 1968

LeGrand Baker published works, 1969-2008

 Series
Identifier: MSS 7518 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains the writings and manuscripts of the articles and books that LeGrand Baker had published. These include "Murder of the Prophet Joseph Smith," "Joseph Smith and Moroni," "Psalms of the Temple," and other manuscripts.

Dates: 1969-2008

H. Donl Peterson research collection on the Book of Abraham

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2019
Scope and Contents Contains materials pertaining to the research of the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price conducted by H. Donl Peterson. Includes research files, photocopies of newspapers, materials from books, probate records, and genealogical information. Details the early exploration of Egypt from the 18th and 19th centuries and Antonio Lebolo’s travel and discovery of Ancient Egyptian antiquities and manuscripts, Michael H. Chandler’s acquisition of the lost mummies and papyri, and their...
Dates: 1964-1994

Photocopy of the Printer's Copy of the Book of Mormon

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232481058]
Identifier: MSS 2356
Abstract

A photocopy of the printer's copy of the Book of Mormon, 466 pp. Scribal copy of entire text of the Book of Mormon; each page indicates the relative portion of the volume.

Dates: 1830

Joseph Smith diaries

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197230364769]
Identifier: MSS 1644
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten diaries, proclamations, discourse notes, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous documents relating to the life and career of Joseph Smith (1805-1844). Also included is a handwritten excerpt from the Book of Mormon.

Dates: 1832-1844