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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 162 Collections and/or Records:

Jesse Hale letter

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231044899]
Identifier: MSS 1009
Scope and Contents

Typescript of a signed letter dated March 30, 1845 and addressed to Emma Hale Smith, wife of Joseph Smith (1805-1844). Hale comments on Joseph Smith's generosity to him.

Dates: 1845
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Jesse Hale letter

Hancock County (Ill.) Circuit Court legal documents

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1443
Scope and Contents

Collection contains about 750 documents relating to some 250 actions arising in justice of the peace or circuit courts in Hancock County, Illinois. Also includes a letter from David Martin concerning part of the collection and indexes to court cases involving Joseph Smith Jr. and the autographs of those who martyred Smith.

Dates: 1839-1860
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Hancock County (Ill.) Circuit Court legal documents

Hancock County, Illinois summonses

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305077]
Identifier: MSS SC 759
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and printed summonses for Joseph Smith, first president of the Mormon Church, and John C. Bennett, and apostle in the Mormon Church. Also included is a receipt from Emma Hale Smith, first wife of Joseph Smith, made out to Thomas Sharp.

Dates: 1841-1847
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Hancock County, Illinois summonses

Hancock County records

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230236942]
Identifier: MSS SC 212
Scope and Contents

Film contains 22 items, including three collections: Nauvoo court records; Eudocia Marsh's Mormons in Hancock County : a Reminiscence; and the Strangite Papers, 1851-1963.

Dates: 1840-1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Hancock County records

I. J. Harvey letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230312339]
Identifier: MSS SC 1386
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten letter addressed to Harvey's wife in Indiana. Harvey describes the experience of being a homesteader on the Missouri frontier and mentions the possibility of buying "negro" for 2 or 3 dollars. In a postscript Harvey relates a rumor that "Jo Smith and others have made their escape from the sheriff" by stealing two horses. He also states that supposedly Joseph Smith (1805-1844) had twenty thousand dollars with him.

Dates: 1839
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / I. J. Harvey letter

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

Nelson Higgins certificates

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230318294]
Identifier: MSS SC 1974
Scope and Contents Photocopies of handwritten and printed certificates, applications, correspondence, patriarchal blessings, and miscellaneous items. Most of the materials relate to Nelson's militia activities in Nauvoo, Illinois and in Utah. They include certificates relating to his various military appointments and applications for pensions relating to his military service. A few items relate to the "Walker War" (1853-1854) with the Ute Indians. A few of the materials were signed by the Mormon Church leaders...
Dates: 1836-1909
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Nelson Higgins certificates

History of the life of Stephen Markham

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310663]
Identifier: MSS SC 1297
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typed history of Stephen Markham by Julina Markham Crow. The item gives an account of Stephen Markham's personal life as well as his involvement in the early history of Mormonism. This includes his close association with the Mormon Prophets, Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and Brigham Young (1801-1877), his participation with the initial Mormon pioneer company of 1847, and his involvement in the settlement of Utah.

Dates: 1950
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / History of the life of Stephen Markham

James Holt autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230235910]
Identifier: MSS SC 190
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an autobiography. Holt writes about his childhood, conversion to the Mormon Church, mission for that faith in Tennessee, and migration to Salt Lake City, Utah. He also tells about the confusion in the Mormon Church after the death of its first president, Joseph Smith.

Dates: 1881
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / James Holt autobiography

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

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