Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
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 26 Collections and/or Records:
James Holt autobiography
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.
William Huntington diary and autobiography
Elias Hutchings autobiography
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.
Orson Hyde autobiography and funeral
Mary E. Lightner papers
Wandle Mace autobiography
Andrew Moore autobiography
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).
Neibaur family papers
Jane Walker Smith autobiography
Typewritten autobiography. Smith writes about being born in Pecham, Vermont, migrating to Haun's Mill, Missouri, what she observed during the "Haun's Mill Massacre," mob activities against the Mormons in Missouri, her life in Nauvoo, Illinois, her miraculous healing, her association with the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, and her sister's marriage to Joseph Smith as a plural wife.
Job Smith autobiography and letters received
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.