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 59 Collections and/or Records:
Biography of Charles Ambrose Foster
Typewritten research paper for a Religion 242 class at Brigham Young University taught by "Bro. Porter." Cosman writes about the role played by Charles A. Foster and his brother, Robert Foster, in the murder of the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith (1805-1844). Charles Foster later became mayor of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was the director of two hospitals.
Zenos H. Gurley letter to Joseph Smith, Jr.
Handwritten and signed letter dated 4 May 1842 and addressed to Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the first president of the Mormon Church. Gurley writes that he was unable to attend a meeting with the Nauvoo Legion militia organization and describes the founding of a branch of the Mormon Church in Wisconsin.
Jesse Hale letter
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.
Hancock County, Illinois summonses
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.
Illinois Circuit Court (Northern District) records
Phtocopies of handwritten court records. The materials are pages 1 and 486 to 697 from volume 4 of a much larger record on court proceedings. The entries regard the case of the "United States of America vs. Joseph Smith, et al." The manuscript deals with the estate of Joseph Smith, first president of the Mormon Church. The originals are located at the Federal Records Center, Chicago, Illinois.
Joseph Smith : prophet to our generation
Typewritten copy of an address delivered at General Conference for the Mormon Church on 4 Oct. 1981. Benson talks about the role of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), in founding the faith and in guiding his followers.
Wilson Law legal document
Photocopy of a handwritten and signed legal document. The item relates to the estate of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith.
Man who helped kill Mormon head in 1844 confessed in Mt. Airy
Typewritten account probably copied from a newspaper from the year 1927. The article states that Dr. H. K. Doyer "tells of getting confession from Corporal Bolton." Bolton "disclosed details of Crime on his Death Bed." The item states that Bolton was one of the men who shot the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844). The confession was suposedly given in 1898.