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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 16 Collections and/or Records:

John M. Bernhisel letter

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231019354]
Identifier: Vault MSS 8
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter, dated 18 Aug. 1841, composed in New York, and addressed to Joseph Smith, first president of the Mormon Church. Bernhisel writes concerning the purchase of land in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Dates: 1841 August 18

Lillburn W. Boggs letters received

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230325661]
Identifier: MSS SC 2698
Scope and Contents Photographs of a handwritten and signed letters addressed to Lilburn W. Boggs and dated 22 and 24 July 1840. One of the items is from Chauncey Durkus denying reports that he has been involved in arresting Mormons in Illinois and taking them back to Missouri. The veracity of his statements was confirmed by the signatures of 37 residents of Lewis County, Missouri. The other item was signed by 11 residents of Lewis County claiming that persons; who went to Nauvoo, Illinois, to recover stolen...
Dates: 1840 July 24; 1840 July 22

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints records

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 4123
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, church related, financial records, legal records, and miscellaneous documents. Notable documents (all photocopies) include an 1844 letter from Joseph Smith while in Carthage Jail and a list of Mormon Battalion soldiers.

Dates: 1831-1964

Dudley family correspondence

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 449
Scope and Contents

21 ALS's (plus typescripts of 11) referring to family matters, exhortations to join the Mormon Church, and descriptions of Nauvoo and settlement of Utah.

Dates: 1844-1897

Zenos H. Gurley letter to Joseph Smith, Jr.

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233294674]
Identifier: Vault MSS 782
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1842 May 4

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

Udney Hay Jacob letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230325737]
Identifier: MSS SC 2705
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten and signed letter addressed to Martin Van Buren and dated 19 March 1840. Jacob writes to Van Buren offering to aid him in the presidential election if Van Buren would finance the printing of a manuscript to be used against Joseph Smith and the Mormons.

Dates: 1840 March 19

Wilson Law legal document

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225523056]
Identifier: MSS 1343
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten and signed legal document. The item relates to the estate of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith.

Dates: 1845

Sally Randall letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231044956]
Identifier: MSS 1015
Scope and Contents

Typed copy of a letter written in Nauvoo, Illinois, on July 1, 1844 and addressed to "Dear Friends." Randall writes about the murder of the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith, and his brother, Hyrum.

Dates: 1844 July 1

Jennetta Richards letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230325695]
Identifier: MSS SC 2701
Scope and Contents Photocopy of a handwritten and signed letter dated 4 July 1843, written in Nauvoo, Illinois, and addressed to Wealthy Richards, then living in Richmond, Massachusetts. Also included are some comments by Willard Richards. Jennetta writes about her recent illness saying she was baptized seven times to recover her health. She also tells about life in Nauvoo and some of Willard's activities. Jennetta also talks about a recent arrest of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph...
Dates: 1843 July 4