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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 51 Collections and/or Records:

William Allred autobiography and journal

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 4110
Abstract

The journal and autobiography of William Allred, an early member of the LDS church, 1819-1887.

Dates: 1819-1887

William Marks arrest warrant

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233289252]
Identifier: Vault MSS 366
Scope and Contents

Handwritten arrest warrant, dated 28 Nov. 1842, and registered in Nauvoo, Illinois. Marks seeks the arrest of Thomas J. Hunter for slandering Joseph Smith, the first president of the Mormon Church.

Dates: 1842 November 28

Arrest warrant

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233289872]
Identifier: Vault MSS 402
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed arrest warrant, dated 6 Dec. 1842, and written in Nauvoo, Illinois. As mayor, Smith signs a warrant ordering the marshall of Nauvoo to arrest Amos Davis who had been accused of assault by William C. Walker. On the reverse is a statement saying that Davis was brought before a city court.

Dates: 1842

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

Jacob G. Bigler autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230326263]
Identifier: MSS SC 2757
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typescript of an autobiography. Bigler writes about his relationship with the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), his life in Nauvoo, Illinois, his migration to Utah, and his life in Nephi, Utah. Bigler served on a mission for the Mormon Church in Ireland and was active in Mormon Church activities in Nephi.

Dates: 1907

Stephen Elder bill for Joseph Smith, Jr.

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233290870]
Identifier: Vault MSS 435
Scope and Contents

Handwritten bill from Stephen Elder to Joseph Smith, first president of the Mormon Church, for goods sold to Smith in March-July 1840, apparently for sale in Joseph Smith's store. The manuscript includes three entries for tobacco. The item was filed against Smith's estate on 27 May 1846, with a total of $2.89 interest added to the bill.

Dates: 1840-1846

Biography Joseph Alston

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230340819]
Identifier: MSS 2509
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a microfilm copy of a typed biography. Joseph Alston was born in 1821 in England, and he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839. He migrated to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he knew Joseph Smith, the first president of the Mormon Church. He migrated to Utah probably in 1850 and died in 1891.

Dates: 1940

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

Joseph Smith, Jr. bonds

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230342997]
Identifier: MSS 771
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten and signed bonds. Three of the items are signed by Smith, date form 1839 and 1841, and relate to purchases of property in Nauvoo, Illinois. The fourth item is dated 27 Sept. 1845 and deals with Nathaniel Whiting transferring property.

Dates: 1839-1845

John Lowe Butler autobiographies

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 390
Scope and Contents

Collection includes three typewritten versions of the autobiography of John Lowe Butler. The autobiographies describe Butler's conversion to the Latter-day Saint Church, building Nauvoo, Illinois, officiating in the temple, experiences as Joseph Smith's bodyguard, the martyrdom of Smith, the expulsion from Nauvoo, the journey to Utah, the colonization of Spanish Fork, Utah, the Utah War and genealogical information of the Butler family, family wills and patriarchal blessings.

Dates: 1957-1970