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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 8 Collections and/or Records:

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

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

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

Nauvoo (Ill.) legal proceedings

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310994]
Identifier: MSS SC 1262
Scope and Contents

Two handwritten transcripts of court cases regarding the slandering of Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the Mormon prophet. The first item is dated Dec. 5, 1842 and involves the City of Nauvoo vs. Thomas J. Hunter. The second item is dated Feb. 17, 1843 and involves the City of Nauvoo vs. Amos Davis.

Dates: 1842-1843

O. C. Skinner bill of exception

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230244839]
Identifier: MSS SC 678
Scope and Contents

Holograph. A bill of exception to a court decision involving property once belonging to Emma Smith in the case of Isaac S. Sanders and Evert L. Gates vs. William Smith.

Dates: 1851

Joseph Smith, Jr. letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232487535]
Identifier: MSS 288
Scope and Contents

Photocopy and photostat copy of a handwritten letter. Smith writes in his capacity as the leader of the "Nauvoo Legion" of the Illinois state militia. He informs Wilson Law to keep the militia in readiness "as may be necessary to compel obedience to the ordinances of said city (i.e. Nauvoo) and secure the peace of the citizens." The item was notarized by W. W. Phelps.

Dates: 1843

Joseph Smith letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230315266]
Identifier: MSS SC 1799
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten letter from Joseph Smith (April 29, 1844) to Charles C. Rich concerning the court martial of Wilson Law.

Dates: 1844 April 29