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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 13 Collections and/or Records:

C. W. Carter photographs and negatives of early Utah

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 133
Scope and Contents

Collection includes photographs and negatives with images of Salt Lake City, Utah, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and other Utah residents.

Dates: approximately 1860-1899

Church Historical Sites

 Collection — Oversize 1: [Barcode: 31197227655476]
Identifier: MSS 3817
Scope and Contents

This collection contains photographs and postcards of various historical sites relating to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These sites include: Nauvoo, Orderville, Kirtland, Palmyra, and various LDS temples. Portraits of people include: Joseph Smith, C.S. Forester, and General Fremont with his wife and daughter. Also included in the collection is a book titled American Frontier Photography and a photograph of the 1955 Utah State Senate 31st session.

Dates: Approximately 1850-1985

Early Mormon Church leaders

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2729
Scope and Contents Collection includes five oversize photographs of early church leaders: two of Brigham Young, one of Joseph Smith, Jr., one of Joseph F. Smith, and one of Albert Ricks Smith, and a family photo album containing forty-eight slots for photographs, three of which are empty. The photographs were taken by: C.E. Rees, Monte Vista, Colorado; Granert, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Kurtz, Traveling Artist; Mac Lucas & Co. Llanelly, Wales; Young and Evens, Columbia, Tenn; Thomas Studios, Ogden, Utah;...
Dates: approximately 1888

Elders at the first conference at Nauvoo since the expulsion of 1846 : photographed in front of the the Joseph Smith Mansion

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233623732]
Identifier: MSS 2191
Scope and Contents

An oversize photograph, a newspaper clipping entitled: "Mormons Visit Nauvoo". A brief biography of Gilbert Morse Burr (1881-1982), one of the missionaries in the photograph, is enclosed. It was written by his daughter, Ardys Burr Crane.

Dates: 1905 September 30

Rell G. Francis photograph collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 4255
Scope and Contents

This collection contains 205 photographs from a variety of photographers with studios in Utah including Ad. Anderson, Daniels Photo, C.W. Carter, Conkling and Co., Fox & Symons, Huish, John Matson, Morris & Co., C.R. Savage, Sainsbury & Johnson, and Stringham & Stringham. There are also photographs from out-of-state and international photographers. Portraits include Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and Orson Pratt.

Dates: approximately 1870-1910

Joseph Smith portraits : a search for the prophet's likeness

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2072
Abstract

Items include research notes and materials regarding the many different representations of Joseph Smith (1805-1844). Contains copies of these likenesses, and also contains information on the different artists who have created them, particularly Sutcliffe Maudsley. A large portion of the material deals with the death mask of Joseph Smith, and its comparison to his portraits.

Dates: approximately 1975-1997

Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill research files for Carthage Conspiracy

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1519
Scope and Contents

Contains miscellaneous notes, correspondence, newspaper articles, several drafts of the book, footnotes, bibliographic notes, and photographs. Many of the items were gathered from the Hancock County courthouse. Materials were compiled between approximately 1970 and 1975 for the production of the book Carthage Conspiracy.

Dates: approximately 1970-1975

Photocopies or photo negatives, 1816-1921

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 823 Series 8 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains photocopies and photographic negatives of letteres and other documents, mostly relating to Church history.

Dates: 1816-1921

Photograph collection

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227642995]
Identifier: MSS 3675
Scope and Contents

Two photographs; one of Bryce Canyon and one claimed to be a copy of a photograph of Joseph Smith Jr.

Dates: approximately 1900-1999

Photographs of Church history sites and figures

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 61
Scope and Contents

Collection includes glass negatives, lantern slides, metal plates, and a tintype of images related to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Includes images of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Native Americans, and other scenes.

Dates: approximately 1840-1976