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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 23 Collections and/or Records:

Manchester Library records

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230335264]
Identifier: MSS 367
Scope and Contents Photocopies of handwritten and typewritten correspondence, lists of books, secretary's record book for the years from 1817 to 1854, constitution of the Manchester Library, names of stock holders, titles of 417 books, and two Manchester Library membership books from 1825 to 1857. Many of the items relate to the work of John Pratt, who served as Manchester Librarian. The materials were originally housed in Pratt's home but are now found in the Ontario County Historical Society. The books in...
Dates: 1817-1966
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Manchester Library records

Moses Martin letter to Joseph Smith

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233288460]
Identifier: Vault MSS 316
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter, composed in La Porte, Indiana, dated November 7, 1841, and addressed to Joseph Smith, first president of the Mormon Church. Martin writes to introduce himself, tells of his efforts to preach the Mormon faith, and asks for a blessing.

Dates: 1841 November 7
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Moses Martin letter to Joseph Smith

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
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Sally Randall letter

Fred W. Schwendiman statement

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231046332]
Identifier: MSS 1305
Scope and Contents

Typewritten statement. Schwindiman writes concerning an observation made by Preston Nibley in the Mormon Church Archives relating aid given by Newell Knight to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery while they were translating the Book of Mormon.

Dates: 1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Fred W. Schwendiman statement

J. Winter Smith collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8387
Scope and Contents Collection of photocopies of handwritten transcriptions and original documents from the nineteenth century that pertain to the lives of members of the Joseph Smith family. The materials were collected by Joseph Smith's great nephew, J. Winter Smith. Includes copies of correspondence, diary entries, obituaries, life histories, and genealogical documents associated with the family. These include reflections on past periods of church history, personal problems in the Smith family, persecution...
Dates: approximately 1840-1932
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / J. Winter Smith collection

Joseph Smith correspondence

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230321603]
Identifier: MSS SC 2277
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten correspondence. The items include a letter to the president of the United States, John Tyler (1790-1862), requesting federal aid from the mobs in Illinois; a note to Smith's wife, Emma Hale Smith (1804-1879); and a receipt for Joseph Smith's coffin.

Dates: 1833-1844
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Joseph Smith correspondence

Joseph Smith, Jr. complaint against Thomas J. Winter

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233284790]
Identifier: Vault MSS 65
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed complaint filed by Smith on 29 Nov. 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois. The complaint was filed against Thomas J. Winter for making detrimental comments on Smith's character.

Dates: 1842 November 29
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Joseph Smith, Jr. complaint against Thomas J. Winter

Joseph Smith letter

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233282869]
Identifier: Vault MSS 36
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a handwritten and signed letter, dated 17 June 1844, and addressed to John P. Greene. Smith writes about his concerns on the possibilities of mob actions near Nauvoo, Illinois.

Dates: 1844 June 17
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Joseph Smith letter

Joseph Smith letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230235258]
Identifier: MSS SC 173
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten letter, dated June 11, 1829, and addressed to the Northern Judicial District of New York, R. R. Lansing, clerk. The item claims copyright for the Book of Mormon and describes its content and authorship.

Dates: 1829
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Joseph Smith letter

Joseph Smith letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230325109]
Identifier: MSS SC 2576
Scope and Contents Photographs of a handwritten and signed letter dated 18 June 1844 and addressed to James Strang. Smith responds to Strang's request to establish a stake of the Mormon Church in Wisconsin. Smith said that the inquiry was received negatively by the leaders of the Mormon Church, but later it was accepted more positiviely. Smith then records a vision he had in which he was carried to the Kingdom of Heaven by angels and spoke with God about the request. God told Smith that the stake was to be...
Dates: 1844 June 18
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Joseph Smith letter

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