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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 47 Collections and/or Records:

Revelation given 8 July 1838

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231019362]
Identifier: Vault MSS 9
Scope and Contents

Handwritten copy of Section 117 of the Doctrine and Covenants given on 8 July 1838 in Far West, Missouri. The item was copied and signed by Lydia Granger.

Dates: 1838 July 8

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

Benjamin Riter letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225522272]
Identifier: MSS 3140
Scope and Contents Two letters, written by Benjamin Riter in 1849 and 1850, describing the conditions in Nauvoo, Ill. following the exodus of the Saints. Letters are addressed to a Morgan J. Thomas of Philadelphia, Pa. The first letter describes the future prospects of the city, including information on land purchases and some of the recent settlers. It also describes Riter's involvement in mob activities against the Latter-day Saints. The second seeks additional information about some of the individuals...
Dates: 1849-1850

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

Alvin Fielding Smith letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230321538]
Identifier: MSS SC 2300
Scope and Contents

Typewritten and signed letters written to Frank S. Hawkins. Smith responds to Hawkins' requests for information largely relating to the Doctrine and Covenants. Also included is a list of wives of the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), compiled by Alvin Smith. These were women sealed to the prophet during his lifetime.

Dates: 1944-1947

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

Job Smith autobiography and letters received

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230320589]
Identifier: MSS SC 2202
Scope and Contents

Typewritten autobiography and photocopies of handwritten letters received by Smith. Also included are typescripts of Job Smith's "Recollections" of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), and photocopies of handwritten and typewritten certificates. The letters are from prminent Mormon Church leaders. Also included is a photocopy of a handwritten patriarchal blessing received by Smith.

Dates: 1860-1902

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

Joseph Smith letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230237775]
Identifier: MSS SC 742
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten and signed letter, dated 20 June 1844, and addressed to John Tyler, president of the United States. Smith asks Tyler for protection.

Dates: 1844

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