Thomas, Elbert D.

Joseph Smith Jr. (1805-1844) was born on 23 December 1805, the fourth child of Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith. The Smiths lived in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, until about 1815 when they moved to Palmyra, New York. It was here Joseph recounted having received a visitation from two heavenly personages (1820) who informed him that he must join none of the currently organized religions as they were wrong and their creeds were an abomination. In 1823 he reported having received another visitation, only this time it was the personage of the angel Moroni, who informed him that God had a work for him to do and revealed the existence of a sacred record, the Book of Mormon.

On 18 January 1827 he married Emma Hale. On 22 September 1827 he received the golden plates on which was written the Book of Mormon. In 1828 he began translating these plates first with the assistance of Martin Harris and later Oliver Cowdery. 15 May 1829 was the date on which Smith and Cowdery were baptized and received the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist. Shortly afterwards they were ordained to the Melchisedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John. In 1830 the Book of Mormon was completed and on 6 April 1830 the Church of Christ was organized. The church grew and prospered. Joseph Smith Jr. moved westward settling in several different places until he finally located in Illinois where he and his followers established the city of Nauvoo. Smith and his adherents experienced great hostility from the populace in all the areas in which they attempted to settle. His life came to an end on 27 June 1844, when he was killed in Carthage Jail, Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois. His death did not mean the end of his church, however, as it continued to gain new members and carry on under the leadership of Brigham Young.

Following Smith's death, the leadership of the Mormon people was in great dispute. Although the majority of his original followers stayed together under the direction of Brigham Young there were several off-shoot groups, chief among was the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ) to which his wife Emma and their sons Joseph III, Alexander Hale and David Hyrum gave their allegiance.

From the guide to the Joseph Smith Jr. collection, 1829-1986, (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)