Joseph Smith

Smith, Joseph, 1805-44, American Mormon leader, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, b. Sharon, Vt. When he was a boy his family moved to Palmyra, N.Y., where he experienced the poverty and hardships of life on a rough frontier. He had visions when he was still young and later recorded that he was first told in a vision in 1823 of the existence of secret records, but it was not until 1827 that the hiding place of the records was revealed to him. According to his account, in 1827 he unearthed golden tablets inscribed with sacred writings that he translated. Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and others transcribed these records from his dictation, and the Book of Mormon was published in 1830. Further revelations led him to found a new religion after priesthood had been conferred upon him and Cowdery by an "angel." As prophet and seer he founded (1830) his church in Fayette, N.Y. (see Latter-day Saints, Church of Jesus Christ of).

The hostility of his neighbors forced him to move his headquarters to Kirtland, Ohio, where with the help of Sidney Rigdon and others he embarked on extensive business affairs. The Panic of 1837 was one of the reasons for removal farther west to Missouri. There the industrious and self-contained members of his faith again ran into difficulties with their neighbors. Smith and others were arrested but escaped, and his faithful followers were driven from Missouri.

Having obtained a favorable charter from Illinois, Smith founded the settlement of Nauvoo, which, thanks to the concerted efforts of the members of his church, was soon flourishing. Disaffection grew, however, and some of the dissident members founded a newspaper, the Expositor, in which they bitterly criticized him. He put down the opposition, thereby giving the hostile non-Mormons a pretext for attacking him. When in 1844 he announced himself as candidate for the presidency of the United States, his enemies set upon him. He and his brother Hyrum were arrested on charges of treason and conspiracy. They were lodged in the jail at Carthage, Ill., and there on June 27, 1844, they were murdered by a mob.

The revelations experienced by Smith—including one enjoining plural marriage, which later caused the Mormons much trouble—were the foundation stones of a faith that after his death grew to be one of the great religions of the United States. Because he was a highly controversial figure, the literature on him is also controversial.

(born Dec. 23, 1805, Sharon, Vt., U.S.—died June 27, 1844, Carthage, Ill.) Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon church). He began experiencing visions as a teenager in Palmyra, N.Y. In 1827 he claimed that an angel had directed him to buried golden plates containing God's revelation; these he translated into the Book of Mormon (1830). He led converts to Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, where he established the town of Nauvoo (1839), which soon became the state's largest town. Imprisoned for treason after his efforts to silence Mormon dissenters led to mob violence, he was murdered by a lynch mob that stormed the jail where he was held. His work was continued by Brigham Young.

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Joseph Smith may refer to:

The founder of the Latter Day Saint movement and his relatives:

• Joseph Smith, Jr., founder
• Joseph Smith, Sr. (1771–1840), father of Joseph Smith, Jr.
• Joseph Smith III (1832–1914), first Prophet–President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918), nephew of Joseph Smith, Jr.; sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972), son of Joseph F. Smith and tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Joseph Fielding Smith (presiding patriarch), Presiding Patriarch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1942 to 1946

Joseph Smith is also the name of:

• J. Joseph Smith (1904–1980), U.S. Representative from Connecticut
• Joe Smith (footballer born 1889) (1889–1971), English footballer with Bolton Wanderers F.C. and manager of Blackpool F.C.
• Joe Smith (footballer born 1890) (1890–1956), English footballer with West Bromwich Albion F.C.
• Joe Smith (baseball) (b. 1984), American baseball player
• Joe Smith (basketball) (b. 1975), American basketball player
• Joe Smith (football player) (b. 1979), Canadian pro football player
• Joe Smith (Missouri politician)
• Joe Smith (Swimmer) (b.1933), Oldest man to swim the English Channel
• Joseph Smith (aircraft designer), English aircraft designer who took over as Chief Designer for Supermarine
• Joseph F. Smith (politician) (1920–1999), United States Representative from Pennsylvania
• Joseph M. Smith, British Olympic athlete
• Joseph Showalter Smith (1824–1884), U.S. Representative from Oregon
• Joseph Smith (1682-1770), British Collector