The Life of Joseph Smith, the Prophet

The All-Comprehending Character of Joseph's Inspiration--First Public Meeting of the Church after Organization--Believers Asking Baptism--Mobs seeking the Life or the Liberty of...

Dissensions Within the Fold--Oliver Cowdery and Hiram Page Lead the Whitmer's Astray--Mobs at Colesville and Persecution at Harmony--Isaac Hale and his Family Oppose Joseph--The...

Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge Join the Church--Joseph Commences the Translation of the Scriptures--Saints Commanded to Gather at Ohio--Joseph Migrates from New York--The Ki...

A Night of Fury--The Murderous Mob at Hiram--Joseph Dragged from his Bed, and is Stripped, Bruised and Almost Slain by a Profane and Drunken Crowd Led by Apostates and Sectarian...

Departure of the Prophet from Hiram for the Consecrated Land in Missouri--Accepted as the President of the High Priesthood--Returning from Zion, an attempt is made to Poison Him...

Brigham Young Receives the Gospel--His Memorable Meeting with the Prophet--His Constant devotion--"That Man will yet Preside over the Church"--A Revelation on Priesthood--Joseph...

Threats of a Mob of Three Hundred at Independence--Purity Required of Church Members--Excommunication of Dr. P. Hurlbert--His Threats Against the Prophet--Pixley Joins the Mob--...

The Jackson County Persecutions--Appeal to Governor Dunklin--His Timid Reply--Heartless Drivings--A Brutal Murder--Boggs Allows the Mob to Organize as a Militia--Pitcher Placed...

Vain Appeal of the Jackson County Saints for Protection--The Approach of Zion's Camp--Attempts to Raise an Opposing Army--James Campbell's Prophecy and its Fulfillment--A Provid...

The Scourge of Zion's Camp--Joseph and Hyrum Attacked by Cholera--Their Deliverance--The Camp Disbanded--Threats Against the Prophet--His Fearlessness--Joseph Returns to Kirtlan...

Clay County Sorrowfully Bids the Saints to Migrate into the Wilderness--Joseph Sends a Dignified Letter to the Citizens--Continuance of Mob Autocracy in Jackson--Dunklin's Helpl...

The First Serious Apostasy and the First Great Missionary Movement--Dissensions at Kirtland, and Successful Labors in England--Joseph Meets John Taylor in Canada--Trials and Mur...

John Taylor's Brave Defense of Joseph--The Prophet Encounters the Spirit of Apostasy in Missouri--Hyrum in the First Presidency--Brigham Young's Courage and Devotion--Joseph Dri...

Peniston Arouses a Mob--His Exciting Speech Causes a Cruel Attack upon Twelve Unarmed Brethren--One Hundred and Fifty Mobocrats Drive them from the Polls--Adam Black's Promise--...

Joseph Volunteers for Trial and Lyman Wight Follows--Beginning the Study of Law--The Trial Before a Coward Judge, with a Perjured Witness--Militia Called Out, but the Mob Practi...

Bombardment of De Witt--Appeal of the Saints to Governor Boggs--His Heartless Reply--Joseph's Presence Encourages the Brethren--The Saints Leave their Possessions in De Witt--Th...

Boggs Issues an order of Extermination--General Atchison's Threat Against the Tyrant--Avard Organizes the Danites--The Haun's Mill Massacre--Far West Besieged--Three Noble Ones...

Joseph Preaches in Jackson and Fulfills his own Prophecy--Favor in the Eyes of their Captors--Drunken Guards--In Richmond Jail--Majesty in Chains--Clark's Dilemma--The mock Tria...

The Pledge for the Poor Saints in Missouri--Brigham Young Driven Forth--Efforts to Secure the Prophet's Release--Removal to Gallatin--Examination of the Case by a Drunken Jury--...

The Exodus Completed--A Fragment of its Agonies--The Woes of a Martyr's Widow, a Type of the General Suffering--Threat that one of Joseph's Prophecies should Fail--But it is Ful...

The Location of Commerce--Nauvoo, the Beautiful--Pity from Prominent Men in Illinois--A Day of Miracles--The Prophet Raises the Sick at the Sound of his Voice--Joseph Sounds the...

Reasons for an Appeal to Washington--Joseph and Companions Depart for the National Capital--The Prophet's Act of Physical Heroism--He sees Ingratitude--Martin Van Buren and Jose...

The Mission of the Apostles--Miraculous Opening of their way to the Old World--Ordination of Willard Richards--Special Labors of Each Apostle--The First Immigrants to Zion--Jose...

Nauvoo the Beautiful--Events There During the Year 1840--Renewal of Outrages by the Missourians--Death of the Prophet's Father and Edward Partridge--Return of Williams and Phelp...

Joseph's Visit to Governor Carlin at Quincy--Arrest on the Old Requisition from Missouri--A Sheriff Nursed by his Prisoner--Judge Douglas Discharges the Prophet on Writ of _Habe...

Bennett's Impurities--His Cowardly Stab at the Prophet's Name and Life--Fellowship Withdrawn from the Evil-doer--Quoting his own Letters to Injure the Saints--Attempt to Kill Bo...

The Prophet Charged with being an Accessory to the Attempted Assassination of Boggs--Orrin Porter Rockwell Accused of the Crime--The Governor's Requisition--The Arrest--The Prop...

A Breathing Spell--Joseph's Anticipation of his Sacrifice--Many Prophecies and an Important Theological Epoch in the Early Part of 1843--Wrestling and Other Manly Sports--Extrac...

An Evil Quartette--Reynolds, Ford, Bennett and Owens--A New Writ--Joseph Kidnapped at Dixon and Threatened with Death--Efforts for Release on _Habeas Corpus_--a Wrestling Match-...

The First and Only Issue of the Nauvoo "Expositor"--Its Murderous Purpose--Removal of a Nuisance and Eradication of its Cause--Trial of the Mayor and Others, and Their Acquittal...

Pontius Pilate Ford's Entrance upon the Scene at Carthage--The Old Cry of "Crucify!"--Joseph's Final Effort to Avert Danger from Nauvoo--Lack of Faith and Suspicions of Cowardic...

The Last Day--Ford's Action at Nauvoo--Conspiracy Between the Guards and Murderous Mob Militia--The Prisoners Left to their Fate--"A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief"--The Assault an...

In the year 1638, Robert Smith, a sturdy yeoman of England, emigrated to the New World, the land of promise. He settled in Essex County, Massachusetts, and afterwards married Ma...

The circumstances and surroundings of the elder Joseph were of the humblest, when unto his house was born, on the 23rd of December, 1805, Joseph, the Prophet of the Last Dispens...

Joseph was earnest beyond his years; but he was not of a nature to become a prey to morbid feelings. He was neither terrified by the awful threats of the revivalists into a read...

It was on the night of the 21st of September, in the year 1823, that Joseph, having retired to his humble room, invoked an answer to his petition unto the Lord. While lying upon...

At his usual hour of arising, Joseph left his bed, and according to his custom went to labor in the field. The experiences of the night had swept all color from his face. His mi...

When Joseph first stood upon the sacred hill Cumorah, he was in his eighteenth year. The time in which the human character most strongly assumes its shaping was to be with him t...

For the fifth time Joseph stood by the place of deposit of the stone box and its precious contents, which for fourteen centuries had remained concealed from human vision and und...

Joseph's first labor with the plates was in obedience to the general command given to him through Moroni. The particular means by which the translation was to be effected and gi...

Almost a year had passed from the day upon which Martin Harris began his service as a scribe for Joseph, when once more an earthly messenger of help appeared to the Prophet.

While thus busily engaged, Samuel H. Smith, a brother of Joseph, came down from Manchester to Harmony. Joseph proclaimed to him the truth, so far as it had been revealed; presen...

After establishing himself at the house of David Whitmer, and early in the month of June while engaged in translating, Joseph was instructed that three special witnesses should...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on the 6th day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, in Fayette, Seneca County,...

THE ALL-COMPREHENDING CHARACTER OF JOSEPH'S INSPIRATION--FIRST PUBLIC MEETING OF THE CHURCH AFTER ORGANIZATION--BELIEVERS ASKING BAPTISM--MOBS SEEKING THE LIFE OR THE LIBERTY OF...

DISSENSIONS WITHIN THE FOLD--OLIVER COWDERY AND HIRAM PAGE LEAD THE WHITMERS ASTRAY--MOBS AT COLESVILLE AND PERSECUTION AT HARMONY--ISAAC HALE AND HIS FAMILY OPPOSE JOSEPH--THE...

The second General Conference of the Church opened at Fayette, on the 1st day of September, 1830. Joseph Smith presided, and he was supported by the presence, the faith and pray...

SIDNEY RIGDON AND EDWARD PARTRIDGE JOIN THE CHURCH--JOSEPH COMMENCES THE TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES--SAINTS COMMANDED TO GATHER AT OHIO --JOSEPH MIGRATES FROM NEW YORK--THE K...

From all the dwelling-places of the Saints throughout the land came representatives to attend the fourth General Conference of the Church. It opened on the morning of the 6th of...

When will the wilderness blossom as the rose? When will Zion be built up in her glory? And where will Thy temple stand unto which all nations shall come in the last days?

Joseph had learned and taught to his brethren that the mission of the gospel was to bring peace and salvation to all mankind. He himself ministered in the utmost humility among...

A NIGHT OF FURY--THE MURDEROUS MOB AT HIRAM--JOSEPH DRAGGED FROM HIS BED, AND IS STRIPPED, BRUISED AND ALMOST SLAIN BY A PROFANE AND DRUNKEN CROWD LED BY APOSTATES AND SECTARIAN...

DEPARTURE OF THE PROPHET FROM HIRAM FOR THE CONSECRATED LAND IN MISSOURI--ACCEPTED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD--RETURNING FROM ZION, AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO POISON HIM...

BRIGHAM YOUNG RECEIVES THE GOSPEL--HIS MEMORABLE MEETING WITH THE PROPHET--HIS CONSTANT DEVOTION--"THAT MAN WILL YET PRESIDE OVER THE CHURCH"--A REVELATION ON PRIESTHOOD--JOSEPH...

ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS--THE TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES--THE WORD OF WISDOM REVEALED--JOSEPH SELECTS COUNSELORS-- THE SAVIOR AND ANGELS APPEAR AFTER THE OR...

THREATS OF A MOB OF THREE HUNDRED AT INDEPENDENCE--PURITY REQUIRED OF CHURCH MEMBERS--EXCOMMUNICATION OF DR. P. HURLBURT--HIS THREATS AGAINST THE PROPHET--PIXLEY JOINS THE MOB--...

No work of murderous mobs or judicial persecution has ever been able to stay the cause inaugurated under divine direction through Joseph Smith. At the very hour when the mob, on...

THE JACKSON COUNTY PERSECUTIONS--APPEAL TO GOVERNOR DUNKLIN--HIS TIMID REPLY--HEARTLESS DRIVINGS--A BRUTAL MURDER--BOGGS ALLOWS THE MOB TO ORGANIZE AS A MILITIA--PITCHER PLACED...

With the opening of the year 1834, Joseph recorded his prayer that the Lord would deliver Zion and gather in His scattered people to possess it in peace, and that, in their disp...

VAIN APPEALS OF THE JACKSON COUNTY SAINTS FOR PROTECTION--THE APPROACH OF ZION'S CAMP--ATTEMPTS TO RAISE AN OPPOSING ARMY--JAMES CAMPBELL'S PROPHECY AND ITS FULFILLMENT--A PROVI...

THE SCOURGE OF ZION'S CAMP--JOSEPH AND HYRUM ATTACKED BY CHOLERA--THEIR DELIVERANCE--THE CAMP DISBANDED--THREATS AGAINST THE PROPHET--HIS FEARLESSNESS--JOSEPH RETURNS TO KIRTLAN...

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my n...

Joseph Smith was not only a prophet but a reformer--as able as Luther, as bold as Zwingli. And he was more than a reformer. He was a restorer--the greatest in his personality an...

The building of the Kirtland temple was accomplished by the utmost self-sacrifice. Nearly three years had been occupied in its construction; and during this time the Saints had...

CLAY COUNTY SORROWFULLY BIDS THE SAINTS TO MIGRATE INTO THE WILDERNESS--JOSEPH SENDS A DIGNIFIED LETTER TO THE CITIZENS-- CONTINUANCE OF MOB AUTOCRACY IN JACKSON--DUNKLIN'S HELP...

THE FIRST SERIOUS APOSTASY AND THE FIRST GREAT MISSIONARY MOVEMENT-- DISSENSIONS AT KIRTLAND, AND SUCCESSFUL LABORS IN ENGLAND--JOSEPH MEETS JOHN TAYLOR IN CANADA--TRIALS AND MU...

JOHN TAYLOR'S BRAVE DEFENSE OF JOSEPH--THE PROPHET ENCOUNTERS THE SPIRIT OF APOSTASY IN MISSOURI--HYRUM IN THE FIRST PRESIDENCY--BRIGHAM YOUNG'S COURAGE AND DEVOTION--JOSEPH DRI...

PENISTON AROUSES A MOB--HIS EXCITING SPEECH CAUSES A CRUEL ATTACK UPON TWELVE UNARMED BRETHREN--ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MOBOCRATS DRIVE THEM FROM THE POLLS--ADAM BLACK'S PROMISE--...

JOSEPH VOLUNTEERS FOR TRIAL AND LYMAN WIGHT FOLLOWS--BEGINNING THE STUDY OF LAW--THE TRIAL BEFORE A COWARD JUDGE, WITH A PERJURED WITNESS--MILITIA CALLED OUT, BUT THE MOB PRACTI...

BOMBARDMENT OF DE WITT--APPEAL OF THE SAINTS TO GOVERNOR BOGGS--HIS HEARTLESS REPLY--JOSEPH'S PRESENCE ENCOURAGES THE BRETHREN--THE SAINTS LEAVE THEIR POSSESSIONS IN DE WITT--TH...

BOGGS ISSUES AN ORDER OF EXTERMINATION--GENERAL ATCHISON'S THREAT AGAINST THE TYRANT--AVARD ORGANIZES THE DANITES--THE HAUN'S MILL MASSACRE--FAR WEST BESIEGED--THREE NOBLE ONES...

On the morning of Friday, November 2nd, 1838, in pursuance of the sentence of the secret tribunal of preachers and mobocrats--misnamed a court-martial--the Prophet and his fello...

JOSEPH PREACHES IN JACKSON AND FULFILLS HIS OWN PROPHECY--FAVOR IN THE EYES OF THEIR CAPTORS--DRUNKEN GUARDS--IN RICHMOND JAIL--MAJESTY IN CHAINS--CLARK'S DILEMMA--THE MOCK TRIA...

THE PLEDGE FOR THE POOR SAINTS IN MISSOURI--BRIGHAM YOUNG DRIVEN FORTH--EFFORTS TO SECURE THE PROPHET'S RELEASE--REMOVAL TO GALLATIN-- EXAMINATION OF THE CASE BY A DRUNKEN JURY-...

THE EXODUS COMPLETED--A FRAGMENT OF ITS AGONIES--THE WOES OF A MARTYR'S WIDOW, A TYPE OF THE GENERAL SUFFERING--THREAT THAT ONE OF JOSEPH'S PROPHECIES SHOULD FAIL--BUT IT IS FUL...

THE LOCATION OF COMMERCE--NAUVOO, THE BEAUTIFUL--PITY FROM PROMINENT MEN IN ILLINOIS--A DAY OF MIRACLES--THE PROPHET RAISES THE SICK AT THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE--JOSEPH SOUNDS THE...

REASONS FOR AN APPEAL TO WASHINGTON--JOSEPH AND COMPANIONS DEPART FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL--THE PROPHET'S ACT OF PHYSICAL HEROISM--HE SEES INGRATITUDE--MARTIN VAN BUREN AND JOSE...

THE MISSION OF THE APOSTLES--MIRACULOUS OPENING OF THEIR WAY TO THE OLD WORLD--ORDINATION OF WILLARD RICHARDS--SPECIAL LABORS OF EACH APOSTLE--THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS TO ZION--JOSE...

NAUVOO THE BEAUTIFUL--EVENTS THERE DURING THE YEAR 1840--RENEWAL OF OUTRAGES BY THE MISSOURIANS--DEATH OF THE PROPHET'S FATHER AND EDWARD PARTRIDGE--RETURN OF WILLIAMS AND PHELP...

When the Prophet first went to Commerce he was thirty-three years old; and he was martyred in his thirty-ninth year. Despite the outrages perpetrated upon him and the privations...

With the establishment of Nauvoo as a city Dr. John C. Bennett came into prominent association with the Church. He was a quarter-master general of the state of Illinois, and a m...

JOSEPH'S VISIT TO GOVERNOR CARLIN AT QUINCY--ARREST ON THE OLD REQUISITION FROM MISSOURI--A SHERIFF NURSED BY HIS PRISONER--JUDGE DOUGLAS DISCHARGES THE PROPHET ON WRIT OF "HABE...

Upon one occasion, when the power of persecution was descending upon the people, a threat of the mobocrats was carried to the Prophet. It was this: "We are going to drive the Mo...

BENNETT'S IMPURITIES--HIS COWARDLY STAB AT THE PROPHET'S NAME AND LIFE--FELLOWSHIP WITHDRAWN FROM THE EVIL-DOER--QUOTING HIS OWN LETTERS TO INJURE THE SAINTS--ATTEMPT TO KILL BO...

THE PROPHET CHARGED WITH BEING AN ACCESSORY TO THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF BOGGS--ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL ACCUSED OF THE CRIME--THE GOVERNOR'S REQUISITION--THE ARREST--THE PROP...

A considerable party of mobocrats, joined with some officers of the law, left Quincy on the 2nd of the month, intending to reach Nauvoo in the night, surround the Prophet's hous...

A BREATHING SPELL--JOSEPH'S ANTICIPATION OF HIS SACRIFICE--MANY PROPHECIES AND AN IMPORTANT THEOLOGICAL EPOCH IN THE EARLY PART OF 1843--WRESTLING AND OTHER MANLY SPORTS--EXTRAC...

Every woman has the right to virtuous wifehood and maternity. This was the omnipotent design in her creation. Yet how shall it be fulfilled under modern systems? Clearly, the Cr...

AN EVIL QUARTETTE--REYNOLDS, FORD, BENNETT AND OWENS--A NEW WRIT-- JOSEPH KIDNAPPED AT DIXON AND THREATENED WITH DEATH--EFFORTS FOR RELEASE ON "HABEAS CORPUS"--A WRESTLING MATCH...

When the Prophet once more saw one hour of security in Nauvoo, he recorded the fact that he had been subjected in his time to thirty-eight suits against his person and property....

JOSEPH SMITH FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES--AN INSPIRED CANDIDATE --HIS VIEWS OF THE POWERS AND POLICY OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT--HOW THE COUNTRY COULD HAVE SAVED THE CARNA...

Joseph had endeavored by every means in his power to create pacific feelings between the Saints and the other citizens of Illinois. He addressed many communications to the publi...

THE FIRST AND ONLY ISSUE OF THE NAUVOO 'EXPOSITOR'--ITS MURDEROUS PURPOSE--REMOVAL OF A NUISANCE AND ERADICATION OF ITS CAUSE--TRIAL OF THE MAYOR AND OTHERS, AND THEIR ACQUITTAL...

Events were now hurrying on to the last awful scene. Joseph saw the sacrificial cup prepared for him and knew that he must drink its bitter draught. As he draws nearer to the fi...

PONTIUS PILATE FORD'S ENTRANCE UPON THE SCENE AT CARTHAGE--THE OLD CRY OF "CRUCIFY!"--JOSEPH'S FINAL EFFORT TO AVERT DANGER FROM NAUVOO--LACK OF FAITH AND SUSPICIONS OF COWARDIC...

When the morning came on the 25th of June, 1844, Joseph and his brethren voluntarily presented themselves to Constable Bettisworth, who had held the original writ against them....

Before recounting the final act which closed this great life, we may pause to glance at some of the work of the Prophet and some of the difficulties which beset his path and wro...

THE LAST DAY--FORD'S ACTION AT NAUVOO--CONSPIRACY BETWEEN THE GUARDS AND THE MURDEROUS MOB MILITIA--THE PRISONERS LEFT TO THEIR FATE--"A POOR WAYFARING MAN OF GRIEF"--THE ASSAUL...