december june american religious leader founder movement smith published book time death fourteen years later attracted tens thousands followers founded religious culture continues present smith born vermont moved family burned district western new_york site intense religious second great awakening according smith experienced series visions including saw presumably god father jesus christ angel named directed buried book golden plates inscribed christian history ancient american civilization traveled americas centuries birth christ smith published said english translation plates book year organized calling restoration early christian church members church later called day saints smith announced revelation renamed church smith followers moved west planning build gathered ohio established outpost independence missouri intended center place 1830s smith sent missionaries published revelations supervised construction expensive temple collapse church sponsored violent skirmishes non caused smith followers establish new settlement illinois spiritual political leader smith city council angered destroying newspaper criticized smith power practice smith imprisoned illinois killed mob stormed smith published revelations texts followers regard scripture teachings include unique views nature god family structures political organization religious followers regard prophet comparable moses religious denominations consider continuation church organized including life early years born december vermont husband merchant farmer suffering bone infection seven younger smith years ill fated business venture years crop failures smith family moved western new_york village eventually took mortgage acre farm nearby town manchester second great awakening region religious enthusiasm camp meetings area smith parents disagreed religion family caught excitement smith later said interested religion age doubt participated church classes read bible teenager sympathetic family members smith engaged religious folk magic uncommon practice time parents maternal grandfather reportedly visions dreams believed communicated messages god smith said concerned welfare soul confused claims competing religious denominations years later smith said received vision resolved religious confusion praying wooded area near home said god vision told sins contemporary churches turned aside gospel smith said told experience preacher dismissed story contempt experience largely unknown 1840s smith understood event personal conversion vision later grew importance today event restoration gospel smith said praying night forgiveness sins visited angel named revealed location buried book golden plates artifacts including set composed stones set frame hidden hill manchester near home smith said attempted remove plates morning unsuccessful angel prevented smith reported years annual visits hill time returned plates smith family faced financial november death smith oldest brother assumed leadership role family family members supplemented farm income hiring odd jobs working treasure type magical common period smith said ability locate lost items looking stone treasure hunting including unsuccessful attempts find buried treasure sponsored wealthy farmer new_york smith brought court glass looking pretending find lost treasure result proceeding remains unclear primary sources report conflicting outcomes boarding house harmony pennsylvania smith began smith proposed marriage emma father objected smith stranger means supporting daughter money digging disapproved smith emma married january couple began boarding smith parents manchester later year smith promised abandon treasure seeking offered let couple live property harmony help smith started business smith said annual visit hill september taking emma time said retrieved plates locked chest said angel commanded plates publish translation reputed religious record early indigenous americans come americas jerusalem smith said plates engraved unknown language reformed egyptian told associates capable reading translating archaeological linguistic evidence use egyptian writing ancient america discovered smith left treasure hunting company associates believed double crossed taking considered joint property places competing treasure said plates hidden smith decided leave founding church october smith pregnant wife moved harmony oakland pennsylvania aided money relatively prosperous neighbor living near laws smith characters said engraved plates dictated translation wife february arrived assist smith harris took sample characters prominent scholars including harris said initially characters translation retracted opinion learning smith supposed received plates angel denied harris account meeting claiming instead tried convince harris victim fraud harris returned harmony april encouraged continue smith smith continued harris mid june harris began having doubts project fueled wife skepticism harris convinced smith let existing pages manuscript family members including wife harris lost manuscript copy time smith wife emma gave birth son died day smith said punishment losing manuscript angel took away plates revoked ability translate dark period smith briefly attended methodist meetings wife cousin objected inclusion practicing methodist class roll smith said angel returned plates september resumed april met replaced harris worked time manuscript april early june moved new_york continued work home friend narrative described institutional church requirement baptism smith baptized completed july smith previously refused plates told allowed men known collectively witnesses later group witnesses composed male members smith families signed statements seen golden plates witnesses said actually handled plates according smith angel took plates smith finished completed work book published march printer having farm finance soon april smith followers formally organized small branches established new_york book brought smith regional notoriety opposition remembered money digging trial baptized new members received threats mob violence smith confirm newly baptized members arrested brought trial person acquitted flee escape gathering mob probable reference period flight smith said peter james john appeared ordained higher smith authority undermined church members claimed receive revelations response smith dictated revelation clarified office prophet declared held keys mysteries revelations ability scripture church shortly conference smith dispatched mission native americans assigned task locating site new jerusalem way missouri party passed northeastern ohio followers variety converted doubling size church soon visited new_york quickly smith primary assistant growing opposition new_york smith gave forth revelation eastern boundary followers gather life ohio smith moved ohio january encountered religious culture included enthusiastic demonstrations spiritual gifts including fits rolling ground speaking smith producing revelations brought congregation authority followers practicing form smith adopted calling smith promised church elders receive heavenly power june general conference introduced greater authority high church hierarchy converts poured summer thousand vicinity expecting smith lead shortly kingdom mission indians failure missionaries sent way government indian agent reported found site missouri smith visited july agreed frontier hamlet independence center place disapproved 1830s church remained divided ohio missouri smith continued live ohio visited missouri early order prevent rebellion prominent church members including believed church missouri neglected smith trip mob ohio residents smith political power mob beat smith unconscious left dead missouri residents resented newcomers political religious reasons tension increased july forcibly evicted destroyed property smith advised bear violence attacked fourth time fight armed bands exchanged fire non killed old settlers brutally expelled county smith ended experiment changed church leading small paramilitary expedition later called aid military endeavor expedition failure men outnumbered suffered cholera outbreak camp transformed leadership future church leaders came participants camp returned smith drew heavily participants establish governing bodies church originally equal authority check groups smith gave revelation saying followers receive march temple dedication participants promised saw visions angels spoke late series internal disputes led collapse community smith blamed having promoted church sponsored bank failed accused engaging sexual relationship serving girl building temple left church deeply debt smith creditors having heard large sum money supposedly hidden salem massachusetts smith traveled received revelation god treasure city month returned handed january smith church leaders created joint stock company called act quasi bank company issued bank notes capitalized real estate smith encouraged buy notes invested heavily bank failed month result suffered intense pressure debt collectors severe price smith held responsible failure widespread church including smith closest advisers warrant issued smith arrest charge banking fraud smith fled missouri night january life missouri smith abandoned plans smith arrived missouri town new missouri church received new construction began new temple weeks months smith arrived far west thousands day saints followed smith encouraged settlement land outside settlement adam time church council expelled oldest prominent leaders church including smith explicitly approved expulsion men known collectively political religious differences old newly arriving settlers provoked tensions groups years earlier time smith experiences mob violence led believe faith survival required greater june recent convert formed covert organization called oppose anti militia units unclear smith knew activities clearly approved know delivered sermon implied place community forcibly expelled county given town fourth july celebration declared longer tolerate persecution spoke war attacked smith endorsed speech non understood threat flood anti rhetoric newspapers speeches given election campaign august tried prevent voting election day initiated war raided burned farms non towns period smith heated rhetoric encouraged followers aggressive measures smith approved impression approaching group armed men band attacked missouri state militia known governor ordered driven state unaware order october party surprised killed seventeen mill massacre following day surrendered state troops agreed property leave state smith immediately brought military court accused treason sentenced executed morning smith attorney brigadier general missouri militia refused carry order smith sent state court preliminary hearing allies testified smith including charged overt acts treason transferred jail liberty missouri await trial smith months prison ill strained relationship president rose prominence faithful organized saints illinois eastern iowa smith bore imprisonment understanding effectively trial people considered fallen prophet wrote personal defense apology activities keys kingdom wrote taken away directed followers collect publish stories persecution urged moderate april grand jury hearing smith companions escaped custody certainly sheriff guards life illinois american newspapers criticized missouri hill massacre state expulsion illinois accepted refugees gathered banks mississippi_river smith purchased high priced woodland hamlet commerce smith attempted portray day saints oppressed minority unsuccessfully petitioned federal government help obtaining summer suffered malaria epidemic smith sent missions europe numerous converts poor factory workers smith attracted wealthy influential converts including illinois general bennett connections illinois legislature obtain unusually liberal charter new city smith named hebrew meaning beautiful charter granted city virtual autonomy authorized university granted corpus power allowed smith fend missouri authorities controlled civil government city promised unusually liberal guarantee religious freedom charter authorized autonomous militia actions limited state federal lieutenant general smith major general bennett commanders controlling far largest body armed men illinois smith bennett assistant president church bennett elected mayor smith began revealing doctrine marriage closest male associates including bennett excuse seduce numerous women embarrassing rumors spiritual got abroad smith forced bennett resignation mayor retaliation bennett wrote life early years period innovation smith introduced baptism dead construction began temple place recovering lost ancient knowledge revelation promised restoration smith inaugurated revised resembled rites smith observed months earlier initiated lodge open men initiated women smith introduced service club smith predicted women receive keys kingdom smith elaborated plan kingdom longer building smith viewed encompassing settlements stakes tent refuge impending great building project summer smith revealed plan establish kingdom god eventually establish rule earth popular opinion turned unknown shot wounded missouri governor anti circulated rumors smith bodyguard shooter evidence ordered smith certain killed returned missouri smith went hiding twice months district attorney illinois argued smith missouri unconstitutional later tried acquitted june enemies smith convinced reluctant illinois governor smith missouri old charge treason law officers arrested smith intercepted party reach missouri smith released writ corpus municipal court ended attempts caused significant political fallout illinois december smith petitioned congress independent territory right federal troops defense smith wrote leading presidential candidates asked protect receiving negative responses smith announced party candidacy president united_states suspended regular sent hundreds political missionaries march following dispute federal smith organized secret council authority decide national state laws obey council select site large settlement texas california oregon live law governmental control death spring rift developed smith half dozen closest associates notably smith trusted counselor general disagreed smith manage economy said smith proposed marriage wives believing plotting life smith april formed competing church following month county seat smith june published issue calling reform church appealing political views county paper smith new doctrines gods alluded smith aspirations called repeal city charter attacked smith practice implying smith religion pretext draw women order seduce marry fearing newspaper bring countryside city council declared public ordered legion destroy press smith feared mob attack supported action realizing suppression press sooner attack libel destruction newspaper provoked arms editor longtime critic smith fearing uprising smith mobilized june declared martial law officials responded small detachment state militia governor appeared threatening raise larger militia smith city council surrendered smith initially fled mississippi_river shortly returned surrendered ford june smith brother rode stand trial riot custody charges increased treason june armed mob faces stormed jail joseph held trying secure door killed instantly shot face smith fired pepper box pistol friend lent self defense sprang window shot multiple times falling window crying lord god died shortly hitting ground shot times mob dispersed men later tried murder acquitted smith buried currently interred smith family cemetery life smith sharply criticized newspaper editors death newspapers unanimous portraying smith religious fanatic conversely foremost prophet seal testimony faith legacy impact smith attracted thousands devoted followers death millions century followed regarded prophet par moses compilation significant americans time magazine ranked smith category religious figures produced large scholarly work smith large extent result pictures different people man god hand fraud ignorance followers believers tended focus achievements religious teachings personal defects detractors focused mistakes legal troubles controversial doctrines half 20th century writers suggested smith suffered psychological disorders paranoid illness explain visions revelations modern biographers disagree ideas nuanced interpretations range viewing smith prophet normal human weaknesses pious fraud believed called god preach felt justified visions order convert people gifted product yankee environment biographers non agree smith influential charismatic innovative figures american religious history memorials smith include salt_lake_city utah campus granite marking birth place religious denominations smith death resulted succession crisis smith proposed ways choose successor clarified preference smith brother survived strongest claim followed smith brother samuel died mysteriously month brothers brother william unable attract sufficient following smith sons david claims young david council theoretical claim succession secret organization smith chosen successors left church strongest succession candidates senior member president senior member presidency church wide conference august day saints elected young led membership young surpassed million members smaller groups followed based claim allegedly forged letter appointment followed members smaller groups including smith family eventually leadership formed known century community christ members members denominations originating smith teachings number approximately million family descendants smith wives gave birth children marriage died age eldest born died hours birth twins born twins died adopted set twins julia joseph mother recently died joseph died born year earlier died malaria emma gave birth son joseph emma sons lived maturity born smith death dna testing provided evidence smith fathered children women emma life frequently denied husband taken additional wives emma said time aware revelation attributed smith read periodical emma campaigned publicly main petition thousand female signatures denying smith connected president emma authorized publishing certificate year denouncing denying husband creator participant deathbed emma denied joseph involvement stating thing spiritual taught publicly privately husband death knowledge wife knowledge smith death quickly alienated church leadership young emma feared despised suspicious desire preserve family assets inclusion church thought troublesome openly opposed marriage day saints moved west stayed married non major withdrew religion affiliated headed son emma denied smith gift belief authenticity book revelations according signal feature smith life sense guided revelation instead presenting ideas logical arguments smith dictated authoritative revelations let people decide believe smith teachings came primarily revelations read like scripture open interpretation smith followers viewed revelations teachings opinions smith actions indicate believed revelations loyal followers smith recorded revelation god having let lose pages book manuscript fearing man god revelation given voice god declaration smith subsequent revelations assumed similar authoritative style opening words people lord god book book called longest complex smith revelations organized compilation smaller books named main named narrator prominent leader tells story rise fall religious civilization beginning ending story begins family leaves jerusalem captivity eventually construct ship sail promised land divided factions people build temple live law moses teach christian gospel book explains largely work prophet military figure book closes son finishes records written golden plates christian themes work instance book teach christ coming talk star appear birth resurrection jerusalem jesus appears americas repeats sermon mount children disciples book ends come unto christ early understood book religious history indigenous peoples americas smith followers view companion bible additional witness christ akin large work modern historian called book response pressing cultural environmental issues smith times saying smith composed book drawing information available historian says work autobiographical nature smith said produced book saying translated power god implying words book states text come forth gift power god unto interpretation thereof considerable disagreement actual method exists earliest smith said pair stones said buried plates later said chocolate colored stone found previously treasure hunting said smith saw words translation stone stones hat excluding light process similar location treasure smith concealed process raising curtain room times dictated view witnesses plates lay covered table completing translation smith gave brown stone continued receive revelations stone said longer needed book drew converts church argued book lives today prophet book smith assumed role prophet jesus christ early introducing joseph prophet language authority smith revelations appealing converts revelations given confidence old testament prophet moses smith said june received revelation moses moses saw world ends thereof asked god questions purpose creation man relationship god revelation initiated revision bible smith worked sporadically remained unpublished death smith said believed bible corrupted ages revision worked restore original intent added long passages rewritten according inspiration changes involved contradictions making small changes added large lost portions text instance smith revision nearly length chapters genesis book moses book moses begins moses god purpose creation told account god earth heavens bring humans eternal life book provides enlarged account genesis creation narrative expands story ancestor narrative speaks god receives calling eventually builds city taken heaven book expands types christ effect old testament smith encouraged day saints purchase rolls ancient egyptian traveling years smith worked events allowed produce supposed translation rolls published book book speaks founding nation astronomy lineage gave account creation story smith dictated book thought lost great chicago fire fragments rediscovered 1960s translated determined book dead connection revelations according smith dictated revelations recorded revisions revelations immediately copied circulated church members smith revelations came response specific questions described process having pure intelligence flowing smith viewed wording revelations god words language suitable joseph time smith edited expanded previous revelations publishing book later smith gave varying types revelations temporal spiritual received specific individual directed church notable revelations include revelation called law containing directions missionary work rules organizing society injunction administer poor outline law revelation called vision added sin introduced doctrines life salvation theme heaven degrees glory revelation explain doctrine months later smith gave lengthy revelation called olive leaf containing themes discussing subjects light truth intelligence related revelation given christ center salvation time smith delivered revelation called word wisdom diet herbs fruits grains use meat recommended day saints avoid strong alcoholic drinks tobacco hot drinks later interpreted mean tea coffee word wisdom originally framed recommendation smith day saints strictly follow counsel later requirement smith gave great revelation organized councils served complex blueprint church structure smith revelation new recorded dealt theology family doctrine sealing marriage smith revelations dealt establishing church gathering followers building later revelations dealt revelations slowed autumn dedication smith relied heavily teachings smith moved away written revelations opening lord taught conversations letters instance doctrines baptism dead nature god introduced smith famed statements thing matter recorded casual conversation methodist preacher views teachings theology smith taught existence material including world spirit matter fine invisible mortal eyes matter smith view created destroyed creation involved reorganization existing matter like matter smith saw intelligence eternal god taught human spirits drawn pre existent pool eternal spirits experience joy joined bodies according smith work glory god create worlds inferior embodied smith initially viewed god father spirit eventually began teaching god advanced man embodied time space end life smith teaching god father jesus distinct beings physical bodies holy spirit spirit gradual acquisition knowledge according smith received eventually like god teachings implied vast hierarchy gods god having father smith gods reign unified purpose leading spirits lesser capacity share eternal life smith view opportunity achieve extended humanity died opportunity accept saving achieve accepting performed behalf smith said children died innocence guaranteed rise resurrection receive apart committed eternal sin smith taught wicked achieve degree glory religious authority ritual smith teachings rooted taught restored day restoration early christian faith lost great smith church little sense hierarchy religious authority derived visions revelations smith claim exclusive early revelation designated prophet allowed issue moses religious authority encompassed economic political spiritual matters instance early 1830s temporarily instituted form religious communism called required day saints property church divided faithful envisioned institutions established role worldwide political organization millennium smith began teaching hierarchy continuation biblical succession biblical figures appearing visions introducing high smith taught recipients endowed power high fulfilling need greater authority doctrine evolved 1830s included elaborate ceremony containing elements similar jewish tradition extended women smith clarified women ordained offices smith taught high heavenly power included sealing powers allowing high priests effect binding consequences example power enable dead marriages effective sealing powers enabled second sic according smith sealed married couples theology family early 1840s smith theology family relations called new superseded bonds taught outside marriages simply matters contract individuals married outside married limited progression fully enter man woman participate sealing ceremony second called sealing holy spirit promise fully sealed smith said sin eternal sin according smith person earth time case smith possess power sealing smith taught highest level achieved marriage ultimate manifestation marriage according smith allowed individual state god accelerating expansion heavenly kingdom smith accounts teaching doctrine early unconfirmed evidence smith church publicly rift smith issue suspected smith engaged relationship serving girl smith denied relationship insisted presumably taken wife april smith half years married sealed additional women married men generally knowledge consent husbands records circumstances unions support considered smith wives ages fourteen practice kept secret members church caused breach smith wife emma emma knew husband marriages certainly know extent activities emma temporarily accepted smith marriage women boarded smith household soon regretted decision demanded wives leave july smith dictated revelation directing emma accept marriage reconciled september emma began participating temple ceremonies political views campaigning president united_states smith opportunity political positions issues day smith considered constitution especially bill rights inspired god day saints best defense believed strong central government crucial nation thought democracy better taught monarchy ideal form government foreign affairs smith viewed brotherhood smith favored strong central bank high protect american business agriculture imprisonment murder preferring efforts reform criminals labor opposed courts martial military supported capital punishment opposed hanging preferring execution firing squad smith published pro slavery essay later opposed practice presidential campaign proposed sale public lands smith said believe blacks inherently inferior whites welcomed slaves church opposed slaves permission masters opposed smith declared instruments fulfilling statue vision book daniel secular government destroyed sword gun replaced kingdom god smith taught kingdom governed principles democratic long people chose ethics behavior statement ethics smith found 13th article faith believe honest true good men follow paul believe things hope things endured things hope able endure things lovely good report seek things smith said ethical rule lord commands taught wrong right god said thou kill time said thou utterly destroy principle government heaven conducted revelation adapted circumstances elders kingdom placed god requires right things considered understand order heaven beginning 1840s people involved conflicts missouri illinois state governments smith taught congress power law rights religion obligation follow laws deemed contrary religious privilege smith felt justified promoting despite violation traditional ethical standards
Joseph Smith