History of Joseph Smith, Jr.

	Revision 6 . . November 1, 2001 4:42 pm by Hank Ramsey [various changes]
	Revision 5 . . October 30, 2001 11:58 pm by Dmerrill [clarify JS as "Prophet, Seer and Revelator" chosen by God to restore the church of Christ after the Apostacy]

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Joseph Smith, Jr. (December 23, 1804, [Sharon, Vermont]? - ) was the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Smith, Jr. (December 23, 1804, [Sharon, Vermont]? - June 27, 1844, Carthage, Illinois) was the translator of the Book of Mormon and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was also the first U.S. Presidential candidate to be assassinated during a campaign (1844).

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The religion he founded claims 10 million adherents in the year 2001. In this context, his life was truly remarkable. He was born into a life of rural farming in Sharon, Vermont and lived there the first several years of his life. His family sought more fertile ground in the Palmyra region of New York state. It was in this area that Joseph began to announce to the world that he had received communications in the forms of a vision of God and Jesus Christ. For the next thirty years of his life, until he was killed by an Illinois mob angry at what "Mormondom" had come to represent, he was a figure of adoration, scorn, and controversy.

One branch of the religious movement he founded claimed 10 million adherents in the year 2001. By any measure, his life was truly remarkable. He was born into a life of rural farming in Sharon, Vermont and lived there the first several years of his life. His family sought more fertile ground in the Palmyra region of New York state. It was there that Joseph began to announce his visionary experiences, leading to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the founding of the restored Church of Christ. For the next twenty years of his life, until he was killed in a shootout with vigilantes while imprisoned at an Illinois jailhouse, he was a figure of adoration, scorn, and controversy.

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Ironically, his death became a martyrdom and propelled the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to center stage as an enduring, newly founded religion in the 20th century.

After his death, Smith's successors led the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to refuge in Utah, and from there to world-wide significance as an enduring, newly founded religion in the 20th century.

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Post-hoc analysis on Smith abounds. Twentieth century detractors such as Fawn Brodie will be highlighted.

Post-hoc analysis on Smith abounds. Twentieth century interpreters such as Fawn Brodie will be highlighted.