Joseph Smith (1805–1844) was the founding prophet and first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Joseph Smith Papers Project is an effort to transcribe, contextualize, and publish all his writings and teachings, including revelations, translations, letters, discourses, journals, histories, and legal and financial records.

About the Joseph Smith Papers Project

Documents

Journals

Administrative Records

Revelations and Translations

Histories

Legal Records

Financial Records

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Months before his death, Joseph Smith convened a council to discuss proposed Latter-day Saint settlements beyond the western border of the United States. The council saw itself as the beginnings of a political kingdom or government in preparation for the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

Minutes of the Council of Fifty

Joseph Smith was involved in dozens of legal cases throughout his life. This document, known as a capias, orders the Hancock County sheriff to bring him to the courthouse to answer charges of perjury. The case was dismissed after Smith was murdered in June 1844.

Court order

This letter from Jacob Scott, a Latter-day Saint in Hancock County, Illinois, demonstrates what time and use can do to a document. Joseph Smith Papers staff members employ a variety of techniques to decipher damaged texts.

Worn and damaged letter

Originally intended as a scriptural index, this volume was used to record Joseph Smith’s journal in 1835 and 1836, a period that included the dedication of the Kirtland temple.

Journal, 1835–1836

Joseph Smith delivered one of his best-known sermons after the death of his friend King Follett on 7 April 1844. The sermon declared that humans were coeternal with God and could progress to become like him. Some listeners were inspired by the words; others found them blasphemous.

The King Follett Sermon

This large volume provides a chronological record of land transactions by Joseph Smith and subsequent church trustees from 1842 to early 1846. It includes several maps detailing land ownership in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Trustees Land Book B

In this brief account of Joseph Smith’s foundational spiritual experiences, he described his vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ. It is the earliest account of the vision and the only one in Joseph Smith’s own handwriting.

Joseph Smith’s 1832 History

First Attempt to Extradite Joseph Smith to Missouri (Image)

At a meeting of the church’s presidency on 14 September 1835, it was “decided that Sister Emma Smith proceed to make a selection of sacred hymns, according to the revilation, and that President W[illiam] W. Phelps be appointed to revise and arrange them for printing.” The hymnbook was finished by early 1836.

First Attempt to Extradite Joseph Smith to Missouri

The Joseph Smith Papers is pleased to announce its latest web publication. This release features an <a href="/paper-summary/introduction-to-illinois-land-transactions">introduction</a> and <a href="/the-papers/financial-records/jsppf3/jsppf3-SUB-ILLAND">documents</a> for Joseph Smith’s land transactions in the Nauvoo, Illinois, area from 1839 to 1844. It also includes more than one hundred <a href="/the-papers/legal-records/jsppl7/jsppl7-sub-il/jsppl7-sub-il10">additional documents</a> for two legal cases about the estate of Joseph Smith, fifty additional versions of documents from 1830 to 1835, and new and updated <a href="/reference/calendar-of-documents">calendar of documents</a> entries related to the Illinois land transactions and the additional versions of documents.

Joseph Smith Papers Project

New Content on the Joseph Smith Papers Website

Podcasts

The First Vision: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast Image

The First Vision: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast

The Priesthood Restored: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast (Image)

The Priesthood Restored: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast

The Nauvoo Temple: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast (Image)

The Nauvoo Temple: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast

Kirtland, City of Revelation: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast (Image)

Kirtland, City of Revelation: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast

Road to Carthage: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast

The authoritative source for the writings, teachings, and records of Joseph Smith

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Legal Records: Case Introductions is a recently published ebook explaining and contextualizing Joseph Smith’s involvement with the law. It features some two hundred legal cases he participated in from 1819 to 1844 as a plaintiff/complainant, defendant, witness, or judge.

Dust jacket of Joseph Smith Papers Documents volume

New Resource—Legal Case Introductions

Read all of the accounts of the First Vision written by Joseph Smith and his contemporaries during his lifetime

Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision Thumbnail

Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision

On Friday and Saturday, September 15 and 16, 2023, the Joseph Smith Papers Project hosted the final Joseph Smith Papers conference, commemorating the completion of the print series of The Joseph Smith Papers. The conference engaged with the following question: What have we learned from the Joseph Smith Papers Project?

2023 Joseph Smith Papers Conference

Our newest eight-part miniseries, Road to Carthage, explores the 1844 assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Listen now!

New Podcast! Road to Carthage

Featured Topics

The Joseph Smith Papers is funded in large part by the generosity of the Miller Family Foundation.  In their own words, Larry and Gail Miller tell interviewers how they became involved in the project.

The Miller Family Foundation's support of The Joseph Smith Papers

Historian Elizabeth A. Kuehn discusses how the letters of Latter-day Saint women help bring clarity to a poorly understood period of church history in Kirtland, Ohio. <a href="https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/documents-volume-5-october-1835-january-1838">Documents, Volume 5: October 1835–January 1838</a>

Women' Voices in Early Latter-day Saint History

Historian Robin Scott Jensen of the Joseph Smith Papers Project explains the origins of the papyri Joseph Smith purchased, how the artifacts came to Kirtland, Ohio, and where the remnants can be found today.

The Story of the Joseph Smith Papyri

The Joseph Smith Papers will consist of twenty-seven volumes, divided into five series: Documents, Journals, Revelations and Translations, Histories, and Administrative Records; two additional series, the Legal Records series and the Financial Records series, will be published online.

Published Volumes

Register to receive periodic emails about news and updates for the Joseph Smith Papers Project

The Joseph Smith Papers: Register for email updates about the project

Timeline of major events mentioned in papers of Joseph Smith. LDS Church history events.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Timeline of Events

See answers to frequently asked questions about the Joseph Smith Papers, such as questions about its size, relationship with the LDS Church, pricing of volumes, and the website

The Joseph Smith Papers: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

View the original histories, journals, revelations, and other documents of Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Joseph Smith Papers: A comprehensive digital collection of the papers of Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith Papers Media Library: Collection of artwork, photographs, and other media depicting people, places, and events mentioned in Joseph Smith's papers. The library also includes maps, charts, and other reference materials.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Media Library

Learn about the latest updates, new publications, and events for the Joseph Smith Papers Project

The Joseph Smith Papers: News and updates

News | Joseph Smith Papers

Joseph Smith Papers: The people mentioned in the journals and other papers of Joseph Smith.

The Joseph Smith Papers: People of the Time

Joseph Smith Papers: The places mentioned in the papers of Joseph Smith. Historic sites - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Places of the Time

Privacy Policy for the Joseph Smith Papers Project

The Joseph Smith Papers: Privacy Policy

Joseph Smith Papers: View the people, places, events, and topics that appears in the papers of Joseph Smith the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Reference

Rights and Use Information for the Joseph Smith Papers Project

The Joseph Smith Papers: Rights and Use

Search the Joseph Smith Papers for original documents and information about Joseph Smith, Mormonism, and American religious history.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Search

The Joseph Smith Papers: The Papers

Joseph Smith Papers: Definitions for terms appearing in Joseph Smith's papers that have particular meaning in Mormon usage—especially ordinances, offices, andorganizations. Terms are defined as they were used at the time. LDS Topics.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Topics

A comprehensive list of works cited in the Joseph Smith Papers.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Comprehensive List of Works Cited

The Joseph Smith Papers project is the definitive collection of journals, letters, and other documents written by Joseph Smith, the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Joseph Smith Papers: About the project

Contact us if you have comments or questions on the print volumes, website, or the project in general

The Joseph Smith Papers: Contact us

Learn about the editorial method for the Joseph Smith Papers Project, including transcription rules, annotation conventions, and document selection

The Joseph Smith Papers: Editorial Method

Read about endorsements for the Joseph Smith Papers, including an endorsement from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission

The Joseph Smith Papers: Endorsements

An introduction to The Joseph Smith Papers, including his origins, initiatives, character, place in history, and records

Joseph Smith and His Papers: An Introduction

An explanation of why document images and transcripts may appear to differ in the online presentation of the Joseph Smith Papers

The Joseph Smith Papers: Note on images

Learn about the Editorial Board, National Advisory Board, historians, editors, and other staff members behind the project

The Joseph Smith Papers: Project team

Order the already-published volumes from each series of the Joseph Smith Papers, including Documents, Journals, Histories, and Revelations and Translations.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Order the print volumes

A collection of scholarly reviews of the Joseph Smith Papers

The Joseph Smith Papers: Reviews

Guidelines for citing or referring to the Joseph Smith Papers, its component series or volumes, or materials on the Joseph Smith Papers website

The Joseph Smith Papers: Style guidelines for referencing the papers

Chronological list of all known Joseph Smith documents, including multiple versions of documents

Letters, revelations, reports of discourses, minutes, etc.

Timeline of major events mentioned in Joseph Smith’s papers. Events include major journeys and migrations, births and deaths of Joseph Smith’s children, selected revelations, essential developments in ecclesiastical organization, and other significant incidents. Future releases will expand the list of events. For more information about an event, click on the event name. Move the “handles” on the blue bar to see a larger or smaller time span. To zoom in to a month-by-month view, move both handles inside a single year span. You can also use the arrows on the left and right side of the bar to move through the timeline. Note that choosing a smaller time span will allow you to see more events. You can also use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out. Hover over an event and roll up once to zoom to a month-by-month view and again for a day-by-day view. Roll down to zoom out.

Early histories and draft material for the later History of the Church

To request a free, softbound copy of the index for Journals, Volume 1: 1832–1839 or Journals, Volume 2: December 1841–April 1843, please complete the following form. When you are ready to submit your request, click "Submit." Please be aware that the information you submit will be shared with Deseret Book Company, the print and distribution partner of the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Your request constitutes permission for the project and Deseret Book Company to send you periodic email updates about the project and its publications. Please select which index you are requesting.

Journals, Volume 1: 1832–1839

Journals, Volume 2: December 1841–April 1843

Request for index

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Selected papers of Joseph Smith's contemporaries

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation

Brief biographical sketches for selected persons mentioned in Joseph Smith’s papers. Names listed in this directory include church leaders and members, Smith family members, people Joseph Smith encountered in his travels, parties involved in legal and business matters, and other acquaintances.

William W. Phelps

Parley P. Pratt

Oliver Cowdery

Geographical descriptions of many of the places mentioned in Joseph Smith’s papers, including towns, villages, counties, states, landforms, waterways, and significant structures.

Early manuscript and printed versions of scriptural works

JSP Index Request

Title

Definitions for terms appearing in Joseph Smith’s papers that have particular meaning in Mormon usage—especially ordinances, offices, and organizations. Terms are defined as they were used at the time.

For more information about the works cited, including a guide to the abbreviations used, see <a href="/articles/introduction-to-works-cited" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Introduction to Works Cited</a>.

List of all sources cited on the Joseph Smith Papers website

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