The Joseph Smith Papers

The Larry H. Miller Communications Corporation decided to produce an hour-long introduction to the Joseph Smith Papers project, to air on KJZZ-TV in Salt Lake City. This became the pilot for the series.

The papers include the earliest of the foundational documents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The papers also provide insights from Joseph through his correspondence, journals, discourses, and business dealings.

Historians set the stage for Joseph Smith Jr.'s early years in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Review the remarkable parallels between a young nation and its newest religion as they each struggled to develop their identity and destiny.

Palmyra is where young Joseph Smith and his family found themselves scraping to buy a farm, building a home, and then losing it all.

Hear the four versions of the First Vision given by the Prophet.

Study Joseph's four accounts of the First Vision and the context that helps clarify the variations.

Review the remarkable relationship between Joseph and the angel Moroni.

Harmony is a story of miracles that would become the foundation for the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in the latter-days.

Review the remarkable events surrounding the restoration of the priesthood and pinpoint the appearance of the three ancient apostles.

Meet five of the scholars whose work is central to compiling a complete and accurate documentary of Joseph Smith.

Survey the complete process of gathering, scrutinizing, and organizing documents for publication.

Explore portions of the original manuscripts of the Book of Mormon and study the remarkable principles and questions that continue to surface.

Review the time-consuming process of typesetting a 600-page book with nineteenth-century equipment.

Examine the origin, motivation, and accuracy of "The History of the Prophet Joseph Smith" by Lucy Mack Smith.

Dean Jesse discusses Joseph's anxiety over keeping the history of a work that would change human events.

Explore the Prophet's personal journals to learn of his shortcomings, interpersonal conflicts, and challenges in leading the Saints into the future.

Study the life of Oliver Cowdery and witness his participation in the events of the Restoration, his apostasy, and his powerful closing testimony.

Enjoy vibrant descriptions from those who met the Prophet. Whether one believed him or not, meeting Joseph Smith always left a deep impression.

Learn how Joseph and his family lived within a few miles of the only man alive who could have saved Joseph's life.

Learn the history of Joseph's new translation of the Bible. Despite its significance, the manuscript was lost to the Church for over a century.

Observe in detail the changes that Joseph made to restore the "plain and precious" meanings of the Bible.

Church history scholars review the papers that may have meant more to Joseph than any others: the letters between the Prophet and his wife.

The Prophet's claim to direct revelation was extremely radical. Nevertheless, the revelation he received restored doctrine and structured the Church.

Learn about the events surrounding the organization of the Church, including why six men were to become the founding fathers of Mormonism.

Scholars discuss the years in Kirtland that were filled with miracles, divine revelation, and instruction.

Revisit the night when Joseph was tarred and feathered. Then, explore the difficulties and joys the Saints faced in their efforts to build a temple.

Examine the few yet remarkable days in Kirtland that culminated with the appearance of the Savior.

Examine the idea of Zion and the role mobs and Mormons alike played in its failure. It was the greatest city that never came to be.

Travel through four states with 200 men to learn that the mission of Zion's Camp was more about the lessons of a journey than about the destination.

Recount the dark days of Kirtland: financial failure, a riot in the temple, betrayal, and mutiny.

Hundreds of newly discovered legal documents paint a new impression of the litigious environment surrounding the Mormon leader.

Study the lawsuits Joseph faced throughout his life from his first encounter with the law at age 13 to the case of the Kirtland Safety Society.

Historians recount the pivotal days that would eventually lead to expulsion from Missouri, captivity at Liberty, and a trek out West

For Joseph Smith, Liberty Jail provided an experience that would be described as the most important leadership training the Prophet would receive.

With an extermination order in effect, thousands of destitute Saints huddled together in desperate circumstances in Missouri. The exodus begins.

Detail the experience that transformed a group of faithful young men into a quorum who had great influence in the British Isles.

Historians show how "the law" in Missouri held Joseph hostage to "legally" rid itself of Mormons.

Historians document the beginnings of Nauvoo, the beautiful city, and the implications from Joseph that it wouldn't last for long.

Recount the meeting of the Prophet and the president in 1839, and learn Smith's candid assessment of the people and power of the nation's capital.

Discuss how the Saints viewed the difference between Joseph's preaching and the revelations he received from God.

Review the remarkable design, organization of labor, and confluence of expertise that created the most notable structure along the Mississippi River.

Recount the story of how a remarkable find in Egypt ended up half a world away in the hands of the one man who could translate the Abrahamic text.

Examine a period of time in the early Church as Joseph introduces the doctrines that made the construction of a temple extremely urgent.

Scholars examine the first meetings of the Relief Society, including the admonition that the organization become a vital source in the church.

Legal scholars document the legal wrangling that kept the Prophet on the defense during the Nauvoo years.

Explore the early foreign missions of the Church in Canada, the British Isles, Palestine, and the Pacific islands.

Join scholars to discuss the fear and frustration of non-Mormons when Latter-day Saints became a political force.

Follow the Prophet's very unique entry into national politics including his opinions on the role of government.

Learn about the events leading to the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

Scholars discuss the extraordinary events that led to consolidation of the Church's new leadership.

Discuss the contention that arose over who would succeed Joseph Smith.

Join scholars for an introduction to the scope and intention of the Papers project.