The Joseph Smith Foundation historical Reference consists of accounts, autobiographies, letters, minutes, petitions, and more! Categories
The Joseph Smith Foundation historical Reference consists of accounts, autobiographies, letters, minutes, petitions, and more! Categories
Joseph Fielding McConkie (Professor of Ancient Scripture, BYU) Craig J. Ostler (Assistant Professor of Church History and Doctrine, BYU) Published in the book, Revelations of the Restoration: A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants and Other Modern Revelations (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2000), pp. 89-98 Republished from – http://emp.byui.edu/satterfieldb/Rel121/Process%20of%20Translating%20the%20BofM.pdf Republished from The Translation Process […]
Verbal Statement of Dennison Lott Harris with Annotations Sunday, May 15:15 May 1881 VERBAL STATEMENT OF BP. DENNISON L. HARRIS Of Monroe, Sevier Co., Utah, made by him to President Jos. F. Smith in the presence of Elder Franklin Spencer, at the house of Bp. Dorius of Ephraim, Sanpete Co., Utah, on Sun- day Afternoon, May 15th, 1881. Reported […]
Source: “Document showing the Testimony Given Before the Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of the State of Missouri, on the Trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and others, for High Treason and Other Crimes Against that State” (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1841), p. 147. Affidavit of Thomas B. March (or Marsh) At the […]
Maori Prophecy of LDS Missionaries in New Zealand Elder Matthew Cowley tells of a great convention held in 1881 that represented all of the native tribes of New Zealand. They were gathered at a native village near Mastertown, near Wellington. Many who attended that conference were old enough to have seen the first Christian missionaries […]
Journal of Elder Alma O. Taylor, Relief Society Magazine JANUARY, 1921, pg. 199-203 After supper we sat out in the garden together, talking over the future and the problems which it presented. It was a beautiful moonlight evening, and there came a gentle breeze from off the ocean that filled the air with freshness most […]
Autobiography (1810-1842) inEdward W. Tullidge, The Women of MormondomNew York, 1877, pp. 207-10, 213.SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF PRESCINDIA LATHROP HUNTINGTONIn Kirtland we enjoyed many very great blessings, and often saw the power of God manifested. On one occasion I saw angels clothed in white walking upon the temple. It was during one of our […]
Autobiography (1820-1885)Eliza Marie Partridge Smith Lyman, “Life and Journal of Eliza Marie Partridge (Smith) Lyman,” typescript, HBLL.LIFE AND JOURNAL OFÂ ELIZA MARIE PARTRIDGE (SMITH) LYMANI was born in Painesville, Geauga County, Ohio. My parents’ names were Edward and Lydia Clisbee Partridge. At a very early age I was sent to school where I acquired a very […]
“Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner,” The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine 17 (July 1926):193-205, 250-AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARY E. LIGHTNERI was born in the town of Lima, Livingston County, state of New York, April 9, 1818. My father, John D. Rollins, came from one of the New England States; I think it was Vermont. My mother, Keziah […]
A diary written by Sarah Stoddard about some of the experiences of her son Charles Stoddard while he served as a houseboy for Joseph and Emma Smith when they lived in Nauvoo, Illinois Dear Diary, Charles stopped in for a few minutes today. Said Sister Emma was worried about the prophet being arrested so frequently. […]
During the early years of my life I was much afflicted with sickness, but, through the mercies and blessings of my Heavenly Father, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-three, I live, and am privileged to bear my individual testimony, that for myself I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the living […]
Autobiography (1818-1868)Cited in Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of MormondomNew York, 1877AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARINDA M.[N] HYDE[The life of Mrs. Orson Hyde is replete with incidents of the early days, including the shameful occurrence of the tarring and feathering of the prophet, which took place while he was at her father’s house.] [Her maiden name was […]
Source: Emily Dow Partridge Smith Young, Autobiography, typescript, HBLL. REMINISCENCESalt Lake City, Utah; April 7, 1884 What I remember, I have been requested to write a short sketch of my life, and as I have kept no journal of my early days, I will have to depend mostly upon my memory. I was born on […]
I am the daughter of Mark and Susanah Bigler, and was born near Shinnston, Harrison County, West Virginia, on May 3rd, 1822. My grandfather, Jacob Bigler, came from Pennsylvania and settled on the east side of the west fork of the Monongahela River, about two miles below where the village of Thinnston now stands. He […]
Autobiography (c. 1839-1846)“Life Incidents,” Woman’s Exponent 9-10 (1880-1882) and “Scenes and Incidents in Nauvoo,” Woman’s Exponent 11 (1882-83)LIFE INCIDENTSBy Helen Mar Kimball WhitneyThe scenes which are familiar to the Latter-day Saints of an earlier day, are but little known to those who have since been gathered from the different nations, nor to those who have […]
The account below is an excerpt from the autobiography of Lyman Omer Littlefield. Written as “a very interesting and important contribution kindly furnished for these pages [Autobiography of Lyman Omer Littlefield] by Mrs. Lucy Walker Kimball.” Lucy Walker Kimball was born April 30, 1826, town of Peacham, Caledonia County, Vermont. She was the daughter of John […]
Autobiography (1819-1848)Lyman Omer Littlefield, Reminiscences of Latter-day Saints (Logan, Utah: The Utah Journal Co., 1888)REMINISCENCES OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Note: included in this autiobiography is a short autobiography of Lucy Walker Smith Chapter II Lyman Omer Littlefield, who has undertaken in this little volume to give publicity to many incidents connected with the experience of the […]
Autobiography (1823-1909) Holograph, HBLL AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF CORDELIA MORLEY COX While I am on earth and able to write with the pen in my own hand, I will give to my children and my children’s children, a testimony that I know that God lives and will bless all those who wish to do his will. I […]
Taken from, The Deseret Evening News, February 22, 1882 Agreeable to announcement, the funeral services of Mother Whitney were conducted this forenoon in the Assembly Hall. The casket containing the body of our esteemed sister was placed in front of the stand about an hour before the ceremonies commenced, and the friends of the deceased […]
James R. Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, Vol.6, pp.170-185; Improvement Era 45:686-87, 757-59, 762-65; 767, November 1942; Liahona, the Elders’ Journal 40:194-203, October 13, 1942. Read by President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., at the first session of the 113th Semi-annual Conference, Saturday, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City. To […]