The Joseph Smith Papers

2/2/2009

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

3/9/2009

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

3/9/2009

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

3/16/2009

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

3/16/2009

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

3/23/2009

Review the remarkable relationship between Joseph and the angel Moroni.

3/23/2009

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

3/30/2009

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

3/30/2009

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

5/11/2009

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

5/11/2009

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

5/18/2009

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

5/18/2009

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

5/25/2009

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

5/25/2009

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

6/1/2009

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

6/1/2009

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

6/8/2009

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

6/8/2009

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.

6/15/2009

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

6/15/2009

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

6/22/2009

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

6/22/2009

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

6/29/2009

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

6/29/2009

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.

7/6/2009

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

7/6/2009

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.

7/13/2009

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.

7/13/2009

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

7/20/2009

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

7/20/2009

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.

7/27/2009

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

7/27/2009

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

8/3/2009

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

8/3/2009

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

8/10/2009

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

8/10/2009

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

8/17/2009

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.

8/17/2009

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

8/24/2009

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

8/24/2009

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.

8/31/2009

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

8/31/2009

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

9/7/2009

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

9/7/2009

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

9/14/2009

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

9/14/2009

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

9/28/2009

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

9/28/2009

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

10/5/2009

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

4/4/2009

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