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This intriguing documentary explores the ambitious effort to compile, transcribe, edit, and present the papers of, by, and directly related to the Latter-day Saint Prophet Joseph Smith.
2009
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.
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Scholars address some compelling questions, such as how Joseph's physical stature.
Scholars recount the status of some of the many biographies and histories profiling the Prophet.
Examine the increased interest in the Mormon prophet from those outside the faith.
Scholars visit New England, where the Smiths and the Macks, Joseph's noble heritage, originated.
Move through New York and Pennsylvania and through the beginnings of Mormonism.
Explore the ambitious effort to compile, transcribe, and edit the Joseph Smith Papers.
Discuss the significance of the City of Zion and recount the Saints' most severe persecution.
Visit Nauvoo, Illinois, and learn of the significance of the original Nauvoo Temple.
Meet the two people who influenced Joseph Smith the most.
Learn more about the Smith family.
Acknowledge the thousands of descendants of Joseph and Emma.
Explore the ambitious effort to compile, transcribe, and edit the Joseph Smith Papers.
Learn of the monumental Teachings of the Presidents of the Church—Joseph Smith manual.
Scholars discuss the revelation directed to Emma Smith.
Examine the history of hymn books.
Scholars provide perspectives on how we have come to view the First Vision.
Scholars present an intimate view of the actual document wherein Joseph describes the First Vision.
Scholars detail the emergence of the official version of the First Vision.
Scholars provide a panoramic view of the First Vision and address purported inconsistencies.
Scholars discuss what Joseph learned about the physical nature of God.
Scholars discuss the revelations received by the Prophet.
Scholars discuss Martin Harris and the lost manuscript.
Scholars examine the forms and structure of language in the Book of Mormon.
Learn of the origins of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Scholars discuss the genealogy of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Scholars discuss the eventful history of the Pearl of Great Price.
Explore the ambitious effort to compile, transcribe, and edit the Joseph Smith Papers.
Explore the ambitious effort to compile, transcribe, and edit the Joseph Smith Papers.
Get introduced to the intricate treatment of documents containing revelations received by Joseph.
Review the circumstances that led to the revelation on the Word of Wisdom.
Examine the Prophet's loyalty to the Constitution.
Revisit the setting and circumstances of the revelation on the afterlife in Doctrine and Covenants.
Dissect the letters dictated by Joseph Smith while in Liberty Jail.
Peer into the heart of the Prophet to examine his Christian beliefs.
Recall the influential role Hyrum played in the Restoration.
Meet Parley and Orson Pratt.
Review the lives of several prominent Latter-day Saints.
Review the lives of several prominent Latter-day Saints.
Meet the Snows, whose deep imprints on the Church are still felt today.
Join a panel of Latter-day Saint scholars as they answer questions posed by students.
Scholars from the project answer questions on skepticism, law and justice, and more.
Get an overview of the whole project.
