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Could the mormons have been successful without Joseph Smith? His life and death Joseph Smith was born December 23, 1805. His family was poor and they farmed for JOSEPH SMITH'S LIFE AS A YOUTH The religious fervor became intense in that area and Joseph’s family were split in their loyalties to different religions. Smith read in the Bible that he should ask of God for wisdom. He took it to heart and went into the seclusion of a grove of trees early one morning to pray for guidance. As he prayed, the grove filled with intense light (he at first thought it was a fire) and he claimed, and taught for the rest of his life, that two heavenly persons appeared to him. He saw God, the Father and Jesus Christ. They told him not to join any of the churches, but wait for further instructions.
Joseph Smith married Emma Hale and they had eight children and adopted two others. Their lives were marked with joys of being united with fellow “saints” and had sorrows of losing children and being mobbed and persecuted. Travel Like a Pro! Get Paid to Travel- Pay Less.Best Travel. Make money from other people's travel too.
JOSEPH SMITH AND BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH Along with five others, Joseph Smith met in a small home in Fayette, New York and “restored” the Church of Jesus Christ on April 6, 1830. At that time the name was The Church of Christ, later changed until it was settled by revelation to the current name of the church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many followers were joined with the small church in New York and Pennsylvania. Nevertheless the opposition grew so distressing that they could not even conduct a peaceable baptism in the river without being run down by men on horses and constables seeking to abuse and arrest Joseph and others. THE MORMONS MOVE TO OHIO Joseph Smith, his family and his followers were instructed to move to Ohio where THE MORMON CHURCH MOVES TO MISSOURI BLESSING OR MISTAKE? This time Joseph Smith and the saints located in and around Independence, Missouri. They built homes and businesses, but the local unrest on the slavery question exploded when the Mormon newspaper essentially invited free blacks into the State. Locals were unhappy for other reasons as well; the Mormons voted as a block and the homes and farms on the Mormon side of the tracks made the other Missouri settlers fearing for their financial lives. Then as events deteriorated Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, were arrested and thrown into a dungeon in Liberty for the winter of 1838-18391. JOSEPH SMITH AND RELIGIOUS FOLLOWERS MAKE A HOME IN ILLINOIS In the meantime, the remainder of the members of the church were forced out of their homes by fire and gunpoint and made an emergency exodus to Illinois. Joseph and the rest of the prisoners were released and met up with the saints in a swamp that was called Commerce, Illinois. The land purchased, the swamp drained, and again a beautiful town was built. Nauvoo became known for a growing population and exquisite streets and architecture. During its zenith it rivaled Chicago’s population in numbers.
THE MARTYRDOM AND DEATH OF JOSEPH SMITH The governor promised these men protection against the mob, but the soldiers charged with protection eventually participated in the assassination. In June 1844  and was reportedly heard to say, “O Lord, my God” as he fell to his death. After the mob witnessed Smith’s death, their objective accomplished, they left the town desolate and quiet. A group of Mormon’s gathered to take the bodies of the Smith brothers back to Nauvoo, fearing for their very lives as they expected the mob to come rushing back to take more retribution on the Mormons. SUMMARY: THE MAN, THE PROPHET AND THE MORMONS SINCE 1844 Regardless of one’s opinion or affiliation, it has to be admitted that Joseph Smith died as a martyr for his religion and his beliefs. Joseph Smith’s influence was so great that newspapers reported his death and claimed that Mormonism was done, and without Smith, it would wither and die on the vine. Could the Mormon's have been successful without Joseph Smith? Decide for yourself. The evidence is in. Since then members of the church honor the name and life of Joseph Smith. Volumes have been written about him, both disparaging and paying tribute. Of He was very intriguing and fascinating, with talents and faults, which he confessed at times, but his life, as a whole defies simple analysis. |
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Three years later, Joseph Smith was taught by an Angel, who identified himself as Moroni, a Prophet who lived on the American Continent and was the one who buried the plates of gold that had been written and preserved. After four years of annual meetings with Moroni, Joseph was allowed to take the plates of gold and examine and translate them. This resulted in the Book of Mormon, thus the appellation Mormons.
there had been a great number of converts in and around a town named Kirtland. They arrived there in 1831 and stayed until 1837. During that time Kirtland grew quickly and flourished and the Church’s numbers boomed and they prospered. The members built a temple which still stands and is a sight not to be missed. Then, in part, because of the national crisis, the bank failure of 1836, and local speculation, the growing church had to move out again. 
Joseph Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo and Lieutenant General of the local militia called the Nauvoo Legion.
