# Joseph Smith

> founder of the Latter Day Saint movement and prophet (1805–1844)

**Wikidata**: [Q47102](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47102)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/joseph-smith

## Summary
Joseph Smith was an American founder of the Latter Day Saint movement and a prophet, active from 1805 to 1844. He is best known as the primary religious leader of the movement, which later became The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and as the author of the Book of Mormon, a central sacred text of the movement.

## Biography
- Born: December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont, United States
- Nationality: American
- Education: Self-taught; no formal higher education
- Known for: Founding the Latter Day Saint movement and authoring the Book of Mormon
- Employer(s): The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (founder and leader)
- Field(s): Religion, theology, and religious leadership

## Contributions
- **Book of Mormon**: Authored the Book of Mormon, a sacred text central to the Latter Day Saint movement, which he claimed to have translated through divine inspiration.
- **Doctrine and Covenants**: Compiled the Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of revelations and teachings that expanded the movement's religious doctrine.
- **Pearl of Great Price**: Contributed to the Pearl of Great Price, a collection of scriptures and writings considered part of the movement's canonical texts.
- **Founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints**: Established the LDS Church in 1830, which later became one of the largest denominations in the world.
- **Religious Leadership**: Served as the movement's prophet and leader, guiding its growth and development for over a decade.

## FAQs
**What was Joseph Smith's primary role in the Latter Day Saint movement?**
Joseph Smith was the founder and prophet of the Latter Day Saint movement, which later became The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He led the movement as its religious leader and guided its development for over a decade.

**What is the Book of Mormon, and who wrote it?**
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text central to the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Smith claimed to have translated it through divine inspiration, and it is considered a foundational scripture of the movement.

**What other religious texts did Joseph Smith contribute to?**
Joseph Smith contributed to the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, both of which are part of the Latter Day Saint movement's canonical texts.

**Where was Joseph Smith born, and when did he die?**
Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont, United States. He died on June 27, 1844.

**What was Joseph Smith's educational background?**
Joseph Smith was self-taught and did not attend formal higher education. He relied on personal study and divine revelation to develop his religious teachings.

## Why They Matter
Joseph Smith's contributions to religion and theology have had a profound and lasting impact on the Latter Day Saint movement and its followers. The Book of Mormon, which he authored, has become a central text of the movement and has influenced its theology and doctrine. His leadership as the movement's prophet and founder shaped its growth and development, leading to the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The movement, which later became one of the largest denominations in the world, continues to be influenced by Smith's teachings and leadership.

## Notable For
- Founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of the largest denominations in the world.
- Author of the Book of Mormon, a central sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement.
- Compilation of the Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of revelations and teachings that expanded the movement's religious doctrine.
- Contribution to the Pearl of Great Price, a collection of scriptures and writings considered part of the movement's canonical texts.
- Leadership as the movement's prophet and guide for over a decade.

## Body
### Early Life and Background
Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont, United States. He grew up in a religious environment and began experiencing visions and revelations at a young age. These experiences led him to believe that he was called by divine beings to restore the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

### Founding the Latter Day Saint Movement
In 1830, Joseph Smith and a group of followers established the Latter Day Saint movement, which later became The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as the movement's prophet and leader, guiding its growth and development for over a decade.

### The Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith claimed to have translated the Book of Mormon through divine inspiration. The text, which describes the history of ancient American civilizations, became a central sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement. The Book of Mormon is considered a foundational scripture of the movement and has influenced its theology and doctrine.

### Doctrine and Covenants
Joseph Smith compiled the Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of revelations and teachings that expanded the movement's religious doctrine. The text includes instructions for church organization, ordinances, and covenants, and it has been an important source of guidance for the movement's followers.

### Pearl of Great Price
Joseph Smith contributed to the Pearl of Great Price, a collection of scriptures and writings considered part of the movement's canonical texts. The Pearl of Great Price includes the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and other scriptures, and it has been an important resource for the movement's followers.

### Religious Leadership and Influence
As the movement's prophet and leader, Joseph Smith guided its growth and development. He established the church's organizational structure, developed its religious teachings, and led its followers in various religious practices and ordinances. His leadership had a profound impact on the movement and its followers, shaping its theology, doctrine, and practices.

### Legacy and Impact
Joseph Smith's contributions to religion and theology have had a lasting impact on the Latter Day Saint movement and its followers. The Book of Mormon, which he authored, has become a central text of the movement and has influenced its theology and doctrine. His leadership as the movement's prophet and founder shaped its growth and development, leading to the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The movement, which later became one of the largest denominations in the world, continues to be influenced by Smith's teachings and leadership.

## References

1. Latter-day Saint Literature database
2. [Nauvoo, Illinois](https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/place/nauvoo-illinois)
3. BnF authorities
4. Integrated Authority File
5. Library of Congress Name Authority File
6. [The Joseph Smith Papers](https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/sarah-ann-whitney-kimball)
7. FamilySearch Family Tree
8. Nauvoo Community Project
9. [Source](https://www.josephsmithjr.org/index.php/history/joseph-smith-jr/213-joseph-smith-s-presidential-campaign)
10. International Standard Name Identifier
11. CiNii Research
12. Union List of Artist Names
13. Virtual International Authority File
14. National Archives Catalog
15. SNAC
16. Find a Grave
17. Babelio
18. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
19. GeneaStar
20. Croatian Encyclopedia
21. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
22. Open Library
23. CONOR.SI
24. Collective Catalog of Bibliographic Authorities of Chile
25. BabelNet
26. Goodreads
27. RERO
28. Quora
29. LIBRIS. 2018
30. LibraryThing
31. Joseph Smith - RationalWiki. RationalWiki
32. Catalogo of the National Library of India