Changes

==Visions==

==Visions==

[[Image:First Vision.jpg|thumb|125px|Joseph Smith's First Vision]]

[[Image:First Vision.jpg|thumb|125px|Joseph Smith's First Vision]]

After reading {{Bible ref|book=James|chap=1|verses=5|version=KJV}}, Joseph decided to ask God which church he should join. In the Spring of 1820, Joseph said he saw [[God]] and [[Jesus]] in a vision.<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,959-1,00.html The First Vision] Mormon.org</ref> Joseph claimed to have been visited by an [[angel]] named [[Moroni]] from 1823 to 1827. According to Smith's account, Moroni showed Joseph where to find buried gold plates, and the plates contained the full gospel of Jesus Christ in "reformed Egyptian" (a language which few, if any non-Mormon, believes ever existed). Smith claimed to have translated these gold plates by the inspiration of God, and he published them in 1830 as the [[Book_of_Mormon|Book of Mormon]].<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1293-1,00.html Translation of the Book of Mormon] Mormon.org</ref> It was later claimed that, on May 15, 1829, the resurrected [[John the Baptist]] appeared to Joseph and [[Oliver Cowdery]] and gave them the authority to [[baptism|baptize]].<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1291-1,00.html Authority to baptize] Mormon.org</ref> In 1829 the [[apostle]]s [[Peter]], [[James the Apostle|James]], and [[John]] gave them the authority to restore Christ's Church.<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1292-1,00.html Authority of Apostles] Mormon.org</ref>

After hearing the conflicting claims of different Protestant preachers, Smith studied the Bible for himself.  He decided to ask God which church he should join. In the Spring of 1820, Joseph said that he saw two beings, [[God]] (meaning the Father) and [[Jesus]], in a vision.<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,959-1,00.html The First Vision] Mormon.org</ref> Smith claimed to have been repeatedly visited by an [[angel]] named [[Moroni]], from 1823 to 1827. According to Smith's account, Moroni showed him where to find buried gold plates. The plates were said to contain the full gospel of Jesus Christ in "reformed Egyptian" (a language which few, if any non-Mormon, believes ever existed). Smith claimed to have translated these gold plates by the inspiration of God, using a set of unusual spectacles that were also furnished to him for the purpose. He published the translation in 1830 as the [[Book_of_Mormon|Book of Mormon]].<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1293-1,00.html Translation of the Book of Mormon] Mormon.org</ref> The plates are not available for examination because, according to Smith, the angel took them after the translation was completed. One of Smith's earliest followers and co-workers had previously worked in a publishing office where he may have had access to the manuscript of a novel that told the story of lost tribes in America.

Joseph Smith also worked on a revision of the [[King James Bible]], known as the [[Inspired Version]] of the Bible.  It was not published until after his death.

 

Joseph Smith also worked on a revision of the [[King James Bible]] known as the [[Inspired Version]] of the Bible.  It was not published until after his death.

==Wives==

==Wives==

Smith married [[Emma Hale]] (daughter of Isaac Hale) in 1827 against her father's wishes.  A judge in South Bainbridge, [[New York]] married them.  This angered her father.  He said to Smith “You have stolen my daughter and married her. I had much rather have followed her to the grave.” <ref>MORMON ENIGMA: EMMA HALE SMITH  (Newell & Avery, University of Illinois Press, Urbana and Chicago, 1994)</ref>  

Smith married [[Emma Hale]] (daughter of Isaac Hale) in 1827 against her father's wishes.  A judge in South Bainbridge, [[New York]] married them.  This angered her father.  He said to Smith “You have stolen my daughter and married her. I had much rather have followed her to the grave.” <ref>MORMON ENIGMA: EMMA HALE SMITH  (Newell & Avery, University of Illinois Press, Urbana and Chicago, 1994)</ref>  

Later, in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith tried to establish [[polygamy]]. Between 1841 and 1843, Joseph married more than thirty wives although he kept the practice hidden from the public and from Emma.  In order to cause Emma to accept his additional wives, Joseph claimed to receive a revelation regarding this “new and everlasting covenant” of plural marriage, partly directed at Emma - [[Doctrine and Covenants]] 132:

Later, in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith created an impressive militia, announced his intention to run for President of the United States, and tried to establish [[polygamy]]. Between 1841 and 1843, Joseph married more than thirty wives although he kept the practice hidden from the public and from Emma.  In order to cause Emma to accept his additional wives, Joseph claimed to receive a revelation regarding this “new and everlasting covenant” of plural marriage, partly directed at Emma - [[Doctrine and Covenants]] 132:

D&C 132:1 Verily, thus saith the Lord...

D&C 132:1 Verily, thus saith the Lord...

==Imprisonment and Death==

==Imprisonment and Death==

Smith had been imprisoned in [[Carthage]], [[Illinois]] for destroying the printing press of the Nauvoo Expositor.  The Expositor had denounced (in its only printed edition) "false doctrines" (for instance the "doctrines of many gods") and Smith had had the printing press burned in the street.  In retaliation, an angry mob broke into the prison on June 27, 1844.  In an attempt to defend himself (with a pistol which had been smuggled in to him), Smith shot and wounded three men.  He was preparing to jump from the unbarred second floor window where he had been incarcerated, but was shot, causing him to fall injured to the ground below. Four men shot him to death on the ground.  None was convicted.  His brother [[Hyrum]] (who was also armed with a pistol) was shot in the face and killed during the same gun-battle.  <ref>[http://www.josephsmith.net/portal/site/JosephSmith/menuitem.da0e1d4eb6d2d87f9c0a33b5f1e543a0/?vgnextoid=ad10001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD&locale=0 Martyr for God] JosephSmith.net</ref>

Smith had been imprisoned in [[Carthage]], [[Illinois]] for destroying the printing press of the Nauvoo Expositor.  The Expositor had denounced (in its only printed edition) "false doctrines" (for instance the "doctrines of many gods") and Smith had then had the printing press burned in the street.  In retaliation, an angry mob broke into the prison on June 27, 1844.  In an attempt to defend himself (with a pistol which had been smuggled in to him), Smith shot and wounded three men.  He was apparently preparing to jump from the unbarred second floor window where he had been incarcerated, but was shot, causing him to fall injured to the ground below. Four men shot him to death on the ground.  None was convicted.  His brother [[Hyrum]] (who was also armed with a pistol) was shot in the face and killed during the same gun-battle.  <ref>[http://www.josephsmith.net/portal/site/JosephSmith/menuitem.da0e1d4eb6d2d87f9c0a33b5f1e543a0/?vgnextoid=ad10001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD&locale=0 Martyr for God] JosephSmith.net</ref>

==References==

==References==