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 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.

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]].<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.

It was 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>

It was 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>

Despite the document's stipulation that the multiple wives be "virgins", Smith unabashedly married eleven women who had current marriages to other men (who were still alive at the time of each woman's marriage to Smith).

Despite the document's stipulation that the multiple wives be "virgins", Smith unabashedly married eleven women who had current marriages to other men (who were still alive at the time of each woman's marriage to Smith).

Smith's wives (and their husbands) were: Emma Hale, Fanny Alger (16 years old), Lucinda Morgan Harris (married to George W Harris), Louisa Beaman, Zina Huntington Jacobs (married to Henry Jacobs), Presendia Huntington Buell (married to Norman Buell), Agnes Coolbrith, Sylvia Sessions Lyon (married to Windsor Lyon), Mary Rollins Lightner (married to Adam Lightner), Patty Bartlett Sessions (married to David Sessions), Marinda Johnson Hyde (married to Orson Hyde), Elizabeth Davis Durfee (married to Jabez Durfee), Sarah Kingsley Cleveland (married to John Cleveland), Delcena Johnson, Eliza R. Snow, Sarah Ann Whitney (17 years old), Martha McBride Knight, Ruth Vose Sayers (married to Edward Sayers), Flora Ann Woodworth, Emily Dow Partridge, Eliza Maria Partridge, Almera Johnson, Lucy Walker (17 years old), Sarah Lawrence (17 years old), Maria Lawrence, Helen Mar Kimball (14 years old), Hanna Ells, Elvira Cowles Holmes (married to Jonathan Holmes), Rhoda Richards, Desdemona Fullmer, Olive Frost, Melissa Lott, Nancy Winchester (14 years old) and Fanny Young.<ref>[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp Family Search] Familysearch.org</ref><ref>[http://http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/ Wives of Joseph Smith] WivesofJosephSmith.org</ref>

Smith's wives (and their husbands) were: Emma Hale, Fanny Alger (16 years old), Lucinda Morgan Harris (married to George W Harris), Louisa Beaman, Zina Huntington Jacobs (married to Henry Jacobs), Presendia Huntington Buell (married to Norman Buell), Agnes Coolbrith, Sylvia Sessions Lyon (married to Windsor Lyon), Mary Rollins Lightner (married to Adam Lightner), Patty Bartlett Sessions (married to David Sessions), Marinda Johnson Hyde (married to Orson Hyde), Elizabeth Davis Durfee (married to Jabez Durfee), Sarah Kingsley Cleveland (married to John Cleveland), Delcena Johnson, Eliza R. Snow, Sarah Ann Whitney (17 years old), Martha McBride Knight, Ruth Vose Sayers (married to Edward Sayers), Flora Ann Woodworth, Emily Dow Partridge, Eliza Maria Partridge, Almera Johnson, Lucy Walker (17 years old), Sarah Lawrence (17 years old), Maria Lawrence, Helen Mar Kimball (14 years old), Hanna Ells, Elvira Cowles Holmes (married to Jonathan Holmes), Rhoda Richards, Desdemona Fullmer, Olive Frost, Melissa Lott, Nancy Winchester (14 years old) and Fanny Young.<ref>[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp Family Search] Familysearch.org</ref><ref>[http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/ Wives of Joseph Smith] WivesofJosephSmith.org</ref>

Although there is some historic indication that Smith married more women than those listed here (such as Clarissa Reed Hancock, the mother of John Reed Hancock), the evidence is not conclusive.

Although there is some historic indication that Smith married more women than those listed here (such as Clarissa Reed Hancock, the mother of John Reed Hancock), the evidence is not conclusive.

==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 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>

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==

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.josephsmith.net/portal/site/JosephSmith JosephSmith.net] - The official web site on Joseph Smith by the LDS Church.

*[http://www.josephsmith.net/portal/site/JosephSmith JosephSmith.net] - The official web site on Joseph Smith by the LDS Church.

*[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,957-1,00.html "Who was Joseph Smith?"] - At Mormon.org

*[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,957-1,00.html "Who was Joseph Smith?"] - At Mormon.org