Joseph Smith Biography

Introduction

One of the most important agreed-upon historical facts made by all of the differing
Mormon sects is that Joseph Smith, Jr. was called by God to do something for the benefit of
the world. Defining exactly who this God is and what Joseph was called to do for Him,
however, has caused much contention between the different Mormon camps. These
theoretical differences and inconsistencies make any concise and complete explanation of
the life of Joseph Smith nearly impossible.
On the other side of the controversy, LDS critics have compiled a substantial array of
verifiable, referenced information that counters the history that Mormon believers accept.^15
Anti-Mormons have created their own set of notebooks, complete with their supporting,
critical analyses of Joseph’s life. Their interpretation of historical accounts, however, is often
prejudiced and demeaning, only clouding the issue further.^16

Does anyone actually know the real truth?

Unraveling the Real History

To begin to unravel and present the real history of Joseph Smith, Jr., we must
consider what history does not dispute. Neither advocate, nor enemy, nor any competent
historian of integrity, disputes the fact that Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon in

1830. No reasonable observer disputes the fact that Joseph established a new religion
      protected under the charters and laws of the Constitution of the United States of America on
      April 6, 1830, initially calling it the Church of Christ, but later, officially changing its name
      to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—after several earlier variations.^17 No one
      disputes the fact that Joseph and his brother Hyrum were murdered in a Carthage, Illinois
      jail on June 27, 1844. Everything else presented by the different sides, however, either for or
      against Mormonism, is a mass of confusion or outright conjecture, caused by each side
      wanting to convince the other that it has the truth—the ONLY truth!
      What really happened in the spring of 1820 to a young American boy? He claims to
      have received a heavenly visitation and instructions regarding all religion. In particular, it
      was during this visitation that he received the following specific instructions:

He again forbade me to join with any of them [the many churches of his time];

and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time.^18

One would think that if someone were visited by God (i.e., a supernatural being that
does not live upon this earth) and was told certain things, that everything that was said
would be very important to know! Yet, not one of those who have accepted Joseph Smith’s
story understands, nor can they reveal, exactly what the “many other things” were that he
was told! These things were obviously very important—and they were “many.” Joseph’s
true history would have to account for these things.
The First Vision, as recounted in various and, at times, contradictory accounts,
introduces Joseph Smith’s historical relevance in American and world history.^19 His murder
in the Carthage jail ended the first-hand ability to account for the rest of his history, leaving
the world without full disclosure and with many blank pages in his true notebook. While the
accounts of the First Vision leave many unanswered questions, the details of Joseph’s death
only exacerbate the confusion. However, even if his life had not been cut short, because