Joseph Smith By Griffith Wiele

Background Born on December 23, 1805 in Sharon Vermont Suffered a crippling bone infection when he was seven Became interested in religion at the age of twelve Occurring during the second great awakening Confused by claims of competing religions He eventually claims to have had a vision He says God forgave his sins and told that churches had, “turned aside from the gospel” He then became a treasure seeker

Founding Mormonism Joseph had three golden plates that had been given to him by an angel named Moroni He only allowed three men to see them, and they became known as the three witnesses He translated what was on the plates This became known as the Book of Mormon It was published on March 26, 1830 Mormonism began spreading throughout New England He was arrested but was acquitted

Founding Mormonism Smith then claimed that more religious figures came to him in a vision and ordained him to a higher level of priesthood His authority was beginning to be undermined by other figures in his church who began claiming to see revelations In response he dictated a revelation which clarified his office as a prophet and an apostle, and which declared that only he held the ability to give doctrine and scripture for the entire church He then sent the figures who undermined his authority on wild goose chases

Legacy He attracted thousands of followers before he died in 1844 Millions eventually joined his religion Many Mormons and non-Mormons studied him Some believed that he may have suffered from epileptic seizures Some believed that he lied Many people to this day follow his religion

Work cited McGraw-Hill Connect, connect.mheducation.com/connect/hmEBook.do?setTab=sectionTabs PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/americanprophet/joseph-smith.html. “The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, www.lds.org/topics/joseph-smith/testimony?lang=eng&old=true. “Joseph Smith - First Mormon Prophet Saw God and Jesus in First Vision.”Www.mormonnewsroom.org, www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/joseph-smith.