Documents, Volume 5: October 1835-January 1838 covers nearly two and a half years of Latter-day Saint history as it documents some of the highest and lowest points of Joseph Smith's life. The fall and winter of 1835-1836 saw a flurry of activity to finish the House of the Lord in Kirtland as well as Joseph Smith's work to unify the priesthood quorums. In March 1836, the Saints dedicated the new temple to God and experiences tremendous outpourings of His Spirit, many of which are documented here. The story of the next twenty-two months is one of financial hardship and challenges to the Prophet's leadership. The establishment and failure of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank loom large. The volume ends with Joseph Smith, fearful for his life, departing Kirtland to move his family to Missouri.

The Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 5, October 1835 - January 1838

RONALD K. ESPLIN

Matthew J. Grow

Matthew C. Godfrey

Religion & Spirituality

The Church Historian's Press

This ninth volume in the Documents series features over a hundred letters, revelations, meeting minutes, deeds, sermon accounts, and other documents from December 1841 through April 1842. They chronicle developments in the Church, community, and Joseph Smith s personal life during these important months in Nauvoo, Illinois. The rich documentary record from this period details the creation of the Relief Society, the establishment of a Freemason s lodge in Nauvoo, and the opening of Joseph Smith s store. This book offers a unique portrait of the breadth of Joseph Smith s daily activities as he serves as a military leader and vice mayor of Nauvoo, becomes editor of the Church s newspaper, takes advantage of the nation s new bankruptcy law, and continues to instruct Latter-day Saints near and far through discourses and correspondence. Readers will come away from this volume with an increased understanding of the Prophet s life and this pivotal period in the creation of the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

The Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 9: December 1841-April 1842

Alex D. Smith

In the summer of 1842, Joseph Smith continued to direct the affairs of a growing Church. He introduced new religious rituals, oversaw missionary work, encouraged the construction of a temple, served as editor of the Church newspaper Times and Seasons, and struggled to help the hundreds of converts gathering to Nauvoo, Illinois. In May, he was elected mayor, adding new municipal responsibilities to his busy schedule. Financial concerns were yet another matter that required Smith's attention. He had filed a bankruptcy application in mid-April 1842, and over the summer or 1842 he had his first hearing and corresponded with his attorney and creditors regarding that bankruptcy. The demands on his time were so great that Wilford Woodruff wrote in June that he had "never seen Joseph as full of business as of late," noting that "he hardly gets time to sign his name." 
Joseph Smith's documentary output from May through August 1842 reflects these many roles and concerns. Documents, Volume 10 features 105 documents, including correspondence, editorials, reports of discourses, minutes of meetings, municipal and legal documents, military records, financial records and notices, as well as a revelation on conducting a plural marriage sealing. 
The months documented in this volume were times of dramatic change and increasing anxiety for Joseph Smith and the community of Nauvoo. The texts presented here, with their detailed historical annotation, make this volume a crucial resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of Joseph Smith as prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as mayor of Nauvoo, as leader of the Nauvoo Legion, and as a man who, despite the constant pressure of events, continued to faithfully lead his people.

The Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 10: May-August 1842

Elizabeth A. Kuehn

Jordan T. Watkins

Mason K. Allred

The eleventh volume of the Documents series contains personal correspondence, financial and legal documents, sermon accounts, and other documents from September 1842 through February 1843. These texts show Joseph Smith eluding arrest and extradition to Missouri while endeavoring to honor his many ecclesiastical and civic responsibilities in Nauvoo, Illinois. Key documents include letters Joseph Smith wrote to the Latter-day Saints instructing them on the practice of baptism for the dead, documents relating to the effort to attain a legal victory in Smith's extradition case, and city ordinances passed to resolve issues stemming from Nauvoo's thriving population. The volume gives insight into the life of Joseph Smith as he struggled to end the threat of extradition and faced the incessant demands of running a burgeoning city and a growing church.

The Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 11: September 1842-February 1843

Spencer W. McBride

Jeffrey D. Mahas

Brett D. Dowdle

Tyson Reeder

The twelfth volume in the Documents series, to be published in April 2021, features ninety-six documents including Joseph Smith's correspondence, accounts of his discourses, and his last major written revelation. The volume also features a representative selection of his more routine documents such as deeds, ecclesiastical authorizations, and financial and legal records.

The Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 12: March-July 1843

Robin Scott Jensen

David W. Grua

Christopher James Blythe

Brent M. Rogers

Jessica M. Nelson

The Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 13: August-December 1843

J. Chase Kirkham

Christian K. Heimburger

Matthew S. McBride

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