Joseph Smith III (November 6, 1832–December 10, 1914) was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Smith III was the first Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was the first person to hold that position following a formal reorganization of the church that took place several years after his father's death. For fifty-four years until his own death, Smith presided over the church. Smith's ideas and nature set much of the tone for the church's development. ImageMetadata File history File links JosephSmith3. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1832 (MDCCCXXXII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, 21 days before the next year. ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ...

Life

Childhood

Joseph Smith III was born in Kirtland, Ohio on November 6, 1832 to Joseph Smith, Jr. and Emma Hale Smith. He moved with his parents to Far West, Missouri in 1838, where his father was arrested partially as a result of the events in the Mormon War. Young Joseph was able to stay overnight with his father in prison on several occasions. It was later alleged by fellow prisoner and church apostle Lyman Wight (whom at this time had become disaffected toward Joseph Smith Jr.,)that during one of these visits, Joseph Jr. laid his hands upon young Joseph's head and said, "You are my successor when I depart."^[1] While his father was still imprisoned in 1839, young Joseph left Missouri with his mother and siblings and moved first to Quincy, Illinois and later to the new settlement of Nauvoo. The elder Smith escaped custody later that year and rejoined the family. Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1832 (MDCCCXXXII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Emma Hale Smith Emma Hale Smith (10 July 1804 - 30 April 1879) was the wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint (Mormon) settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St Louis Metro[1] Area  Ranked 21st  - Total 69,709 sq mi (180,693 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 300 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Mormon War is a name sometimes given to the 1838 conflict which occurred between Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and their neighbors in the northwestern region of the U.S. state of Missouri. ... This is the current Mormon collaboration of the month! Please help improve it to meet the ideal article standard. ... Lyman Wight Lyman Wight (1796–1858) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: Gem City Location in Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Adams County, Illinois Government  - Mayor John A. Spring Area  - City  14. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... , There is also a Nauvoo, Alabama, and a Nauvoo, Pennsylvania Nauvoo (נָאווּ to be beautiful, Sephardi Hebrew NÃ¥vu, Tiberian Hebrew Nâwû) is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. ...

At Nauvoo, the Latter Day Saints created a militia known as the Nauvoo Legion and soon afterward, it is said that 500 of the town's boys created their own junior version of the militia. Young Joseph became general of the boys' militia whose motto was, "our fathers we respect, our mothers we'll protect." The term Latter Day Saint most commonly refers to (but is not limited to) members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which, its members believe, was founded under the direction of Jesus Christ by the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Nauvoo Legion was a private militia employed by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

The Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, Illinois.

According to later reminiscences of those who had become dissaffected toward Joseph Jr., young Joseph was blessed by his father at a special council meeting of church officials, held in the second floor of the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo. By some accounts, participants also included Hyrum Smith, John Taylor, Willard Richards, Newel K. Whitney, Reynolds Cahoon, Alpheus Cutler, Ebenezer Robinson, George J. Adams, W. W. Phelps, and John M. Bernhisel. Joseph's father reportedly seated him in a chair and Newel K. Whitney anointed his head with oil. Then elder Smith pronounced a special blessing upon his son's head that supposedly suggested the young Joseph would succeed him as church president if he lived righteously.^[1] It is also noted that Emma Smith, young Joseph's mother, also recounted to her family that, indeed, her husband had taught that the President of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles was to be the next natural prophet of the Church. However, she did not like the president of the Quorum at the time (Brigham Young)and therefore did not make a fuss when others tried to take over the role of president of the Church. The Church being so new, and the members now traveling upon unchartered waters, of course were unsure of how to proceed when the elder Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were murdered. It is believed that through the guidance of the Holy Ghost, the Lord's will was eventually made manifest when Brigham Young became the next president and prophet. ImageMetadata File history File links NauvooStore. ... ImageMetadata File history File links NauvooStore. ... Hyrum Smith Hyrum Smith (February 9, 1800—June 27, 1844) was the older brother of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... John Taylor (November 1, 1808 – July 25, 1887) was the third President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1880 to 1887. ... Willard Richards (June 24, 1804 – March 11, 1854) was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts to Joseph and Rhoda Howe Richards on June 24, 1804. ... Newel Kimball Whitney (1795–1850) (commonly known as Newel K. Whitney, with his first name sometimes being misspelled Newell) was a prominent leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an American businessman. ... Alpheus Cutler (1784–1864), an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement, and reorganizer of the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite). ... William Wines Phelps (also W.W. Phelps, and William W. Phelps) (February 17, 1792–March 7, 1872) was an important early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Dr. John Milton Bernhisel (June 23, 1799 - September 28, 1881) was an American physician, politician and early member of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ...

As the young Joseph was growing up in Nauvoo, his father was leader of many of the municipal offices, in addition to his roles as church leader. At the same time, evidence indicates that his father was practicing plural marriage. People think it is without question that Joseph had multiple wives; but, as Compton states multiple times in his work, "Absolutely nothing is known of this marriage after the ceremony"—that is, it is unclear how many of the women Smith had sexual relations with. At this time, a handful of men in the Church were called upon to marry pluraly, specifically to care for those women whose husbands had died, or who had no husband. There are allegations that Smith had at least one child born to a plural wife, but this remains unproven. There were many instances when Smith and other plural husbands would not have had sexual relations at all with their plural wives, as the marriages were only intended as a legal means of allowing the women to "lay claim" on their new husbands for sustenance. Dubious and unverified charges of rioting and treason led to the elder Smith's arrest and cold-blooded assassination in 1844. For the 11 year old Joseph III, his father's death was no doubt an experience that affected his later philosophy and actions. This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Jan. ...

Although many Latter Day Saints believed that young Joseph should succeed his father, at age 11 the boy was clearly too young. A succession crisis ensued which resulted in Brigham Young taking lead of the Church, as his position as "president" of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave him authority to do. Months later, he was ordained of God as the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (During a meeting over the situation, as Brigham Young spoke, some people who were well aquainted with both Brigham and Joseph, saw Joseph Smith Jr.'s countenance and heard his voice in place of Young's.) Relations between Young and the Smith family were strained and Joseph's uncle William, whose relationship with Young was very strained, chose to recognize James J. Strang as church president. Young and the majority of the Latter Day Saints departed Nauvoo in 1846, leaving the Smith family in a mostly empty city. Smith's mother Emma attempted to make a living renting out rooms in the family home. She and Brigham Young had never gotten along due to personality differences. In 1847, Emma married a second husband named Lewis Bidamon. A Latter Day Saint (LDS) is a person who identifies with the Latter Day Saint movement and is a follower of Mormonism. ... The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the assassination of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... William Smith (also found as William B. Smith) (1811–1893) born in Royalton, Vermont, was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... 1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, by J. Atkyn, one of his assassins. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Joseph Smith III began to study and eventually practice law. In 1856 he married Emmeline Griswold and the couple moved into the old Smith brickhouse (Smith's parent's first residence in Nauvoo). 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

The Reorganization of the Church

In the late 1840s and early 1850s, the bulk of the Latter Day Saints either aligned themselves with Brigham Young and emigrated to Utah or they remained in the Midwest and looked to James J. Strang as church president. Strang gave indications that he believed that a son of Joseph Smith, Jr. would one day lead the church and made overtures to the Smith family. Emma and her sons, however, remained aloof. Many Midwestern Latter Day Saints were adamantly opposed to plural marriage and when Strang began to openly practice the doctrine in 1849, several key leaders including Jason W. Briggs and Zenas H. Gurley broke with his church. Later, when Strang was mortally wounded by assassins, he refused to name a successor, and when he died he left his church leaderless. // Events and Trends Technology First use of general anesthesia in an operation, by Crawford Long The first electrical telegraph sent by Samuel Morse on May 24, 1844 from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.. War, peace and politics First signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) on February... // Production of steel revolutionized by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Railroads begin to supplant canals in the United States as a primary means of transporting goods. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  Ranked 13th  - Total 84,889 sq mi (219,887 km²)  - Width 270 miles (435 km)  - Length 350 miles (565 km)  - % water 3. ... 1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, by J. Atkyn, one of his assassins. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Jason W. Briggs (June 25, 1821 – January 11, 1899) was an important leader in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Zenas Hovey Gurley, Sr. ... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the Strangite church, is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

The Midwestern or Prairie Saints began to call for the need to establish a "New Organization" of the church and many likewise believed that Joseph Smith III should be at its head, as they missed his father and wanted to see one of the sons lead the succession. Elders repeatedly visited Smith and asked him to take up his father's mantle, but his reply was that he would only assume the church presidency if he were inspired by God to do so. Finally, in 1860, Smith said that he had received this inspiration and at an conference in Amboy, Illinois on April 6, 1860, he was sustained as President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. At the time both this new organization and Young's Utah-based church claimed to be the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (While retaining use of this original name, this church for legal purposes later was incorporated as the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" and today is known as the Community of Christ.) 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... The Amboy Conference was the setting of the official re-organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints into the Latter Day Saint denomination now known as the Community of Christ. ... Amboy is a city located in Lee County, Illinois. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ...

President of the Church

The Joseph Smith "Homestead" — the residence of Joseph Smith III in Nauvoo.

As church president, Smith's biographer has named him a "Pragmatic Prophet." Many of the followers of the Reorganized church were, in fact, dissidents from what they felt were the excesses of a theocracy established by Smith's father, and which they also felt were continued under Brigham Young in Utah. From the start, Smith attempted to steer a middle course. Rather than deny the later teachings of Smith's father, such as baptism for the dead, the Book of Abraham and the concepts of "eternal progression" and the "multiplicity of gods," Smith taught that these doctrines should not be emphasized. Smith also resisted calls from his followers to announce a new gathering place or to quickly "redeem" and build up "Zion" (Independence, Missouri). ImageMetadata File history File links JS3_nauvoohome. ... ImageMetadata File history File links JS3_nauvoohome. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  Ranked 13th  - Total 84,889 sq mi (219,887 km²)  - Width 270 miles (435 km)  - Length 350 miles (565 km)  - % water 3. ... Baptism for the dead is an ordinance performed today in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for those who have died without having been baptized by one having authority. ... The Book of Abraham is a text published as part of the Pearl of Great Price, one of the four canonical scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Independence is a city in Missouri, in the Kansas City metropolitan area. ...

In the 1860s and 1870s, Smith began to rebuild the structure of the church, establishing a new First Presidency, Council of Twelve Apostles, seven quorums of the Seventy, and a Presiding Bishopric. Zenas H. Gurley, Sr. became President of the Council of Twelve. Smith presented a revelation which called William Marks, former Stake President of the church's presiding central stake under Smith's father, to be First Counselor in the reorganized First Presidency. After Marks' death, Smith called W. W. Blair and his brother David Hyrum Smith to be his counselors in the First Presidency. // The First Transcontinental Railroad in the USA was built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... // The invention of the telephone (1876) by Alexander Graham Bell. ... In Mormonism, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy of several Latter Day Saint denominations. ... In Mormonism, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Quorum of the Twelve, the Council of the Twelve, or the Twelve) is one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy in many Latter Day Saint denominations, members of which are considered to be Apostles and special... Seventy is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek Priesthood of several denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity. ... Zenas Hovey Gurley, Sr. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... David Hyrum Smith was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement and the youngest son of Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

In 1866, Smith moved from Nauvoo to Plano, Illinois, where the church's printing house had been established. He personally took over the editorship of the Saint's Herald, and Plano became the headquarters of the church. Meanwhile Latter Day Saints adhering to the Reorganization established a colony in Lamoni, Iowa, where they attempted to practice the "Law of Consecration" or "Order of Enoch." In 1881, Smith decided to move to Lamoni which became the new headquarters of the church. Although the practice of the Order of Enoch proved a failure, the town of Lamoni continued to grow. The church established a college in the town which is now known as Graceland University. 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Plano is a city in Kendall County, Illinois, United States. ... Lamoni is a city located in Decatur County, Iowa. ... The Law of Consecration is one of the names Latter Day Saints or Mormons give to a communitarian doctrine that calls upon the churchs membership to hold all things in common. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Graceland University is a private liberal arts university of about 2300 students and 150 faculty with campuses in Lamoni, Iowa and Independence, Missouri. ...

The Redemption of Zion

In his final years, members of the church began to move to Independence, Missouri, which Smith's father had designated as the "centerplace" of the "City of Zion." Latter Day Saints had wanted to return to this theologically important ground since their expulsion in 1846. In 1906, at the age of 73, Smith moved to Independence and entered a state of semi-retirement. His eldest son, Frederick Madison Smith, remained in Lamoni and took over active leadership of the church. Finally on December 10, 1914, at the age of 82, Smith suffered a heart seizure in his home and died. He had been president of the church for more than fifty years and he was admired and mourned by thousands. Independence is a city in Missouri, in the Kansas City metropolitan area. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Frederick Madison Smith (January 21, 1874 - March 20, 1946) was an American religious leader and author, president of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (renamed in 2001 the Community of Christ) from 1915 until his death. ... December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, 21 days before the next year. ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Relations with Utah Latter-day Saints and Plural Marriage

Main article: Joseph Smith, Jr. and polygamy.

Joseph Smith III was an ardent opponent of the practice of plural marriage throughout his life. For most of his career, Smith denied that his father had been involved in the practice and insisted that it had originated with Brigham Young. He served many missions to the West, however, where he met with and interviewed associates (and wives) of his father who attempted to present him with evidence to the contrary. In the end, in the face of overwhelming evidence, Smith concluded that he was "not positive nor sure that [his father] was innocent" and that if, indeed, the elder Smith had been involved, it was still a false practice. However, a minority of the current members of the Community of Christ, and some of the groups that were formerly associated with it are still not convinced that Joseph Smith III's father did indeed engage in plural marriage, and feel that the "evidence" that he did so is largely flawed.^[2] Historians widely agree that Joseph Smith Jr. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ...

Family Chart

The following chart explains the inter-relationship of the offices of President of the Church and Presiding Patriarch in the Smith family: In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... The Presiding Patriarch is a leadership office in the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

Image File history File links Original Chart created for Wikipedia by John Hamer © 2004 John Hamer. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Wight, Lyman: letter to "The Northern Islander.", July, 1855; reprinted in Saints Advocate, Vol. 7 (September 1884), p. 478. also quoted in The History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints vol. 2, p. 789
2. ^ "Community of Christ." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. 2007. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. 15 June 2007.

References

• Roger D. Launius, Joseph III: Pragmatic Prophet, University of Illinois Press: 1995, ISBN 0-252-01514-2
• Richard P. Howard, The Church Through the Years, Herald House: 1992, ISBN 0-8309-0629-0

External links

• The Memoirs of President Joseph Smith