BYU

Harold B. Lee Library

Remembering Joseph Smith, Jr., 1805-2005

Joseph Smith, Jr., and Organization of the LDS Church
Exhibit hours are 8 am to 9 pm
Monday to Saturday
Except for University Holidays

  • Time: 8:00 AM
  • Date: Dec 10, 2005 to May 12, 2006
  • Place: L. Tom Perry Special Collections, 1130 HBLL


About the Event

In celebration of the bi-centennial of Joseph Smith’s birth, and the 175th Anniversary of the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the L. Tom Perry Special Collections has prepared an exhibit to help the Brigham Young University community commemorate both events. Co-curators, David J. Whittaker and Larry W. Draper have drawn from the rich holdings of Special Collections in preparing this exhibit, which includes first editions of LDS scriptures, hymnals, poetry, newspapers, broadsides, and pamphlets published in the early Church. In addition, the display exhibits rare manuscripts, including the earliest scribal copy of the earliest recorded revelation received by the Prophet (D&C 5), a notebook of a member of the Church in Nauvoo who recorded several of Joseph Smith’s sermons (William Patterson McIntire), a letter of a female member giving details of the Martyrdom soon after it occurred (Jennetta Richards), as well as original 1844 pen and ink portraits of Joseph and Hyrum Smith by Sutcliffe Maudsley.

The exhibit also recreates (using materials loaned by Louis Crandall) the print shop of E. B. Grandin, and illustrates the process of printing the Book of Mormon in 1829-30.

Using various photographs and other graphic means, as well as the rare items mentioned above, the exhibit invites visitors to remember the founding Prophet, his leadership and his continuing legacy. The exhibit is open to the public, free-of-charge, and will remain open until the end of April 2006. Exhibit hours are 8 am to 9 pm, Monday-Saturday, except for University Holidays.

In conjunction with the exhibit, we have invited four LDS scholars to reflect on various aspects of Joseph Smith’s life. On the second Wednesday of each month from January to April, at 3 pm in the HBLL Auditorium, the following presentations will be given: Richard Lloyd Anderson, “Joseph Smith’s Core Visions: Resolving a Family’s Religious Quest” (11 January 2006); Jill Mulvay Derr, “Determined Disciples: The Women who Sustained Joseph Smith,” (8 February 2006); James B. Allen, “Joseph Smith vs. John C. Calhoun: Presidential Politics and the States’ Rights Controversy,” (8 March 2006) and Ronald K. Esplin, “Joseph and Brigham: The Nature of Discipleship” (12 April 2006).