Final Joseph Smith Papers Volume Provides Insight Into His Last Year of Life

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Smith Papers
Image via deseretnews.com

This article was originally written by Trent Toone for Deseret News. The following is an excerpt. 

Volume editors describe the last 14 months of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s life as portrayed in his daily journals, maintained by Willard Richards, his private secretary and historian, in four words: “Turbulent and incredibly productive.”

The contents of Joseph Smith’s last four journals are part of “The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals, Vol. 3, May 1843-June 1844,” which is scheduled to be released Nov. 30.

Although “Journals, Vol. 3” contains more of a corporate record of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and less of a personal record, the 641-page book offers insight into the prophet’s personality and daily activities, said Brent M. Rogers, one of the volume editors.

“If you really want to get to know Joseph Smith, his activities, the church in Nauvoo at the time, this is the way to do it,” Rogers said. “A lot of the entries are terse … but you still get an understanding of everything that Joseph Smith was going through.”

Read the full article at deseretnews.com.