Chapter I: Introduction

This history of the Prophet Joseph Smith, originally entitled, "The History of Mother Smith, by Herself," was written at the dictation of Lucy Smith, mother of the Prophet, by Mrs. Martha Jane Knowlton Coray who acted as her amanuensis. It was taken from the words of Mother Smith and dictated from memory mostly, but she also made use of such historical memoranda of the events related as were within her reach. Of the original manuscript one copy was taken which was left with Lucy Smith, while the original was retained by the writer. This original, Mrs. Coray held in her possession until her arrival in Utah, when she subsequently deposited a copy of it with President Brigham Young.

Lucy Smith died near Nauvoo, May 5, 1855; but years prior to this date, some of her effects were left in the hands of her son, William Smith, among them being the manuscript copy of this history. From William (who was the last surviving brother of the Prophet, and whose death occurred at Osterdock, Clayton county, Iowa, November 13, 1893,) the document fell (surreptitiously it is declared by George A. Smith) into the hands of Isaac Sheen, who was at one time a member of the Church, in Michigan. When, in September, 1852, Apostle Orson Pratt went on a mission to England, he called on Mr. Sheen on his way East, and, being shown the manuscript copy, he purchased it for a certain sum of money, took it to Liverpool with him, where, without revision and without the consent or knowledge of President Young or any of the Twelve, it was published under his direction, in 1853. It was afterwards discovered that the book contained errors, occasioned by its not being carefully compared with historical data. Some of the statements in the preface written by Elder Pratt were also in error; one especially that the book was mostly written in the lifetime of the Prophet, and that he had read it with approval, was incorrect, since it was written in 1845, the year following his martyrdom. For these reasons, and others mostly of a financial character, it was disapproved by President Young, on August 23, 1865, and the edition was suppressed or destroyed. While some statements contained in the work were considered somewhat overdrawn,--a circumstance easily accounted for when we remember the age of Mother Smith, the losses she had sustained in the death of a husband and four sons, and the consequent lapses of her memory,--its many merits were fully recognized by the authorities, many of whom were greatly disappointed at the necessity of issuing the order to temporarily suppress its further circulation.

Subsequently, a committee of revision was appointed by President Young, consisting of President George A. Smith and Judge Elias Smith, cousins of the Prophet, men personally familiar with the family, and thoroughly conversant with Church history. They were instructed carefully to revise and correct the original work throughout, which they did, reporting their labors to President Brigham Young, to his entire satisfaction. The revised and only authentic copy thus prepared and reported upon was retained by President George A. Smith, and shortly after his death, September 1, 1875, it was committed into my keeping, where it has remained until now.

Recently the question of printing the work as a serial in the Improvement Era came up for consideration, and there was a unanimous sentiment among the members of the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. favorable to its publication. The subject was accordingly submitted and explained to President Lorenzo Snow, who gave his sanction, and his hearty approval of the enterprise.

By the presentation of this work to the public, a worthy record is preserved, and the testimony of a noble and faithful woman--a mother indeed, and heroine in Israel--is perpetuated. The book, besides giving an extended account of the progenitors of the Prophet, and the Smith and Mack families, contains much interesting and valuable information, found in no other publication, relating to the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who, through the will of God, was the chosen instrument to perform the foundation labor for the "marvelous work and a wonder" which God has established as his Church, in the last days.

Believing that both old and young will be pleased as well as benefitted by the perusal of its pages, and praying that it may inspire them with renewed zeal, and create in them additional faith in the great work of the Lord, I commend to the reader this History of the Prophet Joseph.

Joseph F. Smith.

Salt Lake City, October 8, 1901.

CONTENTS.

Introduction

CHAPTER I.

Solomon Mack, the Father of Lucy Mack--Extract from his Narrative

CHAPTER II.

History of Jason Mack

CHAPTER III.

Lovisa and Lovina Mack

CHAPTER IV.

Life of Stephen Mack

CHAPTER V.

Lydia Mack, third Daughter of Solomon Mack

CHAPTER VI.

Daniel Mack--He Rescues Three Men from a Watery Grave

CHAPTER VII.

Solomon Mack

CHAPTER VIII.

Early Life of Lucy Mack--Her Marriage with Joseph Smith

CHAPTER IX.

Seven Generations of the Smith Family--Four Generations of the Mack Family

CHAPTER X.

A Present of One Thousand Dollars, from John Mudget and Stephen Mack, to the Author

CHAPTER XI.

Sickness in Randolph

CHAPTER XII.

Joseph Smith, Senior, Loses his Property and Becomes Poor--Receives a Visit from Jason Mack--The History of the Latter Concluded

CHAPTER XIII.

The Author's Dream

CHAPTER XIV.

First Vision of Joseph Smith, Senior--The Box--Second Vision--The Tree and the Spacious Building

CHAPTER XV.

Sickness at Lebanon--Sophronia's Miraculous Recovery

CHAPTER XVI.

The Sufferings of Joseph Smith, Junior, with a Fever Sore--Extraction of Large Fragments of Bone from one of his Legs

CHAPTER XVII.

Joseph Smith, Senior, removes to Norwich, thence to Palmyra--His Dream of the Images--of the Judgment

CHAPTER XVIII.

History of Joseph the Prophet Commences--Seventh Vision of Joseph Smith, Senior

CHAPTER XIX.

The Angel Visits Joseph again--Joseph Tells his Father what he has Seen and Heard--He is Permitted to Behold the Plates--Receives Further Instructions--Communicates the Same to the Family--Takes the Plates into his Hands--They are Taken from him and he is Reproved--His Disappointment

CHAPTER XX.

Alvin's Sickness and Death

CHAPTER XXI.

Religious Excitement--Joseph's Prophecy--He Works for Mr. Stoal--Becomes Acquainted with Emma Hale

CHAPTER XXII.

Joseph Smith, Senior, Loses his Farm--Joseph, Junior, is Married--Has Another Interview with the Angel, by Whom he is Chastised--Receives Further Instructions

CHAPTER XXIII.

Joseph Obtains the Plates

CHAPTER XXIV.

Joseph Brings Home the Breast-plate--Martin Harris and his Wife Introduced--The Translation Commences--Mrs. Harris Begins to Oppose the Work

CHAPTER XXV.

Martin Harris is Permitted to take the Manuscript Home with him--He Loses it--The Season of Mourning which Ensued

CHAPTER XXVI.

Martin Harris's Perfidy

CHAPTER XXVII.

The Urim and Thummim are Taken from Joseph--He Receives them Again

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Oliver Cowdery Commences Writing for Joseph--They Attend to the Ordinance of Baptism

CHAPTER XXIX.

Mrs. Harris Prosecutes Joseph--Ex-parte Examination

CHAPTER XXX.

Joseph and Oliver Remove to Waterloo--They Finish the Translation

CHAPTER XXXI.

The Plates are Shown to Twelve Witnesses--Joseph Makes Arrangements for Printing the Book of Mormon

CHAPTER XXXII.

The Printing is Begun--A Meeting of the Citizens Held in Reference to the Book

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Esquire Cole's Dogberry Paper--Second Meeting of the Citizens

CHAPTER XXXIV.

The Church Organized

CHAPTER XXXV.

Joseph Smith, Senior, and Don Carlos Visit Stockholm

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Joseph Smith, Senior, Imprisoned--An Attempt to Take Hyrum

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Family of Joseph Smith, Senior, Remove to Waterloo

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

The First Western Mission--Joseph Smith, Junior, Moves to Kirtland

CHAPTER XXXIX.

The Different Branches of the Church Remove to Kirtland--Miracle at Buffalo

CHAPTER XL.

Samuel Smith's First Mission to Missouri

CHAPTER XLI.

Lucy Smith Visits Detroit

CHAPTER XLII.

An Extract from the History of Joseph the Prophet--Sidney Rigdon's Transgression--Trouble in Jackson County

CHAPTER XLIII.

Building of a House--Joseph and Hyrum Return from Missouri--They Rehearse the History of their Trouble

CHAPTER XLIV.

The Lord's House at Kirtland Commenced--A Letter from the Prophet to his Uncle Silas

CHAPTER XLV.

The House of the Lord Completed--A Division in the Church

CHAPTER XLVI.

Joseph Smith, Senior, and his Brother John, go on a Mission to the East--The Death of Jerusha Smith

CHAPTER XLVII.

The Persecution Revives--Don Carlos and his Father Fly from their Enemies--Joseph Moves to Missouri

CHAPTER XLVIII.

Joseph Smith, Senior, Moves with his Family to Missouri--Commencement of the Persecution in Caldwell

CHAPTER XLIX.

Testimony of Hyrum Smith

CHAPTER L.

Removal of the Smith Family to Illinois

CHAPTER LI.

Joseph and Hyrum Escape from their Persecutors, and Return to their Families

CHAPTER LII.

A Purchase Made in the Town of Commerce--Joseph the Prophet Goes to Washington--Death of Joseph Smith, Senior

CHAPTER LIII.

Joseph Arrested at Quincy--Discharged at Monmouth--Joseph Charged with an Attempt to Assassinate ex-Governor Boggs

CHAPTER LIV.

Joseph and Hyrum Assassinated

APPENDIX.

A Journal Kept by Don C. Smith while on a Mission with George A. Smith, his Cousin

Letters of Don C. Smith to his Wife, Agnes

Elegy on the Death of Joseph Smith, Senior, the Patriarch

Lines on the Death of Don Carlos Smith

Lines Written on the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith