The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals, Volume 1 »

The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, Volume 1, grants readers a window into the life and personality of the Mormon prophet. Journal writings include doctrinal teachings and revelations as well as accounts of daily encounters and significant spiritual experiences, such as the First Vision and the Kirtland temple dedication.

Informative annotations, maps, textual photos, reference materials and other tools provide context and bring the text to life. Editors present the text just as it was written, preserving the language, grammar and often nonstandard spelling of Smith and his scribes and conveying an authentic sense of the times.

The fragile, 19th-century documents were previously seen only by a select few. Now, the curious of any faith or scholarly background can obtain a firsthand view of the religious leader directly from the transcripts of original manuscripts.

The project follows the highest scholarly standards of documentary editing and has been endorsed by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a division of the National Archives.

David Azzolina - Library Journal

Whether or not you believe that Joseph Smith (1805-44), the founder and first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was who he said he was, there is no question that his presence looms large in American religious history. As such, any collection of documents relating to him becomes essential source material for understanding Mormonism, probably the most successful religion born on American soil. Though there have been some earlier, more limited compilations of Joseph Smith's papers, none has matched the scope of this proposed 30-volume project, of which this is the first volume. The project is sponsored by the Church Historians Office of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which, along with the Community of Christ, is the primary repository for the papers. The editors expect to issue two or three volumes a year, with the papers divided into six series, the journals being the first. This initial volume of the journals covers the tumultuous years of Smith's life and the growing pains of the early church in New York, Ohio, and Missouri. The highest documentary editing and production standards have been applied here, matching those of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and comparing favorably to large-scale presidential papers projects. The editors have relevant credentials: Jessee is past president of the Mormon History Association, Ronald K. Esplin served as an editor of Macmillan's Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and Richard Lyman Bushman is Gouverneur Morris Professor of History, emeritus, at Columbia University. Any academic library with collections in American religious history will want to start collecting thisset.