Major Joseph Smith Papers Conference Announcement

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has commissioned former Assistant Church Historian and Recorder Richard E. Turley Jr. to write a new biography of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The book will be called “Joseph the Prophet.”
Learn how the 22-year journey to complete the monumental Joseph Smith Papers project will help tell the story of the first prophet of the Church in a way that's never been told before.

[@bloviax]

I did the math toward the end of my mission and we shared the first vision account appx 1000 times, and each time, even if it was in the middle of a busy sidewalk a few times, the Holy Spirit testified that it was real. It was such a delight to share that good news of this prophet of the restoration!

[@mistersmith8962]

Which first vision

[@josephine79]

​@mistersmith8962 Of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith in the grove of trees in reply to Joseph's prayer. 🙏

[@katmax7451]

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah. 🙏

[@maryelms4821]

❤

[@MsS-J]

​@npc401.2 pretty sure you can praise anyone you want. Worship is for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ only.

[@glennjohn3919]

The Bible never praises a man. All glory goes to God alone.

[@nonu40waaaaataaaaaa]

@@glennjohn3919. Praise - the expression of approval or admiration for someone or something. 1 Corinthians 11:2; Proverbs 31:30-31; Romans 13:3. I think these are just some examples of praises to other people. When praise is used with God I think it means to glorify, exalt or honor.

[@henochparks]

@@MsS-J if you belied in the real God you would be seeking peace. with others.

[@ron.v]

I was ready to leap out of my chair when it was announced that Rick Turley would lead this team. Anyone who has ever met this man can see the glow that surrounds him. Any church member who has read his books knows the faith and dedication with which he writes. I love history and especially church history. The Joseph Smith Papers Project is truly a godsend. This biography of the Prophet Joseph Smith will be a crowning result that all who love church history will look forward to with delightful anxiousness.

[@murffmjtube]

Thank you Gale Miller for funding this monumental project ❤🎉

[@ron.v]

Amen! What a wonderful lady and generous family blessing the lives of us all.

[@GregBrown-l3h]

The Joseph Smith Papers are a remarkable contribution to the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am deeply grateful to large group of dedicated professionals who researched, wrote, and produced these magnificent volumes. And I am looking forward to reading the biography of the Prophet Joseph Smith announced at this conference.

[@japhethcarlson6791]

A huge thank you to all the countless hours poured into this project. I am excited to read the next step in helping the world come to know Joseph the Prophet!

[@cameronforbes2649]

This makes a lot of sense. There is a lot of shody 'history' of Joseph, and claims can be debunked one by one. But by thoroughly and accurately documenting Joseph's life with legitimate peer reviewed historians at work, the Church can supersede the 'authority' of rogue 'experts'. Focusing on core details and truths vs. consistently going down the rabbit trail of never ending conspiracies. I look forward to it.

[@ron.v]

Well said!

[@danielmsz]

I thank the family who donated God’s granted resources to make this project real, so it could bless our faith.

[@drc93756]

Absolutely! They couldn't have done it without them, not even if they had $100,000,000,000+!

[@shaneownbey]

The quality of the work is unsurpassed and the subject of this project is most worthy. Joseph Smith Jr. completed many task on our behalf and under the direction of the creator. One day, I wish to thank him and express my humble gratitude for his devotion to all things righteous and eternal.

[@dianematthews9318]

I was a senior missionary in Rick Turley's office for six months before he became managing dirrector of Church Public Affairs. I know the kind of metiulous care and love he demonstrates for any project with which he is involved. He was working on the Joseph Smith papers when I was there serving in his office. I read some of the books he wrote while I served there. We can all look forward eagerly to his best efforts with this new book. I'm so excited that he has been asked to take on this project.

[@ron.v]

@dianematthews9318 Thank you so much for sharing this. When my wife and I were serving there I got to see walking away from the COB as we were entering. I recognized him immediately. Some people seem to have an aura when they're full of the love of Christ. He seemed that way to me. I love his books. I'm grateful you shared your personal experience with the man. Looking forward to how this work turns out with anticipation.

[@skylerjensen8215]

Amazing and divine how the timing of this grand work of 22 years finishes right now! Considering all that has and is going on right now. Thank you to all who contributed to this work!

[@Kimmer]

What a monumental task that has been successfully completed, and it shows what an incredible man Joseph Smith was. I couldn't be more thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which has been restored and is rolling forth throughout the world as foreseen by the prophet Joseph. Thanks to all those who made this project possible!

[@TVT99]

How marvelous! I look forward to reading this book. It will further fulfil Moroni's prophecy to Joseph that "your name will be known for good" throughout the world. Indeed, millions shall know brother Joseph again!

[@MegaJohn144]

There are 27 volumes. Time to get busy.

[@josephward6422]

Please finish your quote from Moroni!

[@bradman1984]

Absolutely incredible. Thank you to all! Joseph Smith truly is the Prophet of this ongoing dispensation of the Restoration!

[@UltraDoug]

Wow! This is incredible and exciting news. I’m very much looking forward to reading and praying over this new book. The work continues to roll forth in so many ways, now and into the millennium. I’m eternally grateful for our front row seat in history unfolding. ❤️

[@sherriedix5837]

I love Joseph Smith. Praise to the Man! ❤

[@kevinmatthews7180]

Thank you Millers.

[@LisaPFrampton]

Thank you so much for all the time, effort, research, money, sacrifices and perseverance against the fiery darts of the Adversary whom, I'm sure, was madly fighting against this from coming together!

[@ron.v]

Well said!

[@martinbilis8875]

This is such great progress and will contribute so much to the Church!

[@tauruscool7610]

Blessings from Pakistan 🙏❤️

[@nancywilkes298]

Fabulous announcement… The completion of the papers done in such a time as this is truly inspired. Brother and Sister Miller, you rock! Brother Turley, “Joseph the Prophet” will bring many souls to Christ. This is good work. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@ron.v]

Amen!

[@aprilgriffin7126]

Blessings poured out on each person involved in this project of bringing truth to the world. So much gratitude to Brother Joseph and all who assisted in the great work of the beginning of the Restoration of the Lord’s church in the latter days.

[@lanehill467]

Less than a week from the bicentennial visit of Moroni to Joseph in 1823. Marvelous.

[@StompMom5]

Such an Accomplishment 🙏🏻😇🤍. Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God. All the world will know this whether in this life or the next, God will make his sacrifices known

[@sallydougherty2027]

Thats awesome loved reading his paper,s Amen 🙏 God bless you all for this 🙏

[@andyg806]

Incredibly exciting news. Looking forward to reading this biography.

[@dfusa4869]

“Millions shall see brother Joseph again !!! “

[@JohnKirton]

Amazing, I never realized that this project produced that many volumes and spanned 22 years to complete.

[@nanetteiglupas7838]

❤❤❤❤thank you to all who puy these things together

[@talbertofdz]

A great effort of the church, to give more details of how prophet Joseph Smith helped in the restoration of Jesus Christ's gospel.

[@WellandJoyceArtist]

This is super exciting. Thankyou first presidency for this :)

[@joesines7583]

Awesome! I’m very excited to get to know the prophet Joseph better. A modern-day Moses.

[@ron.v]

Kind of cool because he met Moses an probably knows him better than anyone living.

[@owenjenkinsofficial]

This is very exciting! Can’t wait to hear more about the new volume!

[@herrimanguy6361]

So happy to still be on the good ship Zion.

[@hingepointhypothesis]

Millions will know brother Joseph again...

[@TeenAthleteAcademy]

Wow! What a gift! I have loved the Joseph Smith Papers. Can’t wait to read the book! ❤

[@brycepardoe658]

Such a huge undertaking

[@lauriegenie]

Wow, I didn't know about this project ... Fascinating and faith-affirming!

[@SouthwestORV]

Grateful for this project and looking forward to the next.

[@chelsey4529]

I’m honestly so excited! This is amazing 💛

[@Red-gp9hn]

Very excited to read this! I’m interested to see how it differs from Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling.

[@ron.v]

You may know that Richard Bushman helped with the JS Papers project.

[@mr.mensch1557]

This is wonderful!

[@Graham-mv6zo]

Truth is so precious

[@DrDaveSalisburyPhDMBA]

I’m so excited!!! Thank You!!!

[@tinacarvalhoBodyandHealth]

Goodness all over!!! Thank you Father for sending people along each step of the way! I hope I can afford to also have these documents ❤

[@ron.v]

The church wants every member to have access to these good works. Keep an eye out for an onliine version that's available for free.

[@sidehustlergeek]

It's a marvelous work and wonder what God can do using the resources so willingly given and the expertise of many. He used imperfect mortals to accomplish His grand design!

[@davidgillis950]

I want to read that book! I am so grateful for the prophet Joseph Smith and the work he did for our Lord and Savior.

[@joannekapp7625]

So excited. Love Prophet Joseph Smith.

[@CompleteAnimation]

This is a monumental achievement. I can't wait to read the new biography!

[@MsEva9470]

Wonderful thank you this is so wonderful 👏👏👏👏👏👏😊

[@mmkvoe6342]

Yay! As I have put it into words this summer, my testimony of Joseph Smith has come multiple times and in multiple ways, but I the last year the testimony is coming by virtue of the Lord showing me how much my life looks like President Smith's--while I am thankfully not having to experience the exact same persecutions he did, I have faced people with the same view of me and the same spirit as Joseph's enemies had, and I have the opportunity to figure out my responses, and use Joseph Smith's life as an example in ways I hadn't previously. I would hope that if he said he felt people couldn't understand his commitment and discipleship in his lifetime (possibly this was also because the church's membership at the time was new and less experienced at being saints than the experience he was given), that by the time this dispensation ends there would be many saints whose commitment would at least match the pattern of his if not the scope and scale.

[@ron.v]

@mmkvoe6342 I'm praying for you. I've experienced a tiny bit of persecution as well. A preacher came knocking on doors looking to expand his church membership. When he found I was a member of the church, he immediately began condemning our church. A chance meeting at a hospital of someone from my neighborhood led to a conversation about the church. The other fellow immediately raised his voice in hot anger against our faith. My own cousin came for a visit when my wife was dying of cancer. His goal was to tell my wife she was going to H _ _ L because she didn't believe in Jesus as a member of our church. He tried his best to convert her. I know he meant well but these are a few of the minor experiences still happening today. Joseph, of course, had it so much worse in his day, however, some still feel the fiery darts of the adversary worldwide striving to destroy our faith. If he works extra hard on you, it must be because the Lord has great plans for you. Remember, Satan knows your history, however, we have an edge. We know his future.

[@CAOceanWaves]

I'm excited to obtain and read the new biography, "Joseph the Prophet." Woohoo!

[@kimchiking123]

I love the prophet Joseph Smith, I am excited to get my hands on this biography.

[@hennore]

What a blessing!

[@DrTerminus]

This is awesome! Looking forward to the publication of this volume one day in the near future. Praise to the man!

[@Canut0]

A true prophet of God ❤🙏

[@maemargaretevans9981]

I love the Church's 7 volumes of the History of the Church in 1949 copyright George Albert Smith and notes by B.H. Roberts.

[@mistersmith8962]

Humble Joseph: "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him..."

[@salotetaufa9965]

WOW THIS IS A TRUE AMAZING WORK THE WORLD CAN'T WAIT TO READ EVERYTHING HE WRITE DOWN, FROM THE BEGINNING HE DIE TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT HE SEE IS TRUE AND HE NEVER DENIED IT.

[@dianestevens1229]

Looking forward to reading it. ❤

[@Cameron4077]

This is very. very exciting!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for making this video!

[@christophersevern6210]

"Millions shall know Brother Joseph again"

[@TempleScoop]

I wish j could have attended. Beautifully said, thank you. ~Chad James #TempleScoop

[@jh-nt9ws]

Wow! Love this, there were so much to learn with such a dynamic man. We have just a fraction of his history so far! I look forward to the Biography!

[@spencerpalmer4961]

Thank you for the video.

[@churchnewsroom]

Thanks for watching!

[@Waterboyofsuperman]

Great news and an amazing accomplishment. I understand there’s a private effort to do something similar with the Wilford Woodruff papers. I wonder if there will be a comparable project for other church leaders (Brigham Young Papers, maybe?)

[@AnsonSavage]

Beautiful! Great work everyone!

[@ezraprice7066]

I am incredibly excited about this! I have loved this project and all the great work that went into it. Using it to create a new biographer will be fantastic.

[@cdeanneeckles]

Thanks for sharing

[@davidsuttner8034]

As a missionary in Mexico I have learned firsthand of the need for the members of the Church and the friends of the church to come to know better the relationship between divine personages and Joseph Smith. Please consider an immediate availability of a translated publication.

[@lukeslc-xd8ds]

That will be quite the challenge -- the translation of all the volumes, if they decide to do so. Of course, if it is just the new work announced, that would be much more practical.

[@thisoldbelair]

Oh man I can’t wait for this. Super cool

[@wandaalbiston7994]

This is exciting ❤

[@makamurphy]

Wow this is great!

[@deniseang6358]

I love them

[@BarrettVanDyke]

Very exciting. Hopefully it’s released before 4-6-2030.

[@kcweepy]

Yes! What a celebration that will be in 2030🎉

[@samueltorres4127]

Can someone help explain to me how this impacts the LDS faith as a whole? I understand this is a biography on Joseph Smith, but is there anything this will provide so as to buttress the teachings of the church? Thank you!

[@ron.v]

@samueltorres4127 Hi. Teachings of the church are available through gospel study, attending church meetings, reading scripture, SS lessons, daily prayer, and temple attendance as well as reading good books such as those by Talmage. Once you've studied these things for a few years, you can gain additional help with church history questions by referring to works like this. The church publishes these type works primarily to combat the false presentations of other so-called scholars whose goals are to detract from the primary purposes of the gospel which is the gathering of Israel and the redemption of all humankind by our Savior, Jesus Christ.

[@HaleStorm49]

It's effect on faith will be at the individual level. To some it is given and to some it is not given.

[@mycatwould]

This is great! Looking forward to the biography

[@weretube6147]

The life of profit is faith and 🚶love.amen

[@daniellichtenstein7541]

I can't wait! This is wonderful news!

[@TheYgds]

I could not be more pleased that this project has come to a conclusion and these papers are now a matter of public record and access. However, I have grave concerns about the current intellectual climate of the Church, and worry somewhat that BYU professors and historians involved in this biographical project either primarily in its construction, or of supporting reference materials, will attempt to insert their own socio-political agendas and societal engineering goals into the text. I pray that our beloved Prophet and the Apostles will have the discernment to correct and monitor this project under the Lord's direction, so that the end result is honest to Joseph's life and character, and not infiltrated by presentist notions and activist agendas.

[@ron.v]

I'm not sure how familiar you are with church history on the subject you mention. The concern about a "current intellectual climate" has been present off and on for at least 100 years. Early on, authorities such as a church historian and an apostle (I won't mention names) expressed public disagreement on an issue. This was eventually resolved with the first presidency published the church's position on evolution and the origin of man. Some issues were left unsettled but the origin of man was declared by the prophet. I'm sure most will agree that your concerns are valid. It's always a toss-up between sharing historic facts and avoiding misinterpretation. I pray that members of the church will stay close to the spirit and rely on the living prophet to discern the truth. I think we need these papers and biography to help combat evil press in the future.

[@innapoghosyan9096]

Will the book be available in the gospel library app?🤩

[@Ruben-ot8pm]

Now that’s exciting

[@Sunsaintsandwaves]

So excited for this!

[@slyguy752]

Let's hope Richard E. Turley doesn't push that the hill Cumorah was in central or south America. Joseph has always claimed that the people, places, and the historical events of the Book of Mormon happened in northern America right were Joseph Smith found the plates. Anyone telling you otherwise are like the people that modified and took out the plane and precocious doctrine out of the Bible. While marching with Zion’s Camp in June 1834, Joseph Smith and the brethren “visited many of the mounds” which Wilford Woodruff speculated were “flung up . . . probably by the Nephites & Lamanites.” In a letter to Emma, Joseph Smith said they had been “wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionally the history of the Book of Mormon.” Joseph even said they were “picking up their skulls & their bones, as a proof of its divine authenticity.” This happened in the United States of America, NOT central or south America.

[@parkman29]

They should make a new book for each of the prophets as this goes on, like doing Brigham Young, then John Taylor, etc.

[@barnbuild27]

When is the publishing date of the new biography?

[@ron.v]

They don't know yet.

[@greggweber9967]

Around 1975, I joined the church and went to the local Institute of Religion in Yakima Washington. The teacher said that in a dispute, when both sides are equal, look at the Historian. Is that good advice?

[@davidsuttner8034]

Yep

[@ron.v]

Usually, that's true, but sometimes the dispute has historically been between an historian and an authority of the church. Always, always, always rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you through humble, heart felt prayer, then rely in faith on the living prophet. In lieu of any present resolution through him, rely on the apostles and other church authorities before turning to church historians. A faithful church historian will always tell you the same. See David Ridges or Rick Turley for good examples of great authors who rely on guidance from church authorities.

[@zionmama150]

Thank you for doing this

[@nativoa4721]

Amen 🙏🙏🙏

[@carlitopablero988]

Joseph Smith a man of God

[@mnikaluza4]

So exciting

[@birdvid147]

This is great news! Can you project an approximate date when this would be available to the public for purchase?

[@drc93756]

It will be a free resource distributed by the church. It wouldn't be right for the church to profit off this important work.

[@BillPowers-qy8bp]

I am wondering how to obtain this information the Joseph Smith Papers

[@trekdaily]

I would love to know where I can get the book.

[@iwantcheesypuffs]

Very interesting. Would of liked a reference to the website (url link) relating to the documents and if or where they may be purchased for review.

[@Dukhyun]

Great!

[@GAILandROD]

So wonderful.

[@heathwiniesdorffer6921]

I am a convert. Not sure what these papers will contain but very interested to find out.

[@Timothy4186]

Does anyone know when, and how, I can obtain a copy of "Joseph the Prophet"?

[@otaviopmartins]

Awesome