Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious and political leader and the founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. Publishing the Book of Mormon at the age of 24, Smith attracted tens of thousands of followers by the time of his death fourteen years later.

John Smith (September 22, 1832 – November 6, 1911), was the fifth Presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His father was Hyrum Smith, the older brother of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Joseph Smith is perhaps best known for his translation of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Church members believe that Joseph was led to a hill near Palmyra, New York, where he received an ancient record from an angel known as Moroni.

Joseph Smith, the founder and leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his brother, Hyrum Smith, were killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois, United States, on June 27, 1844, while awaiting trial in the town jail on charges of treason.

The Church History Biographical Database is a powerful research tool that contains biographical entries on over 100,000 early Latter-day Saints, such as pioneers who traveled to Utah and missionaries who served throughout the world from 1830-1940.

Knowing the truth of Joseph Smith’s testimony requires each earnest seeker of truth to study the Book of Mormon and then exercise sufficient faith in Christ to ask God in sincere, humble prayer whether the record is true.

He was the Church’s Presiding Patriarch for fifty-six years; he gave over twenty thousand patriarchal blessings; he was sustained in general conference as a prophet, seer, and revelator; and yet, in some recent histories, it is occasionally difficult to even find John’s name listed among Hyrum Smith’s children. [1]

Collection of Manuscripts about Mormons, 1832–1954, Chicago History Museum.

John Smith (September 22, 1832 – November 6, 1911), was the fifth Presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His father was Hyrum Smith, the older brother of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

John Smith, a younger brother of Joseph Smith Sr., was born in Derryfield (later Manchester), New Hampshire, in 1781. He married Clarissa Lyman in 1815. In January 1832, he was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and ordained an elder.