People in the Story

A

Aaron

Exodus era · First high priest of Israel; brother of Moses

Called of God to the priesthood (Ex. 28).

Read more

A

Abraham

Patriarchal era (traditionally c. 2nd millennium BCE) · Patriarch of the covenant

Called from Ur and Haran to Canaan. God covenanted to make of him 'a great nation' through whom 'all families of the earth' would be blessed (Gen. 12; 17).

Read more

A

Amos

8th century BCE · Prophet of Israel from Tekoa

A herdsman and 'gatherer of sycomore fruit' who prophesied to the northern kingdom (Amos 1:1; 7:14).

Read more

Charles Anthon

1797 – 1867 · Classical scholar, Columbia

New York professor whom Martin Harris consulted about the characters in 1828.

Read more · portrait

Lilburn W. Boggs

1796 – 1860 · Governor of Missouri

Issued the executive order of Oct. 27, 1838.

Read more · portrait

SC

Solomon Chamberlin

1788 – 1862 · Early convert

Seeker who learned of the 'gold bible' at the Smith home in 1829.

Read more

AC

Abner Cole

1783 – 1835 · Palmyra editor

Printed pirated extracts of the Book of Mormon in his Reflector in 1830.

Read more

Oliver Cowdery

1806 – 1850 · Scribe; Book of Mormon witness

Vermont schoolteacher who wrote most of the Book of Mormon translation, received priesthood with Joseph, and saw the Kirtland visions of 1836. Excommunicated Apr. 12, 1838; rebaptized by Orson Hyde years later and died in 1850.

Read more · portrait

Alexander W. Doniphan

1808 – 1887 · Missouri militia general; lawyer

Refused Gen. Lucas's order to execute Joseph Smith and others in 1838.

Read more · portrait

E

Elijah

9th century BCE · Prophet of Israel

Prophet in the reign of Ahab, taken up into heaven (2 Kings 2). Malachi foretold his return.

Read more

Thomas Ford

1800 – 1850 · Governor of Illinois

Promised Joseph protection in Carthage.

Read more · portrait

Elijah Fordham

1798 – 1880 · Healed July 22, 1839

Raised from his sickbed in Montrose.

Read more · portrait

John Foxe

1516/17 – 18 Apr. 1587 · English martyrologist

Author of Actes and Monuments (1563 and later editions), popularly called Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

Read more · portrait

RG

Rhoda Young Greene

1789 – 1841 · Sister of Brigham Young

Received a Book of Mormon from Samuel Smith that later reached her brother Brigham.

Read more

JG

Johannes Gutenberg

c. 1400 – 1468 · Inventor of movable-type printing in Europe

A goldsmith of Mainz who printed the Gutenberg Bible about 1455.

Read more

IH

Isaac Hale

1763 – 1839 · Father of Emma Smith

Harmony, Pennsylvania, farmer who opposed Emma's marriage to Joseph.

Read more

RH

Robert D. Hales

24 Aug. 1932 – 1 Oct. 2017 · Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (modern commentator)

A member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 1994–2017.

Read more

Martin Harris

1783 – 1875 · Benefactor; Book of Mormon witness

Palmyra farmer who financed the first printing of the Book of Mormon and lost the 116 pages; one of the Three Witnesses.

Read more · portrait

LH

Lucy Harris

1792 – 1836 · Wife of Martin Harris

Martin's wife, who opposed the translation; often connected with the loss of the manuscript.

Read more

George M. Hinkle

1801 – 1861 · Latter-day Saint militia commander

Delivered Joseph and others to Gen. Lucas on Oct. 31, 1838.

Read more · portrait

HH

Howard W. Hunter

1907 – 1995 · Apostle; later Church President

In 1979 taught that 'Both the Jews and the Arabs are children of our Father.'

Read more

Orson Hyde

1805 – 1878 · Apostle

Dedicated Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives on Oct. 24, 1841.

Read more · portrait

CI

Constantine I

c. 272 – 337 · Roman emperor (306–337)

The first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity. He legalized it (Edict of Milan, 313) and convened the Council of Nicaea (325).

Read more

Joseph Smith III

1832 – 1914 · Son of Joseph and Emma

Five years old at the parting in Far West; eleven at his father's death.

Read more · portrait

JC

Jesus Christ

c. 4 BCE – c. 30/33 CE · Jesus of Nazareth; Savior and Redeemer in Christian belief

A Jewish teacher from Galilee who called twelve apostles, taught, was crucified in Jerusalem and, Christians testify, rose from the dead.

Read more

JB

John the Baptist

1st century · Forerunner of Jesus

Appeared on May 15, 1829, to confer the Aaronic Priesthood (D&C 13).

Read more

Joseph Smith Jr.

23 Dec. 1805 – 27 June 1844 · Founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Born in Sharon, Vermont, the fifth child of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. He reported a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ in 1820 and visits from the angel Moroni beginning in 1823. He translated and published the Book of Mormon (1830) and organized the Church on 6 April 1830. He led the Saints in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. He married Emma Hale on 18 January 1827. He was killed with his brother Hyrum by a mob at Carthage Jail, Illinois.

Read more · portrait

Heber C. Kimball

1801 – 1868 · Apostle

Opened the mission to England in 1837.

Read more · portrait

NK

Newel Knight

1800 – 1847 · Early convert

Colesville convert; at Far West in 1838 he defied Gen. Lucas over his rifle.

Read more

LK

Lydia Goldthwaite Knight

1812 – 1884 · Early convert

Received a blessing from Joseph Smith Sr. in Kirtland; wife of Newel Knight.

Read more

Hugh Latimer

c. 1487 – 16 Oct. 1555 · English reformer; former Bishop of Worcester; martyr

A popular Protestant preacher burned at Oxford under Mary I with Nicholas Ridley.

Read more · portrait

William Law

1809 – 1892 · Counselor in the First Presidency; dissenter

Led the publishers of the Nauvoo Expositor.

Read more · portrait

SL

Samuel D. Lucas

1799 – 1868 · Missouri militia general

Commanded the militia at Far West and ordered the prisoners shot.

Read more

Martin Luther

10 Nov. 1483 – 18 Feb. 1546 · German reformer

An Augustinian friar and Wittenberg professor whose 1517 Ninety-five Theses against indulgences sparked the Protestant Reformation. He refused to recant at the Diet of Worms (April 1521) and translated the Bible into German.

Read more · portrait

LM

Lydia Gates Mack

3 Sept. 1732 – ca. 1818 · Maternal grandmother of Joseph Smith Jr.

Born in Hartford County (East Haddam area), Connecticut. She was a schoolteacher before marrying Solomon Mack in 1759, and she educated their children at home. She died at Royalton, Vermont.

Read more

JM

Jason Mack

c. 1760s – after 1835 · Brother of Lucy Mack Smith; Seeker preacher

Lucy's eldest brother, a preacher and healer who led a small communal group in New Brunswick.

Read more

SM

Stephen Mack

1766 – 1826 · Brother of Lucy Mack Smith; merchant

Lucy's brother, a successful merchant and militia officer in Vermont and Michigan.

Read more

LM

Lovina Mack

d. c. 1794 · Sister of Lucy Mack Smith

Lucy's sister, who nursed Lovisa and died of consumption. Lucy preserved the hymn she recited before death.

Read more

M

Malachi

5th century BCE (approx.) · Last of the Twelve Minor Prophets

Prophet of post-exilic Judah. His book closes with the promise that Elijah will be sent before 'the great and dreadful day of the LORD' (Mal. 4:5–6; Hebrew Bible 3:23–24).

Read more

SM

Sophronia Smith Stoddard McCleary

1803 – 1876 · Sister of Joseph Smith

Eldest Smith daughter. Lucy records her near-fatal illness in childhood and the family's prayers for her.

Read more

Lucy Smith Millikin

1821 – 1882 · Youngest sister of Joseph Smith

The youngest Smith child. She went with her mother to the prisoners' wagon at Far West in 1838 and kissed Joseph's hand as it pulled away.

Read more · portrait

M

Moroni

ancient · Book of Mormon prophet; angel

Last Book of Mormon prophet, who appeared to Joseph on Sept. 21–22, 1823, and quoted Malachi.

Read more

M

Moses

Exodus era (traditionally c. 13th century BCE) · Lawgiver and prophet of Israel

Led Israel out of Egypt and received the Torah at Sinai.

Read more

John Murdock

1792 – 1871 · Early convert

Gave his newborn twins to Joseph and Emma after his wife's death in 1831.

Read more · portrait

JN

Jane Neyman

c. 1792 – ? · First recorded proxy baptism

Baptized in the Mississippi for her son Cyrus in 1840.

Read more

HP

Hiram Page

1800 – 1852 · Book of Mormon witness

One of the Eight Witnesses; his seer-stone revelations prompted D&C 28.

Read more

WP

Warren Parrish

1803 – 1877 · Clerk; dissenter

Safety Society secretary who led the Kirtland dissenters.

Read more

DP

David W. Patten

1799 – 1838 · Apostle

Killed at the Crooked River skirmish, October 1838.

Read more

P

Paul

d. c. 64–67 CE · Apostle to the Gentiles

A Pharisee converted on the road to Damascus, missionary and letter writer.

Read more

P

Peter (Simon Peter)

d. c. 64–68 CE · Chief apostle of Jesus

Galilean fisherman and leader of the Twelve. He rebuked Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8) and preached the 'restitution of all things' (Acts 3).

Read more

William W. Phelps

1792 – 1872 · Printer; editor

Testified against Joseph in 1838 and was forgiven in 1840 ('friends at first are friends again at last').

Read more · portrait

Parley P. Pratt

1807 – 1857 · Apostle

Former Campbellite preacher converted by the Book of Mormon in 1830; briefly estranged in 1837; imprisoned in Missouri.

Read more · portrait

Willard Richards

1804 – 1854 · Apostle

Survived Carthage Jail almost unhurt and wrote 'Two Minutes in Jail.'

Read more · portrait

NR

Nicholas Ridley

c. 1500 – 16 Oct. 1555 · Bishop of London; martyr

An English reformer burned with Latimer at Oxford.

Read more

Sidney Rigdon

1793 – 1876 · Counselor in the First Presidency

Ohio preacher converted in 1830; shared the vision of D&C 76; gave the July 4, 1838 oration; imprisoned at Liberty.

Read more · portrait

Katharine Smith Salisbury

1813 – 1900 · Sister of Joseph Smith

Smith daughter, later a witness in family recollections of the early events.

Read more · portrait

S

Samuel

c. 11th century BCE · Prophet and judge of Israel

Called by the Lord as a boy at Shiloh (1 Sam. 3).

Read more

RS

Richard Scott

d. c. 1681 · Early Providence settler; Baptist turned Quaker

A member of Williams's early Baptist congregation who later joined the Friends (Quakers).

Read more

JS

Joshua Seixas

1802 – 1874 · Hebraist

Taught Hebrew in Kirtland, Jan.–Mar. 1836; son of Gershom Mendez Seixas.

Read more

S

Simon (Simon Magus)

1st century CE · Samaritan sorcerer

He tried to buy the power to confer the Holy Ghost and was rebuked by Peter (Acts 8:9–24).

Read more

AS

Asael Smith

7 Mar. 1743/44 – 31 Oct. 1830 · Paternal grandfather of Joseph Smith Jr.

Born in Topsfield, Massachusetts. He married Mary Duty on 12 February 1767 at Topsfield and served in the Revolutionary War. He farmed in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont, and later moved to St. Lawrence County, New York, where he died at Stockholm.

Read more

MS

Mary Duty Smith

11 Oct. 1743 – 27 May 1836 · Paternal grandmother of Joseph Smith Jr.

Born in Rowley, Massachusetts. She married Asael Smith in 1767 and raised eleven children with him. After his death she traveled in 1836 from New York to Kirtland, Ohio, where she died on 27 May 1836, aged ninety-two.

Read more

Lucy Mack Smith

8 July 1775 – 14 May 1856 · Mother of Joseph Smith Jr.; family historian

Born in Gilsum, New Hampshire, daughter of Solomon Mack Sr. and Lydia Gates. She married Joseph Smith Sr. in 1796 and bore eleven children. She painted oilcloth, nursed the sick and raised funds for the Church. She joined the Palmyra Presbyterian church in the early 1820s, was baptized in 1830, and in 1831 led a company of about eighty Saints from New York to Kirtland. In Nauvoo she joined the Relief Society (1842). She dictated her history in 1844–45 and died in Nauvoo.

Read more · portrait

AS

Alvin Smith

11 Feb. 1798 – 19 Nov. 1823 · Eldest surviving brother of Joseph Smith Jr.

Born in Tunbridge, Vermont. He worked as a farmer and carpenter and led construction of the family's frame house in Manchester, New York. He died suddenly in Palmyra Township in November 1823, about two months after Moroni's first visit.

Read more

Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800 – 27 June 1844 · Brother of Joseph Smith Jr.; Assistant President and Patriarch

Born in Tunbridge, Vermont. He was a farmer and cooper and one of the Eight Witnesses. He married Jerusha Barden in 1826 and, after her death, Mary Fielding on 24 Dec. 1837. He shared Liberty Jail with Joseph and was killed with him at Carthage.

Read more · portrait

Emma Hale Smith

10 July 1804 – 30 Apr. 1879 · Wife of Joseph Smith Jr.; scribe; first Relief Society president

Born in Harmony Township, Pennsylvania, daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis, and a Methodist in her youth. She married Joseph on 18 January 1827 at South Bainbridge, New York. She served as an early scribe for the Book of Mormon translation, compiled the first Church hymnal and presided over the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo. She married Lewis C. Bidamon in 1847 and died in Nauvoo.

Read more · portrait

Samuel Harrison Smith

1808 – 30 July 1844 · Brother of Joseph Smith; early missionary

Younger brother of Joseph and Hyrum. Baptized in 1829, he carried copies of the Book of Mormon on one of the church's first missionary journeys. Chased by the mob on his way to Carthage in June 1844, he fell ill and died a month after his brothers.

Read more · portrait

William Smith

1811 – 1893 · Brother of Joseph Smith; apostle

Younger brother of Joseph. A member of the original Quorum of the Twelve. In 1837 he pulled Warren Parrish off the Kirtland Temple stand to defend his father.

Read more · portrait

DS

Don Carlos Smith

1816 – 7 Aug. 1841 · Youngest brother of Joseph Smith; printer

The youngest Smith son. He printed the Times and Seasons in Nauvoo and died of illness in 1841. He wrote to Joseph in Liberty Jail.

Read more

JS

Jesse Smith

1768 – 1853 · Uncle of Joseph Smith

Joseph Sr.'s eldest brother, a strict Calvinist who opposed the family's new faith.

Read more

NS

Nathan Smith

1762 – 1829 · Physician, Dartmouth

Founder of Dartmouth's medical school, credited by historians with the operation on young Joseph's leg.

Read more

AS

Amanda Barnes Smith

1809 – 1886 · Hawn's Mill survivor

Lost her husband and son at Hawn's Mill; her son Alma's healing is one of the best-known accounts of the period.

Read more

Mary Fielding Smith

1801 – 1852 · Wife of Hyrum Smith

Visited Hyrum in Liberty Jail with their newborn, Joseph F. Smith.

Read more · portrait

Eliza R. Snow

1804 – 1887 · Poet; Relief Society secretary

Wrote the society's draft constitution and proposed its name in 1842.

Read more · portrait

SM

Solomon Mack Sr.

15 Sept. 1732 – 23 Aug. 1820 · Maternal grandfather of Joseph Smith Jr.

Born in Lyme, Connecticut, son of Ebenezer Mack and Hannah Hanlly (Huntley). He served in the French and Indian War (1755–1759) and married Lydia Gates on 4 January 1759. He worked as a farmer, merchant, shipmaster and freighter, and died at Gilsum, New Hampshire.

Read more

JS

Joseph Smith Sr.

12 July 1771 – 14 Sept. 1840 · Father of Joseph Smith Jr.; first Presiding Patriarch

Born in Topsfield, Massachusetts, son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. He married Lucy Mack on 24 January 1796 at Tunbridge, Vermont. He worked as a cooper, farmer, teacher and merchant, and joined the Universalist Society at Tunbridge in 1797. He lost everything in a ginseng venture about 1802–03. The family moved repeatedly across Vermont and New Hampshire, then to Palmyra, New York, in 1816. He was one of the Eight Witnesses (1829) and was baptized on 6 April 1830. He was ordained Patriarch on 6 December 1834 and died in Nauvoo.

Read more

PW

Peter Whitmer Sr.

1773 – 1854 · Host of the church's organization

His log home in Fayette, New York, hosted the completion of the translation and the organization of the church on Apr. 6, 1830.

Read more

JK

Joseph Knight Sr.

1772 – 1847 · Early supporter

Colesville farmer who supplied Joseph with food and paper during translation.

Read more

William R. Staples

1798 – 1868 · Rhode Island jurist and historian

Author of Annals of the Town of Providence (1843).

Read more · portrait

JS

Josiah Stowell

1770 – 1844 · Employer of Joseph Smith

South Bainbridge, New York, farmer who hired young Joseph in 1825.

Read more

John Taylor

1808 – 1887 · Apostle; later Church President

Wounded at Carthage Jail; earlier defended Joseph in Kirtland ('If the work was true six months ago…').

Read more · portrait

LT

Lovisa Mack Tuttle

d. c. 1794 · Sister of Lucy Mack Smith

Lucy's sister, whose remarkable recovery from illness Lucy recounts.

Read more

WT

William Tyndale

c. 1494 – early Oct. 1536 · English Bible translator and martyr

An Oxford-trained scholar who translated the New Testament (Worms, 1526) and much of the Old Testament from Greek and Hebrew into English. He was betrayed in Antwerp in 1535 and imprisoned at Vilvoorde, then strangled and burned in 1536.

Read more

Charles V

24 Feb. 1500 – 21 Sept. 1558 · Holy Roman Emperor (1519–1556)

Habsburg ruler of Spain, the Netherlands and the Empire. He presided at the Diet of Worms (1521).

Read more · portrait

John Wentworth

1815 – 1888 · Editor, Chicago Democrat

Requested the 1842 sketch that contains the Articles of Faith.

Read more · portrait

John Wesley

17 June 1703 (O.S.) – 2 Mar. 1791 · Anglican clergyman; founder of Methodism

An English evangelist whose movement became, in America, one of the largest denominations of Joseph Smith's day.

Read more · portrait

David Whitmer

1805 – 1888 · Book of Mormon witness

Fayette farmer, one of the Three Witnesses; excommunicated in 1838 but never denied his testimony.

Read more · portrait

MW

Mary Musselman Whitmer

1778 – 1856 · Witness of the plates

Wife of Peter Whitmer Sr., who reported being shown the plates by a heavenly messenger.

Read more

Newel K. Whitney

1795 – 1850 · Bishop; Kirtland merchant

His Kirtland store housed the School of the Prophets.

Read more · portrait

RW

Roger Williams

c. 1603 – 1683 · Puritan minister; founder of Providence, Rhode Island; 'Seeker'

Arrived in Massachusetts in 1631 and was banished in 1635 for his views on liberty of conscience and Native land rights. He founded Providence in 1636 as a haven of religious freedom and helped found the first Baptist church in America (c. 1638–39), but left it within months to become a Seeker.

Read more

Wilford Woodruff

1807 – 1898 · Apostle

Witnessed the healings of July 22, 1839.

Read more · portrait

JW

John Wycliffe

c. 1328 – 31 Dec. 1384 · English theologian; inspirer of the first complete English Bible

An Oxford scholar and priest who challenged church abuses and urged scripture in English. He and his associates translated the Bible from Latin in the 1380s.

Read more

Brigham Young

1801 – 1877 · Apostle; successor

Led the exodus from Missouri in 1839 and the Twelve after 1844; finished the Nauvoo Temple.

Read more · portrait

Portraits are historical paintings, drawings and photographs in the public domain, each credited with its source. Where no authentic likeness survives, or none is in the public domain, initials stand in its place, so that no invented likeness is put forward as real. Figures from scripture are never pictured.