The Joseph Smith Papers

Season 1

52 episodes · Feb 2, 2009

The Joseph Smith Papers Project illuminates the Prophet Joseph and the Restoration. Larry H. Miller and KJZZ Television partnered with the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a variety of prominent scholars to discuss the project, the documents, and the life and work of Joseph Smith.

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  • Overview
    S1E1

    Overview

    Feb 2, 2009

    The papers include the earliest of the foundational documents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The papers also provide insights from Joseph through his correspondence, journals, discourses, and business dealings.

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  • S1E2

    Joseph's Roots

    Feb 2, 2009

    Historians set the stage for Joseph Smith Jr.'s early years in New Hampshire and Vermont.

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  • S1E3

    Joseph's America

    Mar 9, 2009

    Review the remarkable parallels between a young nation and its newest religion as they each struggled to develop their identity and destiny.

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  • S1E4

    Palmyra

    Mar 9, 2009

    Palmyra is where young Joseph Smith and his family found themselves scraping to buy a farm, building a home, and then losing it all.

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  • S1E5

    First Vision Beginnings

    Mar 16, 2009

    Hear the four versions of the First Vision given by the Prophet.

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  • S1E6

    Four Accounts

    Mar 16, 2009

    Study Joseph's four accounts of the First Vision and the context that helps clarify the variations.

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  • S1E7

    The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

    Mar 23, 2009

    Review the remarkable relationship between Joseph and the angel Moroni.

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  • S1E8

    Harmony

    Mar 23, 2009

    Harmony is a story of miracles that would become the foundation for the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in the latter-days.

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  • S1E9

    Priesthood

    Mar 30, 2009

    Review the remarkable events surrounding the restoration of the priesthood and pinpoint the appearance of the three ancient apostles.

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  • S1E10

    The Papers People--Part 1

    Mar 30, 2009

    Meet five of the scholars whose work is central to compiling a complete and accurate documentary of Joseph Smith.

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  • S1E11

    The Papers People--Part 2

    May 11, 2009

    Survey the complete process of gathering, scrutinizing, and organizing documents for publication.

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  • S1E12

    The Translation of the Book of Mormon

    May 11, 2009

    Explore portions of the original manuscripts of the Book of Mormon and study the remarkable principles and questions that continue to surface.

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  • S1E13

    Printing the Book of Mormon

    May 18, 2009

    Review the time-consuming process of typesetting a 600-page book with nineteenth-century equipment.

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  • S1E14

    A Mother's Account

    May 18, 2009

    Examine the origin, motivation, and accuracy of "The History of the Prophet Joseph Smith" by Lucy Mack Smith.

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  • S1E15

    History of a History

    May 25, 2009

    Dean Jesse discusses Joseph's anxiety over keeping the history of a work that would change human events.

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  • S1E16

    Joseph's Journals

    May 25, 2009

    Explore the Prophet's personal journals to learn of his shortcomings, interpersonal conflicts, and challenges in leading the Saints into the future.

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  • S1E17

    Oliver's Story

    Jun 1, 2009

    Study the life of Oliver Cowdery and witness his participation in the events of the Restoration, his apostasy, and his powerful closing testimony.

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  • S1E18

    They Met the Prophet

    Jun 1, 2009

    Enjoy vibrant descriptions from those who met the Prophet. Whether one believed him or not, meeting Joseph Smith always left a deep impression.

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  • S1E19

    Saving Joseph's Leg

    Jun 8, 2009

    Learn how Joseph and his family lived within a few miles of the only man alive who could have saved Joseph's life.

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  • S1E20

    Joseph's New Translation--Part 1

    Jun 8, 2009

    Learn the history of Joseph's new translation of the Bible. Despite its significance, the manuscript was lost to the Church for over a century.

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  • S1E21

    Joseph's New Translation--Part 2

    Jun 15, 2009

    Observe in detail the changes that Joseph made to restore the "plain and precious" meanings of the Bible.

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  • S1E22

    The Letters of Joseph and Emma

    Jun 15, 2009

    Church history scholars review the papers that may have meant more to Joseph than any others: the letters between the Prophet and his wife.

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  • S1E23

    Joseph Smith the Radical

    Jun 22, 2009

    The Prophet's claim to direct revelation was extremely radical. Nevertheless, the revelation he received restored doctrine and structured the Church.

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  • S1E24

    April 6, 1830

    Jun 22, 2009

    Learn about the events surrounding the organization of the Church, including why six men were to become the founding fathers of Mormonism.

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  • S1E25

    Kirtland Beginnings

    Jun 29, 2009

    Scholars discuss the years in Kirtland that were filled with miracles, divine revelation, and instruction.

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  • S1E26

    Visions and Blessings, Tar and Feathers

    Jun 29, 2009

    Revisit the night when Joseph was tarred and feathered. Then, explore the difficulties and joys the Saints faced in their efforts to build a temple.

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  • S1E27

    The Kirtland Temple: An Endowment of Power

    Jul 6, 2009

    Examine the few yet remarkable days in Kirtland that culminated with the appearance of the Savior.

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  • S1E28

    Zion

    Jul 6, 2009

    Examine the idea of Zion and the role mobs and Mormons alike played in its failure. It was the greatest city that never came to be.

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  • S1E29

    Zion's Camp

    Jul 13, 2009

    Travel through four states with 200 men to learn that the mission of Zion's Camp was more about the lessons of a journey than about the destination.

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  • S1E30

    Crisis in Kirtland

    Jul 13, 2009

    Recount the dark days of Kirtland: financial failure, a riot in the temple, betrayal, and mutiny.

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  • S1E31

    Joseph Smith and the Law--Part 1

    Jul 20, 2009

    Hundreds of newly discovered legal documents paint a new impression of the litigious environment surrounding the Mormon leader.

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  • S1E32

    Joseph Smith and the Law--Part 2

    Jul 20, 2009

    Study the lawsuits Joseph faced throughout his life from his first encounter with the law at age 13 to the case of the Kirtland Safety Society.

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  • S1E33

    The Mormon War

    Jul 27, 2009

    Historians recount the pivotal days that would eventually lead to expulsion from Missouri, captivity at Liberty, and a trek out West

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  • S1E34

    Liberty Jail

    Jul 27, 2009

    For Joseph Smith, Liberty Jail provided an experience that would be described as the most important leadership training the Prophet would receive.

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  • S1E35

    Suffering and Salvationa

    Aug 3, 2009

    With an extermination order in effect, thousands of destitute Saints huddled together in desperate circumstances in Missouri. The exodus begins.

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  • S1E36

    The Mission of the Twelve to England

    Aug 3, 2009

    Detail the experience that transformed a group of faithful young men into a quorum who had great influence in the British Isles.

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  • S1E37

    Land, Joseph and "Justice" in Missouri

    Aug 10, 2009

    Historians show how "the law" in Missouri held Joseph hostage to "legally" rid itself of Mormons.

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  • S1E38

    Nauvoo Beginnings

    Aug 10, 2009

    Historians document the beginnings of Nauvoo, the beautiful city, and the implications from Joseph that it wouldn't last for long.

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  • S1E39

    "I Can Do Nothing for You"

    Aug 17, 2009

    Recount the meeting of the Prophet and the president in 1839, and learn Smith's candid assessment of the people and power of the nation's capital.

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  • S1E40

    Joseph Smith's Sermons

    Aug 17, 2009

    Discuss how the Saints viewed the difference between Joseph's preaching and the revelations he received from God.

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  • S1E41

    Jewel on the Mississippi

    Aug 24, 2009

    Review the remarkable design, organization of labor, and confluence of expertise that created the most notable structure along the Mississippi River.

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  • S1E42

    A Pearl of Great Price

    Aug 24, 2009

    Recount the story of how a remarkable find in Egypt ended up half a world away in the hands of the one man who could translate the Abrahamic text.

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  • S1E43

    Doctrines of Salvation

    Aug 31, 2009

    Examine a period of time in the early Church as Joseph introduces the doctrines that made the construction of a temple extremely urgent.

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  • S1E44

    Joseph and the Relief Society

    Aug 31, 2009

    Scholars examine the first meetings of the Relief Society, including the admonition that the organization become a vital source in the church.

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  • S1E45

    Living by the Law

    Sep 7, 2009

    Legal scholars document the legal wrangling that kept the Prophet on the defense during the Nauvoo years.

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  • S1E46

    Going International

    Sep 7, 2009

    Explore the early foreign missions of the Church in Canada, the British Isles, Palestine, and the Pacific islands.

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  • S1E47

    Gathering Clouds

    Sep 14, 2009

    Join scholars to discuss the fear and frustration of non-Mormons when Latter-day Saints became a political force.

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  • S1E48

    Joseph Smith for President

    Sep 14, 2009

    Follow the Prophet's very unique entry into national politics including his opinions on the role of government.

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  • S1E49

    Martyrdom

    Sep 28, 2009

    Learn about the events leading to the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

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  • S1E50

    Lamentation and Leadership

    Sep 28, 2009

    Scholars discuss the extraordinary events that led to consolidation of the Church's new leadership.

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  • S1E51

    Who Will Lead? Who Will Follow?

    Oct 5, 2009

    Discuss the contention that arose over who would succeed Joseph Smith.

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  • S1E100

    A Television Foreword

    Apr 4, 2009

    Join scholars for an introduction to the scope and intention of the Papers project.

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