History of the Church

History of the Church is a seven-volume historical record documenting the early period of the Latter Day Saint movement and the life of Joseph Smith. The work, published between 1902 and 1912, compiles writings, revelations, and day-to-day accounts from the founding era of what would become the LDS Church. The text emerged from multiple sources and authors, with various scribes and secretaries contributing to its creation between 1839 and 1856. While attributed to Joseph Smith, much of the content was recorded by his associates and later church historians who documented Smith's activities, statements, and leadership of the growing religious movement. The narrative spans from the 1820s through 1844, covering the church's origins in New York, its expansion in Ohio and Missouri, and its establishment in Nauvoo, Illinois. The volumes contain official declarations, correspondence, meeting minutes, and personal observations from Smith and other early church leaders. The work stands as a foundational text for understanding the development of Mormon theology, organizational structure, and the social dynamics of 19th-century religious movements in America.

Readers note this multi-volume work provides primary source documentation of early Mormon history from Joseph Smith's perspective, along with contributions from scribes and church historians. Positive reviews highlight: - Detailed accounts of foundational Mormon events - Historical context through letters, meeting minutes, and journals - Direct access to Smith's teachings and revelations - Value as a reference for Mormon studies Common criticisms: - Editorial changes between editions alter meaning - Questions about historical accuracy and bias - Multiple authors create inconsistent tone - Complex chronology can be hard to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (346 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (31 ratings) Review quotes: "An important but flawed historical record that requires careful study alongside other sources" - Goodreads reviewer "The various scribes and editors make it unclear which words are truly Smith's" - Amazon reviewer "Invaluable firsthand accounts despite obvious bias in the narrative" - LibraryThing reviewer

Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Lyman Bushman This biography of Joseph Smith presents primary source documents and historical context that expand upon many events described in History of the Church.

Early Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn The book examines the cultural and religious environment of early Mormonism through historical records and contemporary accounts.

The Papers of Joseph Smith by Dean C. Jessee This collection provides original documents and journal entries that correspond to many events chronicled in History of the Church.

Joseph Smith's First Vision by Milton V. Backman The book compiles historical accounts and documentation of the founding event of Mormonism from multiple primary sources.

Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith by Linda King Newell This biography offers a parallel narrative to History of the Church through the perspective of Joseph Smith's wife and her documentation of events.

🔹 B.H. Roberts spent nearly a decade (1902-1912) editing and annotating the manuscripts, adding extensive footnotes and commentary that doubled the original text's length. 🔹 The books contain the first published version of Joseph Smith's First Vision account, which became a foundational story in Mormon theology. 🔹 Much of the original manuscript was written while Joseph Smith was imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Missouri, during the winter of 1838-1839. 🔹 The work includes over 700 letters, revelations, and official documents from the early church period, many of which are not available in any other historical source. 🔹 The series was initially published serially in the Times and Seasons newspaper between 1842 and 1846 before being compiled into book format.