Joseph Smith received very little formal education as a child and young man. He was largely educated by his parents, due to a lack of schools available. In all, he attended formal schooling only about three years. In addition, he was tutored by an angel named Moroni in spiritual things for several years prior to beginning his work. Despite this, by the time of his early death, he had become well-educated in many fields, including Hebrew.

Joseph Smith began his role as a prophet with minimal traditional education. While he was literate, he was not highly skilled. When it came time to translate the Book of Mormon, he did the translation, but friends and his wife served as his scribe, because he lacked the skills needed to write the translations well. He did not know the language of the Book of Mormon-reformed Egygptian-but studied the materials and relied on the guidance of the Holy Ghost for confirmation.

It was after the church began that Joseph, who loved learning, set about increasing his education. His family had

always worked very hard for their living and there had been no time or money for advanced education.

Church members eventually settled in Kirtland, Ohio. There, Joseph Smith organized a school for adults. Initially, the classes were held in the temple and included classes in Hebrew and Greek. Both men and women participated in the school and studied together. Joseph enrolled in and attended the Hebrew class because he wanted to learn to read the Bible in its original language. One entry of his personal journal reads: “After a hard day’s work, went to my Hebrew class, and studied far into the night. Up in the morning and out at nine o’clock, attended the school and translated with the morning class. . . Attended my studies as usual and made some advancement.”

The Hebrew class was taught from January 26 to  March 29, 1836 by Joshua Seixas, a Jewish man who had converted to Christianity. The previous year, Seixas had taught at Oberlin College in Ohio, where Lorenzo Snow attended. Snow was not a member of the church at that time, although he would later join and would eventually become a prophet. He took classes from Seixas and wrote to his LDS (Mormon) sister about how much he enjoyed the teacher. His sister, Eliza R. Snow, was currently living in Joseph Smith’s home. She passed along the information to the prophet, who sent emissaries to hire Seixas. Seixas taught forty students during the course.

This course had the side impact of helping to convert Lorenzo Snow, who was becoming frustrated with his religious studies at Oberlin. His sister suggested he come to Kirtland and study Hebrew there under Seixas. While there, he was converted to the church.

Joseph studied Hebrew on his own until the classes began and later joined nine other students for additional coursework from Seixas. Although the class didn’t last for long, Joseph and one other student were able to read Hebrew well by the time the class ended. He often discussed language issues in his talks about the scriptures. Joseph became very excited by the study of languages, and made a list of a dozen languages he hoped to master in his lifetime.

When the church was forced out of its home and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, it again established schools, including a small university. Hebrew was also a part of this school.

Joseph set a pattern of strong Mormon support for education. In each place the Saints lived, they set up schools for children and adults alike, and also encouraged serious life-long, self-directed studies in both spiritual and secular fields. Today, Mormons run several universities and continue to encourage the life-long educations, both formal and informal, educations of its members.

Revelation is how God communicates with us, His children, while we’re away from His presence. There are many different levels of revelation and many different ways it can be received.

No one may receive revelation for a level of gospel structure higher than the one he is called to carry out. For instance, a child who is trying to decide how to overcome his struggles in math class can receive personal revelation to help him with that problem. A mother can receive revelation to help her understand how to care for her children. A leader who oversees the program for teenagers at church can receive revelation to help her know how to best serve the youth in her program. A bishop (the Mormon equivalent of a lay pastor) can receive revelation about how to best meet the needs of his congregation. Each person may receive personal revelation related to his or her own responsibilities in life.

However, only the prophet may receive revelation for the entire church, since that is his sphere of

responsibility alone. Since the very beginning of time on earth, God has utilized prophets to receive and share His messages to His children:

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

Revelation is not fortune telling. When Mormons receive revelation from their prophets, it is always about matters critical to eternal salvation, and is predicated on the behavior of the people of the world-not just the Mormons. For instance, when Noah was told to warn the people to repent or they would be destroyed, the warning was sincere and they were given a way to be protected. As a people, they could repent and the storm would not begin. Or some of them could repent and help to build the ark, which would hold anyone who chose to sincerely repent-before the rain began to fall. They chose to do neither, and so they were destroyed. Noah, because of his righteousness, and his family because of him or because of their own worthiness, was saved.

Personal revelation is available to every person who lives on earth and chooses to do what is necessary to receive it. It is not open only to members of God’s church. Those beginning their journeys can rely on the Spirit of Christ and periodic counsel from the Holy Ghost. Later, those who have been baptized and confirmed by a person who has authority from God may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to be with them at all times, as long as they’re living righteously.

LDS.org, the official website for the Mormons, offers these steps to help people prepare to receive personal revelation:

Pray for guidance. Be reverent. Be humble. Keep the commandments. Partake of the sacrament worthily. Study the scriptures every day. Take time to ponder. When seeking specific guidance, we should study the matter out in our minds. Patiently seek God’s will.

Personal revelation comes through a cooperative effort between man and God. He is always willing to share the truths we need to navigate life, but he also expects us to do our part. Notice that the steps above require us to learn the gospel and then to live it, in order to have enough knowledge to understand the answers given us and to entitle us to the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost can’t be where wickedness is, so we have to work to be worthy of His presence and have a humble and worthy spirit in order to “hear” the answers we receive.

Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the modern day church, demonstrates the correct procedure for gaining personal revelation. He was, in general, a good person. He wasn’t perfect, of course, but he worked hard, obeyed his parents, and tried to do what was right as far as he understood it.

As the area in which he lived became caught up in a wave of conversions and missionary efforts by many churches, he began to pay attention to the teachings of the various churches. He had a desire to join a church, but was unwilling to make the decision lightly. We’re taught that if we need a specific answer, we should first study the issue out for ourselves. Joseph did this by visiting the churches and the revivals, and thinking through the teachings he learned there. He questioned some of the ministers, trying to understand what they taught and why they all taught different things but claimed that either they alone were right or that all the churches were equally right, even if they contradicted each other. He spent time thinking through (pondering) the problem.

This process was not giving him the answers he needed. He couldn’t figure out how to know which ministers were telling him the truth or how to know which church to join. He turned to the Bible for help. While reading on his own, one day, he found a scripture in the book of James, in the New Testament. James was the brother of Jesus Christ.

James offered logical advice on how to solve this problem. He said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5, King James version of the Bible)

Joseph realized this was the only way he would ever know what was true. Only God knew for sure. He himself was incapable of making this choice. The realization that we cannot reason out every problem alone and must have help is a part of humility, which is required for receiving revelation. We have to acknowledge that some truths are beyond the scope of our abilities to gain intellectually.

He decided to go into the woods by his home and pray for help with his problem. At this point, he had fulfilled each requirement that was available to men on earth at that time. He was ready to receive personal revelation.

The answer Joseph Smith received-a personal visit from God and Jesus Christ-is not typical of the way people receive personal revelation. A prayer that will lead to dramatic changes in Heaven and on Earth requires a dramatic answer. For most of us, the answers will be quieter and more subtle.

Richard G. Scott, an apostle of the Lord, explained how prayers are answered:

To help each of us recognize answers given, the Lord said: “If you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.

“Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?” (D&C 6:22-23; italics added).

The Lord provides further insight by counseling us to study a problem out in our mind and then to ask if it be right: “If it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

“But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought.” (D&C 9:8-9; italics added.)

It is vitally important to recognize that the Lord also responds a third way to prayer by withholding an answer when the prayer is offered. Why would He do that?

He is our perfect Father. He loves us beyond our capacity to understand. He knows what is best for us. He sees the end from the beginning. He wants us to act to gain needed experience:

When He answers yes, it is to give us confidence.

When He answers no, it is to prevent error.

When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His commandments, and a willingness to act on truth. We are expected to assume accountability by acting on a decision that is consistent with His teachings without prior confirmation. We are not to sit passively waiting or to murmur because the Lord has not spoken. We are to act.

Most often what we have chosen to do is right. He will confirm the correctness of our choices His way. That confirmation generally comes through packets of help found along the way. We discover them by being spiritually sensitive. They are like notes from a loving Father as evidence of His approval. If, in trust, we begin something which is not right, He will let us know before we have gone too far. We sense that help by recognizing troubled or uneasy feelings.” Richard G. Scott, “Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer,” Ensign, Nov 1989, 30

What are the Articles of Faith?

Personal Response by Bethany

Background:

In 1842, John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, wrote to Joseph Smith requesting information for a friend who was writing a history of New Hampshire.  Joseph Smith‘s response to this inquiry has become known as the “Wentworth Letter.”  The letter includes a brief history of the Church and significant events in its restoration.  It ends with thirteen statements that have become known as the Articles of Faith and are published in the Pearl of Great Price.

Summary of the articles:

- The first article declares that the Godhead is made up of three personages: the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

- The second concentrates on the beginning of mortality and establishes that humans have moral agency and are accountable for their own actions.

- The third article focuses on the Atonement of Christ and how mankind benefits in relation to it.

- The fourth article states four foundational principles and ordinances which are faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

- The next two articles focus on authority and organization of the Church that existed          primitively as established by Jesus Christ.  It includes apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, Evangelists etc.

- The seventh article addresses the Latter-day Saint belief in the gifts of the spirit, for example those found in 1 Corinthians 12:10.

- The eighth article prophecies the place of sacred scripture as found in Ezekiel 37:16 and John 10:16.

- The ninth article states that the restored gospel proclaims the principle of ongoing revelation. Latter-day Saints believe in all past and present revelation, and they look forward to future revelations.

- Article ten goes over great events that were prophesied to happen in the last days: the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the Ten Tribes; the building of Zion, the New Jerusalem, in the Western Hemisphere; Christ’s personal reign on earth; and the renewal of the earth itself.

- The eleventh article declares the LDS belief in freedom of worship for both themselves and all others.

- The twelfth article states the political position of the LDS as law-abiding citizens.

- The final declaration offers a general view for life and an invitation to the LDS approach to it.

The Articles of Faith are a wonderful summary of the basic beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They include straightforward and simple statements of the principles of our religion and bless the lives of those who follow them.

Personal Response by Lance

On the first weekend of April and the first weekend of October, the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes casually referred to by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon” Church or the LDS Church), including the modern prophet and Twelve Apostles, speak to the world in what is known as general conference. From the Conference Center in Salt Lake City the words of the prophet, the apostles, and other leaders are carried via TV, radio, satellite, and the Internet to more than eighty countries and translated into more than eighty languages. We invite everyone, regardless of religious belief, to join with us in watching or listening to general conference.

The reason I love general conference is best described by the opening words of one of the Church hymns, “Come, listen to a prophet’s voice, And hear the word of God” (“Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice,” Hymns [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985], no. 21).

I know that the messages that are prepared are truly inspired by God and are His word. The speakers prayerfully prepare and are guided by the Holy Ghost in what they say. As I listen to them, the Holy Ghost testifies of the truths that I need in my life. Every time I listen to general conference I am given inspiration as to how I can be a better Christian. I always leave with a greater determination to follow the commandments and serve others. I am inspired to know what I need to repent of or simply change in my life to come closer to my Father in Heaven.

One way I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true is that I am able to hear this modern revelation at general conference. Just as the ancient apostles taught the people according to the challenges of their day, the modern prophet and apostles clearly explain the doctrines of Jesus Christ and speak out on issues that are currently facing the Mormon Church.

For example, many people wonder about how Mormons view the Bible, given that we also have the Book of Mormon and other scripture. One of the Twelve Apostles, Elder M. Russell Ballard, gave an incredible talk in April 2007 entitled “The Miracle of the Holy Bible” in which our view of the Bible as the word of God is very clearly outlined.

Speaking to members of the Mormon Church Elder Ballard said, “Brothers and sisters, I am sure many of you have had the experience of hearing people say that ‘Mormons are not Christians because they have their own Bible, the Book of Mormon.’ To anyone harboring this misconception, we say that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and the author of our salvation and that we believe, revere, and love the Holy Bible. We do have additional sacred scripture, including the Book of Mormon, but it supports the Bible, never substituting for it.” (M. Russell Ballard, in Conference Report, Apr. 2007, 78) Read Elder M. Russell Ballard’s Talk. Watch Elder M. Russell Ballard’s Talk on YouTube.

The question has come up a lot recently as to whether or not Mormons are Christians. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, another of the Twelve Apostles devoted his two most current general conference talks to this topic. He said that there are two main reasons people may falsely assume we aren’t Christians. First is our view of the Godhead as three separate and distinct beings. In October 2007 he gave a talk entitled “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent.” In this talk, Elder Holland explained how the modern view of the trinity came out of the councils of the fourth and fifth centuries and the creeds that were established. After explaining where the notion of the trinity came from, he taught very clearly the true nature of God and Jesus Christ from the scriptures. Read the entire talk by Elder Holland . Watch Elder Holland’s talk on YouTube.

The other reason that Elder Holland gave why people may believe Mormons are not Christians is that we believe in continuing revelation that allows for an open scriptural canon. In his talk, “My Words . . . Never Cease,” he explained that our belief in continuing revelation is in accordance with the way God has worked throughout time. Our belief in the Book of Mormon and modern revelation simply shows that God has spoken to all nations anciently and that He is still speaking today. Read Elder Holland’s talk. WatchElder Holland’s talk on YouTube.

During the first weekend of April and October, the four general sessions of conference are held on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and then 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Mountain Standard Time. On Saturday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM there is also a priesthood session for all of the men of the Mormon Church. Each session is composed of different speakers covering different topics. I look forward to these weekends every six months because general conference is a spiritual feast that fills me with the word of God.

Personal Response by Rachel
I have summed up the most significant lesson I learned on my mission in six words: “Come unto Christ and be happy.” This phrase has become a personal motto for the rest of my life. Each morning of my mission we had an hour to do personal study of the scriptures and Preach My Gospel. The more I studied the words of Jesus Christ through His ancient and modern prophets and apostles, the more I came to love Him and believe in Him. My growing belief and faith in Christ led me to follow His teachings, develop Christlike attributes, and testify of Jesus Christ’s restored gospel. As I obeyed the commandments of the gospel and became more like Christ, I felt the Holy Ghost’s influence more abundantly in my life. I felt the fruits of the Holy Ghost, which include “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). I learned that “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17). Every day of my mission was an opportunity to do the things Jesus Christ has asked of us. When I chose to follow Christ, I was blessed with happiness, joy, love, and peace. My dad has often told me that he can always tell when I am happy and acting in a way that is pleasing to the Savior. “You have a sparkle in your eyes,” my dad has said. “So, I know that you are on the right path.”

I saw that sparkle, that light, in the eyes of many people during my mission as they followed the teachings of Jesus Christ. James is one of those people. We first met James when he was in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. His eyes were clouded and unfocused, he had difficulty reading the small print in the scriptures, and he was battling addiction to drugs and alcohol. In the first lesson, my companion and I taught James about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, prayer, and the Holy Ghost. James prayed with us and he immediately felt the Holy Ghost testifying to him that the message we had shared was true. My companion and I visited James once or twice a week for the next month until we were transferred from the area. Close to the end of that time, James told us that it was easier for him to read the words in the Book of Mormon. James was also finding it much easier to combat the cravings for drugs and alcohol. After we left, James continued to study the scriptures and pray often, as well as attend Mormon church meetings. Four months after I left the area, it was time for me to complete my mission. Before I came home, I went to visit James. The first thing I noticed when I saw James was the sparkle in his eyes. James was happy. I’ve often heard that the eyes are the window to the soul, but until that moment I didn’t believe that statement. The expression in James’s eyes was clear, focused, bright, and full of joy and hope. I immediately knew that James was still doing all he could to follow Jesus Christ because his eyes were “sparkling.”

James and I are not the only people who have experienced the enlightening and joy-filling power of the Holy Ghost. Millions of people around the world have been blessed by the influence of the Holy Ghost, which has testified to them of the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church). I know that as we truly seek to follow Christ, we will be blessed with the fruits of the Spirit. I also know that the Book of Mormon, as well as the Bible, is the word of God and invites all men to believe in Jesus Christ and obey His teachings. I know that when we follow the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be happier than if we don’t follow the gospel. The message of the gospel is one of joy and gladness. The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote, “Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! . . . Glad tidings of great joy.” How did serving a Mormon mission bless me and those I served? We were blessed with happiness, joy, and gladness (some of the fruits of the Holy Ghost) when we followed the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Personal Response by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) revere Biblical prophets and apostles such as Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, James, and Paul. They believe the Lord continues to call prophets and apostles in this modern day. Among those prophets God has chosen today is Joseph Smith (1805-44), the first modern prophet.

In addition to reverencing prophets and apostles, Mormons believe, like all Christians, that “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Therefore, Mormons truly and sincerely worship God, the Eternal Father, in the name of the Jesus Christ-God’s unique Son. They worship no other man or women no matter who they are or what they have done.

Although Latter-day Saints believe that Joseph Smith, like biblical prophets and apostles, was called of God to speak in the name of the Lord, they recognize that Joseph Smith was a mortal, capable of sin like all men and women. The revelations he received from the Lord challenged him to repent, but also promised him, like God promises all men and women, forgiveness that comes through and by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith himself stated, “The Savior has the words of eternal life nothing else can profit us” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976], 364).

Jews, Christians and Muslim, hold ancient prophets in special places of honor in their individual traditions. Nevertheless, they seem to know about and study the lives and writings of some prophets and apostles, like Moses and Paul, more than others. In a similar situation, Latter-day Saints often know more about the life and teachings of Joseph Smith than many other prophets and apostles. This special place among the prophets that Joseph Smith holds may be best understood because Mormons believe he was called of God and anointed by Jesus Christ to open the final religious chapter in the history of the world-proceeding Jesus Christ’s triumphal return to reign as “King of kings” and “Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). This unique role, like Moses, included seeing the Lord; leading His people in a great movement towards a promised land; establishing a holy temple (holy sanctuary) to worship Him; and preserving His words that are now revered as holy scripture.

Joseph Smith is a modern witness of Lord who testified, “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-23).

Personal Response by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is often identified as the Mormon or LDS Church. LDS, in this case, is an acronym for Latter-day Saints, a part of the official name of the LDS Church. When religious bodies use similar names to identify themselves, such as FLDS and LDS, there may be and often is some confusion about the relationship between them.

Just as there are many Christian denominations which believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the long anticipated Jewish Messiah and the Savior of the world, yet disagree upon other significant doctrinal points, including the nature and composition of the Bible, there are individuals and groups who accept the message of the Restoration (the calling of Joseph Smith as a prophet and coming forth of additional scripture, including the Book of Mormon) yet disagree on some rather key doctrines, policies, and practices.

From the earliest period in Mormon history (1830-60) there have been dissenters, some of whom created separate religious communities. Over time, these groups have evolved and, in many cases, they have created a unique theology and history in marked contrast to that of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In this sense, these dissenters are very much like the first Protestants who were separated from the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, or Catholic Church, when they rejected the authority of the Pope and created alternative Christianities.

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is one such group, an independent community with no official relationship to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Most of their members have never been members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, or Mormon Church). The only connection between the churches is that each shares a common historical past within the nineteenth century. FLDS beliefs, practices, and polices have become so distinct and unique that it is not helpful to compare and contrast them with those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, just as it would be impossible to compare the Baptist Church with the Catholic Church, even though they share a common belief in Jesus Christ and the Bible.

Latter-day Saint (LDS) leaders categorically reject FLDS beliefs and practices about polygamy, priesthood succession, and following and sustaining civil law. Therefore, any Latter-day Saint who supports FLDS doctrines or practices is subject to LDS Church discipline, generally including excommunication. Like most other Americans, Latter-day Saints struggle to understand the religious motives and activities of this fundamentalist group because their practice and beliefs are just as foreign from their everyday experiences as they are from most other Christian denominations. Because of the major differences in doctrine, practice and history, Latter-day Saints are concerned when the media or others attempt to link the churches together.

Latter-day Saints support religious pluralism. One of the Church of Jesus Christ’s Articles of Faith states, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, and what they may” (Articles of Faith, 11). Latter-day Saints therefore, allow people the right to join any religious body they choose. However, another Article of Faith states, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (Articles of Faith, 12). Therefore, the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS Church) teaches its members that they should support the constitutional laws of the land and believe that the government has the right to enforce laws that protect children and other vulnerable members of society. Like many other people of good will, Latter-day Saints are sympathetic to the plight of the children and women of the FLDS Church and hope that they might be in a position to enjoy life without fear of abuse and with the full freedom to associate or disassociate from any religious body at any time they feel so inclined.

Personal Response by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Current Latter-day Saint (LDS) practice in holding special meetings known as solemn assemblies is rooted in the Old Testament. Other Christian groups also hold gatherings identified as solemn assemblies because the practice is mentioned in the Bible. However, the LDS Church holds these meetings because of a commandment from the Lord to do so (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:70), not just because their presence is noted in ancient scripture.

Joseph Smith, the first president of the LDS Church, was directed to hold a solemn assembly in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, at the time of the dedication of the first Mormon temple on March 27, 1836. LDS Church officers were sustained in their callings during this special meeting. The practice of holding a solemn assembly to sustain new a new prophet continued in the LDS Church, as was the practice of holding these special gatherings when a temple was dedicated. Later, solemn assemblies were also held when Church leaders wanted to provide the Saints with special instruction.

Today, members attend solemn assemblies as directed by LDS Church leaders. These gatherings help the Saints remember that the Lord is in their midst and that they have been invited to appear before him on a very special occasion.

Personal Response by Arnold K. Garr

Some people are surprised when they find out that Mitt Romney was not the first Mormon to run for president of the United States. That distinction belonged to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church. He decided to run for president after the Church pleaded in vain for the government to compensate the Latter-day Saints (Mormons) for the property lost and afflictions suffered when they were expelled from the state of Missouri as a result of the extermination order in 1838. Joseph Smith‘s primary motivation for running for president was to do all in his power to protect the Latter-day Saints from the kinds of injustices they had suffered in Missouri.

On February 8, 1844, the Prophet declared: “I would not have suffered my name to have been used by my friends on anywise as President of the United States, or candidate for that office, if I and my friends could have had the privilege of enjoying our religious and civil rights as American citizens, even those rights which the Constitution guarantees unto all her citizens alike. But this as a people we have been denied from the beginning. Persecution has rolled upon our heads from time to time, from portions of the United States, like peals of thunder, because of our religion; and no portion of this Government as yet has stepped forward for our relief. And in view of these things, I feel it to be my right and privilege to obtain what influence and power I can, lawfully, in the United States, for the protection of injured innocence” (History of the Church, 6:210-11).