History Revisited

How the Joseph Smith Papers project will lead to ‘rich outpouring of scholarship’

Several conference attendees were ‘thrilled’ at the prospect of a new Joseph Smith biography as presenters focused on ‘What have we learned from the Joseph Smith Papers project?’

By Trent Toone Sept 16, 2023 12:14 a.m. EDT

President Dallin H. Oaks speaks at the 7th Joseph Smith Papers in the Conference Center Theater.

History Revisited

How the Joseph Smith Papers project will lead to ‘rich outpouring of scholarship’

Several conference attendees were ‘thrilled’ at the prospect of a new Joseph Smith biography as presenters focused on ‘What have we learned from the Joseph Smith Papers project?’

By Trent Toone Sept 16, 2023 12:14 a.m. EDT

After a monumental, 22-year journey to finish the Joseph Smith Papers project, nearly 300 people gathered at the Joseph Smith Papers Conference to focus on a theme in the form of a question:

“What have we learned from the Joseph Smith Papers project?”

The thought-provoking question prompted a variety of responses among those presenting at and attending the seventh annual Joseph Smith Papers Conference, in the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City on Friday, Sept. 15.

“He is stronger in the sources, not weaker,” said Steven C. Harper, a BYU professor and former volume editor of the Joseph Smith Papers.

Ronald K. Esplin, a general editor of the papers: “We knew quite a bit about Joseph Smith when we started. We know a lot more know now. But one of the things that I did not understand until well into the project was how foundational revelation was to everything that happened in the Restoration.”

A roundtable discussion at the Joseph Smith Papers Conference.

Rachel Huntsman Baldwin, a graduate student and assistant instructor at Utah Tech University, who only recently became interested in the Joseph Smith Papers: “I learned that to understand Joseph Smith as a Prophet, you must understand the revelations and translations that he has put forth. That is very motivating and exciting to me.”

Elder Marlin K. Jensen, an emeritus general authority and former Church historian and recorder: “As volumes have come out, it has made Joseph and his life and his work and his truth claims real in a way that my faith has become unshaken. And it is my hope that the papers will do that for everyone who reads them, or who reads things that other faithful people have written based on them.”

The first day of the conference featured historians presenting research related to the papers project and what they learned.

The keynote address was delivered by scholar Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp, the Archer Alexander distinguished professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp speaks at the 7th Joseph Smith Papers Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

Reaction to Joseph Smith biography news

The two-day conference opened with the announcement by President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of a new forthcoming biography about Joseph Smith. The new biography will be written by Richard E. Turley Jr., former assistant Church historian and recorder, with help from teams of historians and other professionals at Church headquarters, Brigham Young University and elsewhere.

First Presidency announces new biography, ‘Joseph the Prophet,’ at Joseph Smith Papers Conference

Several in the audience said they look forward to the biography, which is not expected to be published for several years.

Richard Bushman, author and Gouverneur Morris professor of history emeritus at Columbia University, said he is “thrilled.”

“Rick really does great work, and he will do it at a level of thoroughness,” Bushman said. “The fact is great figures deserve many biographies. We can never do enough. George Washington has 20 or 30. People keep finding new things. ... We are going to have a rich pool of biographical analysis.”

Harper said the new biography will be the “best-informed biography we have ever had of Joseph Smith” because of the papers.

Crowd members listen and take notes at the seventh Joseph Smith Papers Conference in the Conference Center Theater.

Elder Jensen also used the word “thrilled” in his reaction to the news.

“I am thrilled with the announcement that there will be a new biography written of him now in the years to come that will largely be based and founded on the work of the Joseph Smith Papers project,” he said. “I think the reason that Joseph is important is not just because of him as a man and his greatness as a prophet, it is because of what he stands for, and that his life and teachings reflect on the Savior of the world.”

Bruce Van Orden, a retired BYU professor of Church history and doctrine, agreed.

“There have been several biographies written about Joseph Smith, some of them favorable, many of them unfavorable. But it is good that we will have one that will bring in the full context and use all of the information that has been gleaned from the Joseph Smith Papers project,” he said. “Rick Turley certainly has been involved with that project the entire time. He is a very good author and will do an outstanding job of putting that together with proper context.”

Presenters at the Joseph Smith Papers

Following the announcement, Turley gave a presentation on how he plans to tackle the massive project of writing a new Joseph Smith biography.

“The topic assigned to me today for this conference — ‘The Joseph Smith Papers as a Biographical Resource’ — is not just theoretical to me,” he said.

He went on to describe how the papers can be a valuable resource to biographies of Joseph Smith, despite some limitations.

“The magisterial Joseph Smith Papers have laid a firm foundation for the new biography ‘Joseph the Prophet’ and other future biographies of the Prophet and his associates. The volumes are rich enough to spend an entire lifetime plumbing,” he said.

Elder Kyle S. McKay speaks at the seventh Joseph Smith Papers in the Conference Center Theater.

“But it is not comprehensive and all-inclusive. Biographies of the Prophet must rely on other important works as well. Still, the completion of the Joseph Smith Papers has made it possible to understand Joseph Smith and his world better than ever before. Because of it, we can look forward to a rich outpouring of scholarship on Joseph Smith and his world leading up to the publication of ‘Joseph the Prophet’ and beyond.”

Sara Martin, editor-in-chief of the Adams Papers Editorial project at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, found three references to the John Adams family in the Joseph Smith Papers. Adams was a Founding Father and the second president of the United States.

“By using the Joseph Smith Papers, I was able to both identify and contextualize them,” Martin said.

Miller family appreciation

Much love and appreciation was expressed at the conference for the Larry H. and Gail Miller family, Utah business owners and philanthropists, who contributed substantial financial support to the Joseph Smith Papers project.

Gail Miller laughs as she shares a story as she participates in a roundtable panel discussion.

Gail Miller participated in a roundtable discussion in the first session about the origin and early days of the papers project.

After Larry Miller’s death and amid difficult economic times in 2009, Elder Jensen visited Gail Miller to see if the family could still support the papers project. She said their company was committed to contributing, even if they had to make cuts in other areas of their business.

“I committed that we would, and thankfully, we have been able to continue and tie it up with a big red bow,” she said. “I know where my blessings come from, and I haven’t missed $1. We have been very grateful to be able to be involved and to support the project and do what Heavenly Father wanted us to do.”

What she learned from the experience is that everyone has a purpose. Once that purpose is discovered, it’s important to be “all in” and committed, she said.

“For me, watching what has happened and the impact it will have on the world is quite marvelous because you see the hand of God in what He wants to have come about,” Miller said. “We were not special in any way. We were an instrument and willing and able and obedient to recognizing what needed to be done.”

President Dallin H. Oaks speaks at the seventh Joseph Smith Papers Conference in the Conference Center Theater.