The Church Historian’s Press released the latest volume of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, “The Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Volume 4: April 1834–September 1835” on May 9, 2016. The new book contains 93 documents, including minutes of meetings and correspondence relating to major events in the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The 668-page volume provides insight into the construction of the temple in Kirtland, Ohio; the publication of Church founder Joseph Smith’s revelations in the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants; the calling of the first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and the expedition to reclaim Latter-day Saint lands in Jackson County, Missouri. In an effort to reclaim the Mormon property, in May 1834, Joseph Smith had led a company of about 200 people, first known as the Camp of Israel and later as Zion’s Camp, to Missouri to aid the Mormons who were living there.
“This volume shows Joseph Smith confronting one of the church's first major setbacks — the Saints' expulsion from Jackson County, Missouri,” said Matthew C. Godfrey, who served as coeditor for the book. Godfrey said the book also “covers a time period in Church history when Joseph Smith and the Church [were] really facing some severe financial problems.”
Read more about the newest edition of “The Joseph Smith Papers” at josephsmithpapers.org.