This interesting, well-researched biography of the founder of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints covers the 54 years of his presidency, a tenure marked by Mormon factionalism that he succeeded in controlling. The son of the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith III at first resisted succeeding his father as leader and prophet but, as his biographer underscores, his governance from 1860 until his death in 1914 was fiercely committed to the religious legacy of his parent. Differing in style from the elder Smith's "sometimes disastrous impracticality," his son exemplified rugged individualism with a secular pragmatism that sprang from his legal education. An opponent of polygamy, as proclaimed by Brigham Young, the younger Smith established a viable bureaucracy and a style of leadership that characterizes the Mormon community today, notes the author, a military historian.

In this second volume is a recorded history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the years 1834 through 1837 – including such topics as: The arrival of a delegation from the exiled Saints in Missouri Zion's Camp The School for the Elders at Kirtland The discovery of the Book of Abraham Organization of the First Presidency, the Twelve and the Seventy Publication of the Doctrine and Covenants Completion and dedication of the Kirtland Temple The appearance of Messiah in the Temple declaring His acceptance of it The appearance of Moses, Elias and Elijah, on the same occasion, delivering the keys of their respective dispensations to the Prophet of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times The exodus of the Saints from Clay County, Missouri, and the founding of Far West Foreign missions are opened by sending two of the Twelve and several Elders to England Kirtland Safety Society Company Excessive pride and worldliness on the part of some of the Saints at Kirtland Apostasy of many Elders and Saints in Kirtland

This volume--the work of a lifetime--brings together all the Joseph Smith Translation manuscript in a remarkable and useful way. Now, for the first time, readers can take a careful look at the complete text, along with photos of several actual manuscript pages. The book contains a typographic transcription of all the original manuscripts, unedited and preserved exactly as dictated by the Prophet Joseph and recorded by his scribes. In addition, this volume features essays on the background, doctrinal contributions, and editorial procedures involved in the Joseph Smith Translation, as well as the history of the manuscripts since Joseph Smith's day.