Joseph Smith Jr. was born to Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith on Dec. 23, 1805, in a New England frame home in Sharon, Vermont. After suffering a financial setback, the Smith family moved to a home on the farm belonging to Lucy’s father, Solomon Mack, shortly before Joseph’s birth, where they lived for three years.
The family then moved several times and lived in upstate New York. There, 14-year-old Joseph knelt in a grove of trees near his family’s farm to ask which church to join. God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to young Joseph in an experience known as the First Vision.
Three years later, in 1823, the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, after which Joseph began translating the gold plates. The resulting translation was published as the Book of Mormon in 1830, just before The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6.
Joseph led the Church as members moved west, first to Ohio and Missouri and then to Nauvoo, Illinois. And in June 1844, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith were martyred, sealing their testimonies of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ with their blood.
Here are several articles from the Church News archives about Joseph, including places he and his family spent Christmas; what two Apostles said about visiting Joseph’s birthplace; celebrating and remembering his life; a lesson from Liberty Jail in Missouri; the conclusion of the Joseph Smith Papers project; and an announcement about a new biography. Also, the Hill Cumorah Historic Site was rededicated in 2025, and President Dallin H. Oaks shared his testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith with new mission leaders.
6 places the Prophet Joseph Smith spent Christmas
From Joseph Smith’s birthplace in Sharon, Vermont, to his last year in Nauvoo, Illinois, see photos of several places he spent Christmas.
See the list and photos of the six places.
Video: Honoring the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith
The Church News video “A Baby Was Born” — featuring the late President M. Russell Ballard, then acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and then-Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,— highlights the significance of Joseph Smith’s life. The video was released in 2020 while the Church celebrated the 200th anniversary of the First Vision.
Watch the video “A Baby Was Born,” plus read what it means to the two Apostles to be at the birthplace.
From monument to proclamation: celebrating the Prophet Joseph Smith’s birth, life and testimony
Learn about Joseph Smith Birthplace monument’s history; about events of the past century held to remember the Prophet; and about the 2020 release of “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.”
“I can’t get anywhere near this birthplace without having deep affection and love for the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr.,” President Ballard told the Church News in October 2019. “I feel obligated to do everything I can to declare and to teach that the gospel is once again on the earth.”
Read about remembering the life and work of Joseph Smith.
Sarah Jane Weaver: Why it is fitting that Joseph Smith was born during the Christmas season
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said Liberty Jail “is a place where we recognize the depths of the hardships and yet the sacredness of the Doctrine and Covenants sections. The revelations that came to [Joseph Smith] are powerful and bless us and give us hope. What a remarkable history, what a remarkable blessing it is to us.”
Find out more about Elder Cook at Liberty Jail and lessons from Joseph’s time there
After two decades, Church celebrates final volume of the Joseph Smith Papers project
Church leaders, historians and guests celebrated the final volume of the Joseph Smith Papers in 2023, published on the anniversary of Joseph and Hyrum Smith’s martyrdom, June 27.
“Those who opposed Joseph Smith thought that his death would be the end of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In fact, it was just the beginning,” said Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
More about what Church leaders and historians said about the Joseph Smith Papers project.
First Presidency announces new biography, ‘Joseph the Prophet,’ at Joseph Smith Papers Conference
President Dallin H. Oaks, then the first counselor in the First Presidency, opened the Joseph Smith Papers Conference in September 2023 by announcing a new biography on Joseph Smith. He also reflected on the project’s history and thanked the Larry H. and Gail Miller family for its financial support.
Learn more about the announcement of the Joseph Smith biography.
Renovated Hill Cumorah Historic Site — ‘the cradle of the Restoration’ — rededicated
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles rededicated the refurbished Hill Cumorah Historic Site, a sacred location he referred to as “the cradle of the Restoration.” The dedication date — Sept. 21, 2025 — was also the 202nd anniversary of the angel Moroni’s visit.
Find out more about the rededication.
Why a testimony of Joseph Smith is vital to missionary work, President Oaks explains to new mission leaders
The relationship of the Prophet Joseph Smith to missionary work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is vital, said President Dallin H. Oaks, then the first counselor in the First Presidency.
Speaking to new mission leaders on Saturday, June 21, 2025, he said: “It is very important that our missionaries have a testimony of the divine calling and miraculous work of the Prophet Joseph Smith. That needs to be part of your teaching and counseling.”
Read more of President Oaks’ testimony of Joseph Smith.
Editor’s note: This article was first published on Dec. 23, 2023, and has since been updated.
