The problem of this study is to determine the teachings and practices of Joseph Smith in regards to the treatment of the needy and to show their influence on the present policy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as manifested in the Church Welfare Plan.

For most of the period since his death in 1844, at the hands of a maniacal mob in Carthage, Illinois, there has been doubt about which portrait of Joseph Smith, first president and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, best represented his physical features. This work has attempted to accumulate as much information about his features as was available for the purpose of establishing the true image of the man. The discoveries made by this study are listed in the following discussion.

From extensive research undertaken by Rensis Likert at the University of Michigan, a modified theory of administration has been developed which seeks to build upon all that worked best in previous approaches to administration.Sufficient information from the writings of Joseph Smith, from diaries and journals of those who worked under his leadership have been used in this thesis and compared with the model of administration proposed by Likert. The results of this work were that Joseph Smith in his administration most often used a leadership approach described by Likert as Consultative and Participative.This thesis also presents a model of administration advocated by Joseph Smith which has been constructed from a careful research of the Prophet's writings. The administration of Joseph Smith from 1830 to 1844 was also analyzed in detail.

Joseph Smith, prophet and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stated that when he was fourteen years old he had received a visitation from two members of the Godhead: the Father and the Son. He was alone when he went into the woods to pray, and was therefore the only witness to the manifestation of these personages. He also declared that when he was seventeen years old he was visited by an angel named Moroni. Again he was without witnesses. For a first-hand account of these two experiences we must rely on a single source, Joseph Smith. All other sources of the story of his visions of Moroni and the Father and Son are secondary since they have been retold after the authors had hear Joseph's story.Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rely upon the story of Joseph Smith as a foundation of their faith. Details left by Joseph himself, however, are only sketchy in nature, making a historical analysis of the events highly difficult. Further problems arise when accounts by other writers who knew Joseph Smith not only fill in a few missing details, but also sometimes present some conflicting details. A survey of these sources and problems, together with an analysis of Joseph Smith's several efforts to re-tell the story, would be helpful to "Mormons" and "non-Mormons" alike in determining what consistent "threads" might run through all the stories, as well as pin-pointing what historical problems may still remain in correlating various accounts. This thesis is not an effort to prove beyond all doubt that Joseph Smith was telling the truth, for this cannot be done by empirical methods. It is simply an effort to analyze as objectively as possible the various sources and to suggest possible reasons for some of the problems and conflicts. It also shows that Joseph Smith was consistent in his recitation of the major aspects of his story over the years.

The purpose of this study is to design a model for a proposed statue of Joseph Smith which would be appropriate for placement near the main entrance of the Joseph Smith Building, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. This statue should depict the great historical and spiritual significance of Joseph Smith, be harmonious with the architecture and landscaping, and conform to the principles of good design.

This study examines the newspaper writings of Joseph Smith Jr., the Mormon Prophet, traces his development as an American writer as evidenced in his newspaper publications, and notes the major concepts contained therein which demonstrate that Smith may deservedly be called a "Jacksonian Man of Letters." Emerging from his youth lacking even rudimentary writing ability, Smith began his development with the translation of ancient scriptural records. Literary experiences with other scriptures, historical records, and even grammar classes augmented his development. Smith later turned his attention to frontier newspapers and served briefly as an editor. Jail confinement provided further stimulus to his literary development. Returning to editorship in 1842, he increased his literary productivity and rose to national prominence as a journalist. After resigning this post, Smith penned several creative literary innovations and in 1844, campaigned for the United States presidency with some successful political writings. Smith's untimely death in June, 1844, ended his writing career.

It is the purpose of this study to examine the political elements and issues in the United States from the latter part of 1838 to June 27, 1844, to determine their relationship to the death of Joseph Smith. This study includes an analysis of national, state and local issues and sentiment during that time, as they have a bearing upon the subject. The primary period of study is the Illinois era of Latter-day Saint history which includes the events that transpired from the winter of 1838-39 to June 27, 1844. A less intensive study includes events after June 1844, to determine the political situation and the consequences involved in the "martyrdom" of Joseph Smith. Personal diaries, journals, newspaper articles and books published around this period, as well as those published at later dates, were studied. The issues and problems of the Kirtland and Missouri periods were considered when they directly related to the Illinois period.

In her attempt to find a strictly human origin for certain doctrines contained in the Book of Abraham, and the later teachings of Joseph Smith, Mrs. Fawn M. Brodie relies upon the writings of one Thomas Dick. Dick was a nineteenth century Scottish scientist-theologian who wrote several volumes on religious and scientific subjects. It is known that at least two volumes were known to at least some of the early Latter-day Saints, for passages from them were quoted in the Messenger and Advocate. The purpose of this thesis has been to research the entire ten volumes of Dick's writings in order to determine the entirety of his theology. The paper first relates the life and general philosophy of Thomas Dick, and then investigates specifics of his theology under the general chapter headings of "God," "Man," and "Salvation." The final two chapters of the thesis deal with those specific aspects of Joseph Smith's theology which Mrs. Brodie claims were influenced by Dick's writings. The conclusion reached as a result of this study is: while it cannot be demonstrated that any of the Prophet's theology has any direct foundation in Thomas Dick's, there may have been impetus gained from Dick's writings in the direction Joseph Smith's theology took, but only if it could be demonstrated that Joseph Smith had read them, and this has not been done, by Mrs. Brodie, nor anyone else.

This study makes a consideration of four related concepts of Deity, each of which is accepted as doctrine by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which claims to have received these doctrines from Joseph Smith. On the other hand, each of these concepts is rejected as doctrine by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which claims that Joseph Smith did not teach them.

This thesis analyzes additions to the gospels in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. To assess the appropriateness of the JST additions, the thesis examines Joseph Smith's additions to verify whether they parallel the approaches of the original gospel writers to their audiences. There is strong indication that material added to the King James Version by the Joseph Smith Translation is consistent with the approaches of the original gospels to their audiences. Chapter one shows that the JST Matthew, like the KJV Matthew, is concerned with showing that Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy. Chapter two finds that JST Mark is as generic in its approach and even more fast-paced than the KJV Mark. In chapter three, Joseph Smith's translation of Luke extends Luke's stress on parables and women's issues. Chapter four demonstrates that JST John emphasizes John's central concern, the primacy of Jesus, even more emphatically than the KJV John.