The Nauvoo Expositor: Expulsion from Missouri and the Rise of Nauvoo After the expulsion of the Latter-day Saints from Missouri in 1838–1839, thousands of refugees crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. The citizens of Quincy offered critical early support, and the Saints eventually purchased land upriver in Commerce, which would later be renamed Nauvoo. The … Read more
Carthage Conspiracy – Historical Overview This reconstruction presents only historical information, source analysis, and documentary context regarding the deaths of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith in 1844, the reliability of associated sources, and the methodology used by historians in evaluating alternative theories. Claims of New Interpretations of the Martyrdom A recent video has circulated claiming … Read more
D&C 135 How Historians Examine the Past Historians study the past through written and spoken sources, seeking to understand what most likely occurred. This task becomes significantly more complex when sources involve oral traditions or accounts of miraculous events. Because miracles fall outside natural probability, historians cannot confirm or deny them using standard historical tools. … Read more
Introduction On June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were murdered at Carthage Jail by an armed mob. One hundred eighty years later, the episode reflects upon the historical testimonies preserved by those who were present with the Prophet in his final days. Among the most valuable preserved documents are the accounts collected … Read more
TL;DR — What Led to the Assassination of Joseph Smith and the Downfall of Nauvoo Joseph Smith’s assassination on June 27, 1844, resulted from a convergence of political, religious, legal, and social pressures in Illinois. Tensions escalated after dissenters in Nauvoo published the Nauvoo Expositor on June 7, exposing and exaggerating allegations against Joseph. Acting … Read more