The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals, Vol. 2, December 1841 - April 1843

The much-anticipated second volume of Joseph Smith's journals, from the historians with the award-winning Joseph Smith Papers Project.

This volume covers the Nauvoo, Illinois, period from December 1841 to April 30, 1843. Two major documents are featured in this volume:
(1) The journal portion of the Book of the Law of the Lord, which served as a combination journal and temple record book. It includes journal entries on revelations received during this time period, letters written and received, and temple donations.
(2) The first two of four small books titled President Joseph Smith's Journal, kept by Willard Richards during the last years of Joseph Smith's life (the final two books are published in the third and final volume of the Journals series).
The journals provide background information about Joseph Smith's life and early Latter-day Saint history and form the foundation for the official history of the church. Among the key events described in this volume are the creation of the Relief Society, the building of the Nauvoo temple, and revelations on the nature of God and baptism for the dead. Three letters from Emma Smith are also included.
These journals provide insights about the Joseph Smith's personality, including accounts of him functioning as mayor of Nauvoo, store operator, and general in the Nauvoo Legion.