Joseph Smith–History

Joseph Smith–History (abbreviated JS–H) is a book in the Pearl of Great Price containing excerpts from an autobiographical record of some of the early events in the life of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Like many of Smith's publications, it was dictated to scribes.

The recording of Joseph Smith–History began in 1838 in Far West, Missouri. Scribes included James Mulholland, Robert B. Thompson, W. W. Phelps, and Willard Richards. Other early leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, such as Brigham Young, George A. Smith, and Eliza R. Snow, contributed in different ways to the development of the record. It was first published piece by piece in the Latter Day Saint periodicals Times and Seasons, Deseret News, and the Millennial Star. The serial history would later be edited by B.H. Roberts and published between 1902 and 1912 as a 2,000-page history entitled History of the Church.

The Joseph Smith–History was published in 1851 by Franklin D. Richards as selected excerpts from the beginning of the History of the Church as part of his collection, the Pearl of Great Price. This collection became part of the scriptural canon of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) on October 10, 1880, during the 50th semiannual general conference of the church.^: 1–22

Joseph Smith–History spans 12 pages in the Pearl of Great Price and tells of 14-year-old Joseph Smith's experiences with religious contention and his First Vision, and, later, the visitation of the angel Moroni to him, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood. Through these accounts it touches on religious ideas such as baptism, prophets, and the nature of God. It has been used as a proselyting tool by Mormon missionaries; today, they are encouraged to memorize and recite Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision.