Introduction Mormonism is a religious movement that emerged in the early 19th century in the United States and has millions of followers today. The founder of this movement, Joseph Smith Jr., gained a large following and became the center of intense debates through the divine visions he claimed to have seen throughout his life, the sacred texts he translated, and the organizational structure he established. Here is a periodic summary of Joseph Smith's life and the founding process of Mormonism. Early Period and First Visions (1805-1827): Joseph Smith Jr. was born on December 23, 1805, as the fourth child of a poor farming family in Vermont. After moving to Western New York with his family in 1816, he was deeply influenced by the intense religious revivals occurring in the area. In 1820, at the age of 14, he claimed to have encountered two beings within "a pillar of light" while praying in the woods. Smith identified these beings as God the Father and Jesus Christ. This "First Vision" is considered by the Mormon faith as the resumption of God's activities on earth. According to Smith, he was informed by this vision that he should stay away from the teachings of all existing churches and prepare for a divine restoration. Three years later, on the night of September 21, 1823, an angel named "Moroni" appeared to Smith. This angel told him that an ancient sacred book was buried in the nearby Cumorah Hill in the form of golden plates. It was stated that these plates contained the writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent and could only be retrieved four years later. In 1827, shortly after marrying Emma Hale, Smith followed the instructions of the angel Moroni and brought the plates to light. Translation of the Golden Plates and the Book of Mormon (1827-1830): Smith began to translate these ancient texts using the gold plates and two stones called "Urim and Thummim" found with them. According to the official narrative, the translation process occurred with divine power; as Smith read the translated texts aloud, scribes such as Martin Harris and later Oliver Cowdery transcribed them. At the end of this laborious process, in 1830, at the age of 24, The Book of Mormon was published. The book takes its name from its compiler, who was also an ancient prophet named Mormon. Smith claimed that this book was an additional revelation to the Bible and contained testimony that Jesus Christ also came to the American continent. Establishment of the Church and Early Challenges (1830-1831): With the publication of The Book of Mormon , the first followers began to gather around. On April 6, 1830, Smith and five followers officially organized the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" in Fayette, New York. Concurrently with the establishment of the church, Smith declared himself the "First Seer" and "Prophet." However, the spread of the new faith was not easy. Smith's claims and the story of the mysterious plates were met with great suspicion and hostility by the surrounding Christian communities. These pressures pushed Smith and his followers to seek a safer place. Ohio, Missouri, and Nauvoo Periods (1831-1844): Ohio and Missouri (1831-1839): To escape violent opposition, Smith moved a large part of his followers to Kirtland, Ohio in 1831. Here they built the first temple (Kirtland Temple). However, the bank failure in 1837 and internal conflicts forced the community to migrate again. The refuge became Missouri. But here too, disputes arose with the settled Americans; as tensions increased, conflicts known as the "Mormon War" occurred, and in 1838 the Governor of Missouri issued an order for all Mormons to leave the state or be destroyed. Smith and his followers undertook a difficult winter journey in response to this order and sought refuge in the state of Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi River. Nauvoo (1839-1844): In Illinois, Smith established the city of "Nauvoo" (which means "beautiful" in Hebrew) on swampy land. Here, the Mormon community gained enough autonomy to have its own army, legislative assembly, and even city courts. Smith also served as the mayor of the city. This period is also known as the time when one of the most controversial practices of the Mormon faith, "polygamy," began. This practice caused significant discomfort both internally and externally. Additionally, in 1844, Smith announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States, beginning to make his mark in the political arena. The Death and Legacy of Joseph Smith: Smith's growing political and military power began to be seen as a threat, especially by the surrounding settlers and press organizations. A newspaper called the "Nauvoo Expositor" harshly criticized Smith's polygamous marriages and other practices. In response, Smith had the newspaper's printing press destroyed by the city council's decision. This action initiated a chain of events that led to his arrest. Smith and his brother Hyrum were attacked by a lynch mob on June 27, 1844, at the Carthage jail in Illinois, while armed with pistols. Both brothers were killed in the ensuing conflict. Joseph Smith died at the age of 38.