Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources: People Associated with the Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources (2020)
Doctrine and Covenants, People Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources (2020)
People Associated with the Doctrine and Covenants
Biographical facts and early images of individuals associated with the revelations
People
Elijah Able
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Elijah Able was an early African-American member of the Church and the best-known of the few black men who were ordained to the priesthood during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. More …
Charles Anthon
Charles Anthon, ca. 1855–1865, photograph, Matthew B. Brady studio, Library of Congress.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Heman (Herman) A. Bassett
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Almon Babbitt
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Caleb Baldwin
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Wheeler Baldwin
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John C. Bennett
John C. Bennett, 1842, engraving by Oliver Pelton from a drawing by Alvan Clark, Church History Library, PH 1700 5100.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Samuel Bent
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Ezra T. Benson
Ezra T. Benson, 1850–1860, daguerreotype, Church History Library, PH 100.
Titus Billings
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Lilburn W. Boggs
Lilburn W. Boggs, lithograph.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Ezra Booth
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John F. Boynton
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Seymour Brunson
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Stephen Burnett
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Philip Burroughs
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Josiah Butterfield
Josiah Butterfield, prior to 1871, photograph.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Reynolds Cahoon
Reynolds Cahoon, prior to 1861, engraving, Church History Library, PH 1700 1717.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Gideon Carter
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Jared Carter
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John S. Carter
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Simeon Carter
Simeon Carter, photograph of crayon portrait, Box Elder Museum.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
William Clayton
William Clayton, 1890, engraving, Church History Library, PH 327.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Joseph Coe
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Zebedee Coltrin
Zebedee Coltrin, ca. 1865, photograph of charcoal portrait, Church History Library, PH 1700 3734.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Leman Copley
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John Corrill
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
James Covel
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery, ca. 1845, daguerreotype, copy by Coe studio, 1883, Church History Library, PH 1700 3773.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Born in Vermont in 1806, Oliver Cowdery was the eighth and final child of William and Rebecca Fuller Cowdery. He grew up in a religious family that endured many hardships during his early life. More …
Warren Cowdery
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Alpheus Cutler
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Asa Dodds
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
David Dort
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
James Foster
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Robert D. Foster
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Edson Fuller
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
David Fullmer
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Isaac Galland
Isaac Galland, prior to 1858, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1700 2639.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Susa Young Gates
Susa Young Gates, photograph by Lumier Studio, Church History Library, Salt Lake City, PH 1700 3684.
Biographical essay: Susa Young Gates was born March 18, 1856. She was the second daughter of Brigham Young and Lucy Bigelow and the first child born in the Lion House in Salt Lake City. More …
Jesse Gause
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Algernon Sidney Gilbert
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John Gould
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Oliver Granger
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Selah J. Griffin
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Thomas Grover
Thomas Grover, prior to 1886, photograph.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Levi Hancock
Levi Hancock, ca. 1860–1866, photograph by Edward Martin, Church History Library, PH 5962.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Solomon Hancock
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Emer Harris
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
George W. Harris
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Lucy Harris
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Martin Harris
Martin Harris, 1870, photograph by Charles William Carter, Church History Library, PH 1700 4449.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Peter Haws
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John A. Hicks
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Elias Higbee
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Solomon Humphrey
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Edward Hunter
Edward Hunter, ca. 1860, photograph by Edward Martin, Church History Library, PH 1600.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
William Huntington Jr.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde, ca. 1852, photograph by Marsena Cannon, Church History Library, PH 100.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
George James
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Jane Elizabeth Manning James
Jane Elizabeth Manning James, photograph by Edward Martin, Church History Library, PH 5962.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Jane Elizabeth Manning (ca. 1822–1908) was one of at least five children born to a free African American couple in Connecticut. She and several family members were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In Nauvoo, Jane quickly developed a friendship with Joseph and Emma Smith. She lived with them and worked in their household. At one point, Emma invited Jane to be adopted as a child into the Smith family by a priesthood sealing. More …
Vienna Jaques
Vienna Jaques, ca. 1867, photograph by Edward Martin, Church History Library, PH 5962.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Aaron Johnson
Aaron Johnson, ca. 1850, crayon portrait.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Benjamin F. Johnson
Benjamin F. Johnson, ca. 1866, photograph by Edward Martin, Church History Library, PH 5962.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John Johnson
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Luke Johnson
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Lyman Johnson
Lyman Johnson, ca. 1850, photograph, Church History Library, PH 5605.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Heber C. Kimball
Heber C. Kimball, photograph of a daguerrotype, Church History Library, PH 2853.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, 1976, photograph.
Biographical summary: Born on March 28, 1895, in Salt Lake City, Spencer W. Kimball grew up in Thatcher, Arizona. After completing a mission and marrying Camilla Eyring, he settled in Safford, Arizona, to raise his family. More …
Joseph Knight Sr.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Newel Knight
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Polly Peck Knight
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Vinson Knight
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
William Law
William Law, photograph.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Amasa M. Lyman
Amasa M. Lyman, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1700 3741.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
William Marks
William Marks, prior to 1872, photograph.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Thomas B. Marsh
Thomas B. Marsh, photograph, Church History Library, MS 12377.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Born in Massachusetts in 1799, Thomas B. Marsh left home at age 14 and engaged in a series of short-lived professions in Vermont and New York. More …
William E. McLellin
William E. McLellin, 1867, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1700 3737.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Alexander McRae
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Daniel Miles
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
George Miller
George Miller, photograph of a crayon portrait, Church History Library, PH 1700 3076.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Samuel Latham Mitchill
Samuel Latham Mitchill, engraving after portrait by Henri Inman, Gimber and Dick, 1801–1846.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Isaac Morley
Isaac Morley, photograph.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John Murdock
John Murdock, ca. 1850, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1700 2782.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Noah Packard
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Hiram Page
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John E. Page
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Edward Partridge
Edward Partridge, 1884, engraving by H.B. Hall & Sons, Church History Library, PH 729.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
David W. Patten
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Ziba Peterson
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
William W. Phelps
William Wines Phelps, ca. 1865, photograph by Charles R. Savage, Church History Library, PH 1700 4495.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Louisa Barnes Pratt
Louisa Barnes Pratt, daguerreotype, Church History Library, PH 1700 4495.
Biographical essay: Born in 1802 in Massachusetts, Louisa Barnes married Addison Pratt when she was 28. The Pratts were baptized in 1838 in Massachusetts. After moving to Nauvoo in 1841, Louisa joined the Nauvoo Relief Society on May 12, 1842, nursed her children through measles, and donated to the women’s penny fund for the Nauvoo Temple. More …
Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt, photograph, Church History Library, PH 4258.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Parley P. Pratt
Parley Parker Pratt, ca. 1850–1857, daguerreotype, Church History Library, PH 100.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Zera Pulsipher
Zera Pulsipher, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1700 1246.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Charles C. Rich
Charles C. Rich, ca. 1870, photograph by Charles R. Savage, Church History Library, PH 7189.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Willard Richards
Willard Richards, ca. 1845, photograph by Lucian R. Foster, Church History Library, PH 4819.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon, ca. 1873, photograph by Irving Saunders, copy by Fox & Symons Studio, Church History Library, PH 4192.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: On October 29, 1830, two visitors came to the home of Sidney and Phebe Rigdon. Sidney Rigdon was a Christian minister, and one of the visitors, Parley P. Pratt, was a former member of his congregation. More …
Burr Riggs
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Samuel Rolfe
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Orrin Porter Rockwell
Orrin Porter Rockwell, photograph.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Shadrach Roundy
Shadrach Roundy, photograph.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Simonds Ryder (Symonds Ryder)
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Jacob Scott
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Lyman Sherman
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Henry G. Sherwood
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Alvin Smith
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Amanda Barnes Smith
Amanda Barnes Smith, photograph, Church History Library, PH 5962.
Biographical essay: Amanda Barnes Smith (1809–86) is best known in early Latter-day Saint history for receiving inspiration that helped her nurse her wounded son, Alma, back to full health after the 1838 massacre at Hawn’s Mill in which her husband, Warren, and her son Sardius were killed by the attackers. More …
Don Carlos Smith
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Eden Smith
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1700 545.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith, played a prominent role in the restoration of the Church. As a child, Emma developed a deep sense of religious conviction and devotion to God. More …
George A. Smith
George A. Smith, ca. 1867, photograph by Edward Martin, Church History Library, PH 5095.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith, photograph of an engraving by Frederick Piercy, Charles R. Savage Studio, Church History Library, PH 4521.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Hyrum Smith was born on February 9, 1800. As a child, he showed promise as a student, and at age 11 he entered Moor’s Indian Charity School, where he received the most formal education of any of the Smith children. As an adult, he served as a trustee of the Palmyra school board and interviewed teacher candidates, including the traveling schoolteacher Oliver Cowdery. More …
John Smith
John Smith, photograph, Church History Library, PH 4820.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith, after 1900, photograph, Church History Library, PH 7442.
Biographical essay: In the 17 years he led the Church, Joseph F. Smith had a significant influence on the experience of Church members in their wards or branches. More …
Joseph Smith Jr.
Joseph Smith Jr., pencil, charcoal and ink on paper, Danquart A. Weggeland, Church History Museum.
Joseph Smith and His Papers: An Introduction, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Joseph Smith Jr. was the founding prophet and first President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Between his birth into a poor Vermont family in 1805 and his death at the hands of an Illinois mob in 1844, Joseph published multiple sacred texts, founded and organized cities, received revelations that restored vital truths about God and humanity, and established the restored Church of Jesus Christ under the Lord’s direction and based on authority he received from angelic messengers. More …
The Joseph and Emma Hale Smith Family: The Joseph and Emma Smith family weathered tremendous opposition and tragedy, including political and religious persecution, forced homelessness, the untimely deaths of seven children, and Joseph’s own martyrdom. More …
Joseph Smith Sr.
Joseph Smith Sr., 1972, pencil on paper, William Whitaker, Church History Museum.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Son of Asael and Mary Duty Smith, Joseph Smith Sr. was born on July 12, 1771, in Massachusetts. At 24 years of age, he married Lucy Mack and settled in Vermont. More …
Lucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith, photograph by Charles W. Carter of an engraving from life by Frederick Piercy, Church History Library, PH 1300.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Born in 1775, Lucy Mack grew up in a deeply religious home. In her search for salvation, Lucy studied the Bible, prayed, discussed dreams and visions, and attended religious meetings and revivals sponsored by various denominations. She married Joseph Smith Sr. in 1796 and was the mother of Joseph Smith Jr. and 10 other children. More …
Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family
Joseph Smith Family Portrait, 1982, oil, Dan Baxter, Church History Museum.
Biographical essay: The home life and nurture provided by Joseph Smith’s parents and siblings shaped much of Joseph’s early prophetic work. His attention to prayer and Bible study owed much to his parents’ religious commitments. More …
Samuel H. Smith
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Sylvester Smith
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
William Smith
William Smith, ca. 1862, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1706.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John Snider (Snyder)
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Eliza R. Snow
Eliza R. Snow, ca. 1852, from a photograph attributed to Marsena Cannon, Church History Library.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Eliza Roxcy Snow was born in Massachusetts in 1804 and grew up in Ohio. Her family was well respected and taught her personal discipline along with literature and religion. She learned to write poetry, keep books for her father, and sew and keep house with her mother. More …
Erastus Snow
Erastus Snow, ca. 1870, photograph by Charles R. Savage, Church History Library, PH 7189.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Lorenzo Snow
Lorenzo Snow, ca. 1880–1900, photograph, Church History Library, PH 2642.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Daniel Stanton
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Northrup Sweet
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John Taylor
John Taylor, ca. 1870, photograph by Charles R. Savage, Church History Library, PH 7189.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: John Taylor served as the third President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1880 and his death in 1887. Born in 1808 in Milnthorpe, England, he joined the Church in 1836 along with his wife Leonora Cannon Taylor. More …
Ezra Thayer
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Robert B. Thompson
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Joseph Wakefield
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Emmeline B. Wells
Emmeline B. Wells, ca. 1879, photograph, Church History Library, PH 5107.
Biographical essay: Born in Petersham, Massachusetts, in 1828, Emmeline Blanche Woodward showed promise early in her education with a gift for writing. When she was about 14 years old, her mother and two younger sisters joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. More …
David Whitmer
David Whitmer, ca. 1865, photograph by Jacob T. Hicks, copy by Charles W. Carter, Church History Library, PH 5176.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
John Whitmer
John Whitmer, ca. 1870, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1700 77.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Peter Whitmer Jr.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Peter Whitmer Sr.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Helen Mar Kimball Whitney
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Born in 1828 to Heber C. and Vilate Murray Kimball, Helen Mar Kimball witnessed many of the early scenes of the Restoration. When she was three, her parents were baptized alongside close friends in Brigham Young’s family. More …
Newel K. Whitney
Newel K. Whitney, 1884, engraving by H.B. Hall and Sons, based on drawing by Danquart A. Weggeland of a William W. Major painting, Church History Library, PH 2592.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Lyman Wight
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Frederick Williams
Frederick G. Williams, ca. 1836, oil on canvas, Church History Museum.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Dunbar Wilson
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, ca. 1843–1844, daguerreotype, Church History Library, PH 10143.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Wilford Woodruff served as the fourth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1889 and his death in 1898. A native of Connecticut, he was baptized in 1833. He participated in the Camp of Israel expedition and served numerous missions. More …
Brigham Young
Brigham Young, ca. 1850–1860, daguerreotype, Church History Library, PH 100.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Brigham Young was born in Vermont in 1801 as the ninth of 11 siblings. He grew up in a family that relocated multiple times searching for a stable living. His parents insisted on strict obedience to the Bible and individual industriousness in each of their children. More …
Joseph Young
Joseph Young, after 1847, photograph, Church History Library, PH 1700 3768.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Zina D. H. Jacobs Young
Zina Diantha Huntington Young, 1891, photograph, Sainsbury and Johnson Studio, Church History Library, PH 946.
Biographical outline, The Joseph Smith Papers online.
Biographical essay: Born in 1821 to a respected and deeply religious family about 100 miles northeast of Palmyra, New York, Zina sensed the truth of the Book of Mormon when she first saw it as a young woman. She joined the Church with her family in 1835. More …