Joseph Smith
/ˌdʒəʊzəf ˈsmɪθ/, /ˌdʒəʊsəf ˈsmɪθ/
/ˌdʒəʊzəf ˈsmɪθ/, /ˌdʒəʊsəf ˈsmɪθ/
- (1805-44) the US religious leader who started the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and published The Book of Mormon (1830) containing their basic beliefs. After some of his followers burnt down the offices of a Mormon newspaper that had criticized him, Smith was arrested with his brother Hyrum and taken to a prison at Carthage, Illinois, where an angry crowd shot and killed them.