Mormon church celebrates founder’s birth

Mormons throughout the world will gather this week to honor one of their greatest prophets: Joseph Smith Jr., founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On Friday – the 200th anniversary of Smith’s birth – the area’s roughly 41,000 church members will gather at all nine stake centers throughout North Idaho and northeastern Washington to watch the live Joseph Smith commemorative broadcast from Salt Lake City and from Smith’s birthplace in Sharon, Vt.

The hour-long event, which is open to the public, will feature music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and words of tribute from Gordon B. Hinckley, the 95-year-old president and leader of the more than 12 million Mormons worldwide.

“We don’t worship Joseph Smith, but we recognize him as a prophet,” explained Chadley Rigby, the genealogy coordinator for the Spokane East Stake Center. “Christ is the redeemer. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration.”

Area stakes – administrative centers made up of smaller congregations called wards – have organized several programs this past year to commemorate the anniversary of Smith’s birth.

The teachings of the LDS Church founder took place during a period of intense religious revival in the United States.

“The characteristic most unique to Joseph Smith’s contribution is the lasting development of an American religion,” said Stanley Wood, president of the Hayden Lake Stake Center in North Idaho. “He translated the Book of Mormon, which our church believes is another testament that Christ is truly the Messiah, the savior of the whole world.”

Wood and other LDS members consider the Book of Mormon to be a companion to the Bible.

Without Smith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would not exist today, said Rigby, a lifelong Mormon. Smith’s work and teachings have impacted not only LDS members, but also the history of the United States.

Some facts and figures about Smith and the Mormon Church:

“ Joseph Smith Jr. was born Dec. 23, 1805, the fifth of 11 children.

“ When he was 14, Smith claimed that God appeared to him, telling him that “the true Church of Jesus Christ” had fallen into apostasy and that he would be the one to restore Christ’s teachings.

“ At 17, he reported being visited by the angel Moroni who told him about a set of Golden Plates that contained religious records buried near his home. Four years later in September 1827, Smith received permission to take the gold plates, but he told others he was forbidden to show them to anyone.

“ In 1830, Smith published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Christ, which was later re-named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Two years later, Smith was ordained President of the High Priesthood – “to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses … yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church.”

“ A controversial figure during his lifetime, Smith was believed to be a polygamist. Some records indicate that he and a small number of followers had multiple wives during the later years of his life despite the objections of his wife, Emma Hale, whom he married in 1827. After Smith’s death, Emma stated publicly that he had never practiced plural marriage. Polygamy is no longer a part of the church”s official practice.

“ Smith also was the target of numerous lawsuits. He received death threats and was poisoned, beaten, tarred, imprisoned and once sentenced to die by firing squad. He and his family suffered many financial difficulties.

“ As president of the church and mayor of Nauvoo, Ill., Smith ordered the destruction of a newspaper that was highly critical of his leadership. Accused of violating the freedom of the press, he was sent to jail. On June 27, 1844, Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by a mob of about 200 armed men who stormed the jail.

“ One of the fastest-growing Christian denominations, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now has 12 million members worldwide. In Spokane County, it is one of the largest faith communities, second only to Roman Catholics. In Kootenai County, membership in the LDS Church ranks third after Catholicism and Assemblies of God.

“ Both Idaho and Washington rank in the top 10 for states with the largest Mormon population.