In recognition of the anniversary of the 200th birthday of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Library of Congress, in cooperation with Brigham Young University, presented a two-day symposium, "The Worlds of Joseph Smith." The symposium was held in May in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library's Thomas Jefferson Building.
Joseph Smith (1805-1844) was the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church. Leading scholarly experts examined Smith's religious, social and theological contributions.
A small exhibit of books and other materials related to Smith's life, drawn from the collections of the Library and the archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was on view in the foyer of the Coolidge Auditorium during the two days of the symposium.
The symposium was developed by James Hutson, chief of the Library's Manuscript Division, in collaboration with Brigham Young University. It is one of many scholarly conferences and exhibits on various religious traditions that the Library of Congress has held over the years, including "Rome Reborn: The Vatican Library and Renaissance Culture," "In the Beginning Was the Word: The Russian Church and Native Alaskan Cultures," "Let There Be Light: William Tyndale and the Making of the English Bible," "Religion and the Founding of the American Republic," and, most recently, "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America."
