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‘The Assassination of Joseph Smith’ Book is a Detailed Account of the Last Years of the Mormon Founder

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Author Ryan C. Jenkins recounts the last six Years of the LDS Founder in The Assassination of Joseph Smith.

The Assassination of Joseph Smith: Innocent Blood on the Banner of Liberty, written by Ryan C. Jenkins, provides a detailed insight into the life of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, from October 31, 1838, till June 27, 1844, the day he died. Smith was only 38 when he was killed by an assailant who was part of an armed mob that stormed the Carthage Jail, Illinois, where he was being held for treason.

‘The Assassination of Joseph Smith’ Book is a Detailed Account of the Last Years of the Mormon Founder[/tweetthis]

Jenkins opens the book a day after Haun's Mill massacre, the bloodiest event in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement. The event saw the Mormon settlement in eastern Caldwell County, Missouri, being attacked by a militia unit from Livingston County, Missouri. It happened after the Battle of Crooked River, one of the main reasons for the conflicts in the 1838 Missouri Mormon War, which resulted in the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri.

After the war, Smith and his known associates were arrested for treason, and sentenced to death. The brigadier general in the Missouri militia,  Alexander Doniphan, who was also the former attorney of Smith, refused to carry out the execution order. As a result, Smith was sent to the Liberty jail in Missouri, to await trial. Smith escaped from the jail some months later, and proceeded to the town of Nauvoo, Illinois, along with his followers.

Some of the other important events that happened in the life of Smith that is mentioned in the book include his trip to Washington, D.C., his run for the presidency, and his final days leading up to his martyrdom.

The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith first published it in 1830. As per Mormon belief, Smith translated the Book of Mormon from the golden plates. According to Smith, Moroni, the last prophet to contribute to the golden plates, after his death, returned as an angel, and showed him (Smith) the location of the golden tablets. Smith returned the tablets after translating them.

Jenkins has written the book in the present tense. This adds to a more engaging reader experience. The book can be used as a reference to know more about the LDS Church and its founder. It can be enjoyed as a good read as well. There is no sexual content in the book. The historical quotes contain mild swearing. Amazon has tagged it as one of the best books of 2016, so far.

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