“For the General Good of Mankind”: Why Joseph Smith’s Presidential Campaign Matters

Authors

Derek R. Sainsbury, Brigham Young UniversityFollow

Keywords

Joseph Smith’s Presidential Campaign, Latter-day Saint History

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Joseph Smith’s 1844 campaign for president of the United States is much more than a curious footnote in Latter-day Saint history. Recent scholarship, including Storming the Nation, confirms that the campaign aligned with the Restoration’s goals to gather Israel, establish Zion, and protect the rights of all humanity. By examining the reasons, means, and outcomes of Joseph’s campaign, we can highlight truths of the Restoration that are central to our students’ covenant responsibility to gather Israel and prepare the world for the Second Coming.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Sainsbury, Derek R. "“For the General Good of Mankind”: Why Joseph Smith’s Presidential Campaign Matters." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 21, no. 3 (2020). https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/re/vol21/iss3/9