Mormon Portraits (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798950661006)

First published in 1886, Mormon Portraits: Joseph Smith is one of the most controversial and revealing early examinations of Joseph Smith and the origins of Mormonism. Drawing from interviews, affidavits, firsthand testimonies, newspaper accounts, and contemporary documents, Dr. Wilhelm Wyl presents a detailed and often scathing portrait of Joseph Smith, his family, his associates, and the early leadership of the Mormon movement.

This volume explores topics including the Book of Mormon translation claims, the Kinderhook Plates, the Book of Abraham, Nauvoo politics, polygamy, financial scandals, the attempted assassination of Governor Boggs, and the events leading to Joseph Smith's death at Carthage Jail. Wyl also includes extensive appendices containing historical affidavits, witness statements, and other rare source materials from the nineteenth century.

Originally published in the late 1800s, this edition has been carefully reformatted for modern readers, with minor grammatical and spelling updates for readability while preserving the original text and historical context. Additional footnotes have been added where appropriate.

Mormon Portraits remains an important historical document for readers interested in early Mormon history, religious movements in nineteenth-century America, and the controversies surrounding the life and legacy of Joseph Smith.