It has been the author's desire through life to aid in giving the young Latter-day Saints so much that is good and pure in literature that they will have no excuse for reading that which is trashy or improper. Good books, if not the strongest outside influence, are at least very strong in the building of character. The story of life upon the earth is beautiful and has absorbing interest if that life is natural, that is, in harmony with the will of our Father in Heaven. The real experiences of a bold missionary of Truth should be and are of the highest interest to all right-minded Mormon children of either sex. Hence the author has seen fit to regard this little work as the beginning of a series of biographies of the Presidents of the Church, which he has under contemplation. He believes that the data of the history of the Church can be given as completely in the lives of the men who have led it as in any other way. There are some additional advantages: a biography has greater unity and consequently children can grasp it better; they obtain a deeper understanding, too, of the Church and its principles, when they see the life-history and growth of a man under the influence of the Gospel; and they become intimately acquainted with the noblest characters that have ever lived upon the earth. Besides this, the history of the Church is divided into periods that correspond with the time that each man has been President. Each may almost be considered an epoch. The Church was organized and its members grew to be a strong people in the life of Joseph Smith; they became pioneers and colonizers in the life of Brigham Young; John Taylor's presidency was marked by the dark struggles which threatened the very existence of the Church itself. Wilford Woodruff's by the wonderful progress of the Saints when given liberty. Lorenzo Snow's already promises to mark a new and eventful period. THE LATTER-DAY PROPHET is now sent forth, with the fervent prayer that it may create in the hearts of the children of Zion a greater love for the man who made of human life a thing so nearly divine, and help them to go bravely forward with the work he was chosen to begin. THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith--His Ancestors--Removal to New York State--A Religious Revival CHAPTER II. Joseph Inclined to Think Seriously upon Religion--Undecided as to which Church to Join--Gets Light from the Bible--His First Prayer--Answered by a Glorious Vision CHAPTER III. How the Account of his Vision was Received--His Further Inquiry for Light--Another Vision CHAPTER IV. The Morning Vision--Joseph Tells his Father--Visits Cumorah--The Plates Found--Moroni's Command CHAPTER V. The Four Years of Waiting--Joseph Works in Pennsylvania--Marriage--The Last Visit to the Hill--Outruns the Robbers CHAPTER VI.