PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

The papers of Joseph Smith consist of a sizable collection housed mainly in the archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) in Independence, Missouri. Significant additional materials are also located at a number of other repositories in the United States. The Smith papers consist of the following: sacred writings, which include the Book of Mormon, the Books of Moses and Abraham, a revision of the King James Version of the Bible, and numerous separate revelations, most of which have been published in the LDS and RLDS Doctrine and Covenants; a dozen diaries covering the time period between 27 November 1832 and 22 June 1844; reports of speeches and sermons; approximately four hundred letters and other documents produced over his name; and a six-volume, twenty-three-hundred-page documentary history spanning the Prophet's lifetime that utilizes much of the previous material.

While the Joseph Smith papers are a substantial expression of his life and times, they are not totally the product of his own mind. The purpose of this book is to present the core of his writings that most accurately reflect his thought and personality. These include: (1) almost all the known holograph writings of Joseph Smith;1 (2) documents that were undoubtedly holograph but are now available only from handwritten or published copies; (3) documents in the handwriting of clerks but which state specifically that Joseph is dictating; (4) a selection of non-holograph materials that in style and content appear to have been authored by him. Not included in this volume are the revelations or documents contained in the canon of LDS scripture, except as an occasional one may have been part of a letter or diary.

Since the first edition of Personal Writings appeared, a number of technical and factual errors have been corrected. The first edition was also produced about the time several new Joseph Smith holograph writings were discovered, but have since been judged as forgeries. These documents six in number—do not appear in this second edition. Four items appearing here were not in the first edition:

1830 March	To the reader
1835 September/December	To the Elders of the Church
1839 January 16	To Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young
1844 June 11	Proclamation

In addition, endnotes are now footnotes; a new biographical register helps identify people mentioned in the text; and the maps are upgraded and improved.

Since the first edition we have commenced publishing the complete Papers of Joseph Smith which will consist of nearly a dozen volumes. This volume contains all the more personal documents from that larger collection.