My Spiritual Gift - The Joseph Smith photograph came to me around the time of the Twelve Million Saints of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the dedication of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was also around the bicentennial of the State of Utah and the 200th birthday anniversary of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr.

Happy Birthday to the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr.
On his 200th anniversary birthdate

I am wishing him a happy birthday and welcoming him to Zion of the Rocky Mountain west. He always wanted to come west, with the Saints, and he did with his photograph. There is also a 200 foot rock at a place called Deseret Utah, where a likeness of him, as a rock, is looking out over the Great basin which was the great fortress to build Zion. The Rocky Mountains split at Canada and hookup again at Mexico, making up the Great Bowl Fortress to protect Zion and the saints.

The Joseph Smith photograph came at a time when many individuals were trying to discover the exact image of the Prophet Joseph. There were authors, artists, historians, sharing other photographs, portraits, lithographs and such that came about at the same time. This may have been a reason for the photograph to come forth. Please See 'Story Behind the Joseph Smith Photo'

~The Prophet Joseph and Brigham Young~

FACT - What you see here is an authentic print from a Daguerreotype Photograph circa 1840.   Is this a photograph of the prophet Joseph Smith and Brigham Young? You decide...

In the pictures and text below some of the evidence will be presented surrounding this Daguerreotype Print for you to make your own decision.

~Prophet Brigham Young photographs and comparisons~

These 5 photos are actual documented progressive photographs of Brigham Young taken after the Saints left Nauvoo at different times during his life. The picture on the far left is of the individual on the left of the Joseph Smith photo daguerreotype print. The resemblance of the individual on the left in the daguerreotype to the photos of Brigham Young are striking. Also striking is the age progression. The daguerreotype individual would be the appropriate time period for a younger Brigham. Brigham had a mole under his bottom lip which you can not see in these images, but the mole is unmistakable in the original daguerreotype print image.

~Joseph and Mother (Lucy Mack Smith)~

Later portrait taken of Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the prophet Joseph compared to the individual on the right of the Joseph Smith photo daguerreotype.   Joseph looks like his mother.

~The Death Mask of the Prophet comparison~

The 3 images above comprise a photo overlay of the death mask onto the right individual in the Joseph Smith photo daguerreotype. The 5 images below them are side by side comparisons of the death mask. One thing to note is the death mask did not cover Joseph's entire face when it was cast. The death mask and the Joseph Smith photo have been measured using a laser to determine measurements for the eyes, the nose, mouth, etc. The measurements of the face in the Joseph Smith photo match the measurements of the death mask.

Notice the similarities between the daguerreotype image and the portrait of Joseph Smith in his legionaire uniform. If you study them closely you will see the total resemblence.

He looks like and matches the death mask.

He has exceptionally square and broad shoulders.

~Other Points Of Interest~

• The photo comparison of Brigham above combined with other research that has been done point to a very very high probability that the individual on the left is indeed a young Brigham Young. During this time photography was a brand new emerging technology not readily available like it is today. Who then would have a photo like this taken with Brigham on their right side?
• The Joseph Smith daguerreotype photograph was measured using a laser, it fit the laser measurements of the death mask.
• Four bone specialist, feel that the bone structure is the same.
• A commissioned artist who has handled the original death mask recognized this face to be identical to the death mask.
• The individual on the right in the Joseph Smith photo matches the description of the early saints
  • Joseph had very broad-square shoulders, as you see in the photograph
  • He had a sober, stare affect, and turned down mouth, with penetrating eyes.
  • He has no furrows in his forehead
  • Eyes are hazel blue
  • Damaged left eye
  • One cheek bone higher than the other
  • Oval face, square chin, large mouth with the upper lip protruding.
  • Fine hair, light in color, parted on left side, combed to the right
  • Broad mustache area
  • Early saints and others who met him described him as being tall, 'portly', with strong shoulders
  • Soft, smooth skin, with no mention of ever having facial hair.
• Joseph Smith photo was found at a Hyrum family's homestead, near Pleasant Grove. A grandson named Joseph Smith occupied the home.

There are many photographs surfacing that claim to be of the prophet Joseph Smith. Many of them are from the RLDS church representing Joseph Smith III who was the prophet of the RLDS church as well as the other sons of the prophet. Of all of the prophet Joseph's children, Joseph Smith III most resembles his father. Many photographs were taken in the 50's and 60's of Joseph Smith III. However there are several things that set the prophet Joseph apart from his son Joseph Smith III

1. Joseph Smith III had much more hair than his father and it was very dark.
2. Joseph Smith III did not have the broad shoulders of his father. His shoulders are more slanted and sloping while the shoulders of the prophet Joseph Smith were very broad and square.
3. Joseph Smith III had a longer nose than his father
4. The face of Joseph Smith III is more rectangular and he had a cleft in his chin that the prophet Joseph did not.

Though the discovery of the true image of Joseph Smith would not alter any doctrine or beliefs for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it nevertheless would bring people closer to the man history knows as Joseph Smith Jr.

For Information on how the Joseph Smith photo was discovered please see "Story Behind The Joseph Smith photo"

~Other Image Comparisons~

Individual on the right of the Joseph Smith photo daguerreotype has many characteristics as the boyhood portrait of the Prophet Joseph Smith