The Church Historian’s Press today announced the release of the latest volume of The Joseph Smith Papers. Documents, Volume 10, which includes papers from May through August 1842, covers a time during which Joseph Smith oversaw missionary work, encouraged the construction of the Nauvoo temple, served as editor of the church newspaper Times and Seasons, and struggled to help the hundreds of converts gathering to Nauvoo, Illinois. In May, he was elected mayor, adding new responsibilities to his busy schedule, and during the summer he repeatedly dealt with issues relating to his bankruptcy application. The demands on his time were so great that Wilford Woodruff wrote in June that he had “never seen Joseph as full of business as of late,” noting that “he hardly gets time to sign his name.”

The Joseph Smith Papers is pleased to announce its latest web release, which includes the launch of a new, online-only Financial Records series. This series features Joseph Smith’s financial transactions, both personal and related to various organizations and businesses, to be published over the next few years. This release also includes the publication of more Nauvoo City Council documents, eleven history drafts, and introductions to eight legal cases from Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio.

The first official release of our new Financial Records series includes documents and introductions for three financial records.