"He had the tremendous, specific responsibility and challenge of founding and overseeing a growing church. He faced daily challenges in church administration and as a husband and father, the threat of physical violence, opposition from engaging elements and legal challenges and tried to provide for his family in difficult economic times."

Turley said the criticism that has dogged Smith from his earliest years will not necessarily be quieted by the publication of his papers, but the volumes — an anticipated 30 of which will be produced into the foreseeable future — will allow critics to "see the source materials themselves."

"Questions about his spiritual claims will always rest on a foundation of faith. We can only hope that as people read his journals, they will see the sincerity of his religious experience." Turley said no legitimate scholar will be able to write a definitive biography of Smith from this point forward without using materials contained within the Joseph Smith Papers.

Jan Shipps, professor emeritus of religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue University, said the papers are "welcome indeed" and the new volume "truly inaugurates (a) new era in Mormon Studies."

Stephen Marini of Wellesley College said while Smith has been "one of the least accessible major figures in the history of American religion," the project is "a splendid debut for what is certain to become one of the great landmarks in LDS publishing and scholarship."

Kenneth Minkema of the Jonathon Edwards Center at Yale University said the project, when complete, "will rank among the most significant projects in the history of American religion."

Interest in the project seems to be high not only among scholars, but also among everyday Latter-day Saints. The first volume had an initial print run of about 10,000, and Turley said he anticipates that, if sales continue as strong as they have in the past couple of weeks, the supply will be exhausted by Christmas.

---

E-mail: carrie@desnews.com