SHARON, Vt. — Despite the challenges it faces in its continued spread around the globe, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is fulfilling the prophecy of its founding prophet more than 150 years ago that it would "fill the whole Earth."

And as it does, Joseph Smith's teachings about the life of Jesus Christ and God's plan for the salvation of all men will continue to be ultimately known only through personal revelation, according to the historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Marlin K. Jensen, a member of the church's Quorums of the Seventy, told hundreds gathered Sunday at a chapel near Smith's birthplace that Smith's legacy includes restoration of priesthood power to Earth. His other myriad teachings — including a health code and the law of chastity — testify to his prophetic gift but are understood in their eternal significance only within the broader context of the restored gospel of Christ.

As the final speaker at the 40th annual conference of the Mormon History Association, he said Smith's contributions to scriptural canon — including a translation of the Bible as well as the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price and compilation of the Doctrine and Covenants "stand alone in the annals of the religious world."

For all their scholarly appeal, he said, Smith's works can only ultimately be understood "by the power of the Holy Ghost testifying" to each person individually that Smith was who he claimed to be — a prophet of God who restored Christ's gospel to Earth.

Of interest to Latter-day Saints and scholars alike, information about Smith's life and work will be more readily accessible than ever before when the LDS Church launches a new Web site in mid-June at josephsmith.net. "It will contain content of considerable substance," he said.

Work is also under way on the Joseph Smith Papers project at Brigham Young University, a multi-volume work being compiled in conjunction with the LDS Church that Elder Jensen said is "the most important historical project of our generation."

The project is an attempt to gather, catalogue and reference every document Joseph Smith ever produced or created, either personally or through dozens of scribes he worked with throughout his life.

Alexander Baugh, professor of religion and an editor for the project, told a standing-room-only crowd on Saturday that the rough draft of the third volume in the series was just completed last week, covering the years 1834-35. Some 26 letters by Smith are included in that volume, along with 14 revelations — six of them canonized — as well as eight of Smith's discourses and seven recorded blessings.