New Joseph Smith Papers volume covers Nauvoo period of church

Though the journal entries cover significant events, many of them pertain to the day-to-day duties of Joseph Smith as Nauvoo mayor, store operator, newspaper editor and general of the Nauvoo Legion. They thus offer insights into his personality.

"In one entry, for instance, we read the story of Joseph, while serving in his capacity as mayor and chief justice, presiding over a court case in Nauvoo," said Alex D. Smith, one of the volume editors, in a video recording on the project website.

"There's a commotion going on outside in the street. And wanting to find out what's going on, he runs out and sees two boys fighting. He immediately stops them and then rebukes the bystanders for not intervening sooner.

"When he comes back into the courtroom, Willard Richards, who was his journal keeper at the time, records the Prophet as saying, 'Nobody is allowed to fight in this city but me.' "

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