Joseph Smith in politics subject of Lee Library lecture March 8 - BYU News Skip to main content
Intellect

Joseph Smith in politics subject of Lee Library lecture March 8

As part of the Joseph Smith Exhibit Lecture Series, Brigham Young University history professor emeritus James B. Allen will discuss Joseph Smith in politics Wednesday, March 8, at 3 p.m. in the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium.

Corresponding with the semester’s exhibition, “Remembering Joseph Smith, Jr. 1805-2005,” Allen will address the topic “Joseph Smith vs. John C. Calhoun: Presidential Politics and the States’ Rights Controversy.”

Admission is free and the public is welcome. A question-and-answer session as well as a reception will follow the lecture in Special Collections’ DeLamar Jensen Classroom located near the auditorium.

Smith met South Carolina Sen. Calhoun during his 1840 visit to Washington, D.C. After explaining the plight of the Mormons who had lost so many rights and possessions in Missouri, Calhoun and others told Smith the federal government could not intervene in an issue involving states’ rights, and thus would not help the Saints.

Allen will specifically discuss Smith’s political views as well as his decision to run for rresident of the United States in 1844. He will also focus on the Constitutional issue of states’ rights.

Allen served as chair of the History Department at BYU, as well as the Lemuel Hardison Redd, Jr. Professor of Western American History, the president of the Mormon History Association and assistant Church historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer at BYU in 1984 and was named a fellow of the Utah State Historical Society in 1988.

He has also authored or co-authored 16 books and monographs and about 90 articles, most of which relate to Mormon and Western American history.

For more information, contact David Whittaker at (801) 422-7774 or david_whittaker@byu.edu.

Writer: Brian Rust

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

BYU animation, AdLab students shine once again at Student Emmys

April 08, 2025
Students take top national honors in animation and commercial categories at the 44th College Television Awards
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

BYU professional programs land high marks, engineering makes big jump in U.S. News grad ranks

April 08, 2025
BYU’s law and business programs remained highly ranked in the 2025 U.S. News Best Graduate School Rankings released today, while BYU’s engineering graduate programs made major jumps over previous marks.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

BYU landscaping students dig their way to 10th national championship

April 03, 2025
BYU’s landscaping team is the best in the field, literally. While most national championships are won on the court or the gridiron, this one was claimed with pruned shrubs, expertly placed pavers, and top-tier irrigation systems.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=