How did Joseph Smith die?

Learn about the deliberate, political assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage, Illinois and learn about the group of men who killed them. ... read more

Smith did not know that Jonathan Dunham, major general of the Nauvoo Legion, did not dispatch the unit to Carthage to protect him. Allen Joseph Stout later contended that by remaining inactive, Dunham violated an official order written by Smith after he was jailed in Carthage. read more

The events leading to the death of Mormon founder Joseph Smith are much like the events surrounding his life—full of contradiction. To hear Mormons tell the story, Smith did no wrong; for others, he did no right. Like most stories, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. read more

As others have stated, wikipedia has the death of Joseph Smith documented with sources. The short of it is this: Joseph Smith and his followers were a tight-knit group which did not bond nicely with the Illinois natives. Tensions ran high on all sides. read more