Joseph Smith Jr. was Lincoln before Lincoln, says Rev. Dr. Carter

A portrait of Joseph Smith Jr., a 19th century Christian prophet, was unveiled Sunday at Morehouse College, placing him among figures recognized for advancing humanitarian concern and fundamental human rights.

The painting was added to the International Hall of Honor inside the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel during a Vespers service on February 1. The hall contains more than 300 oil portraits of global leaders associated with the international civil and human rights movement. Smith’s portrait will hang between those of Abraham Lincoln and Russell M. Nelson, the late president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose portrait was added to the hall in 2023.

During the service, the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the chapel, focused on Smith’s 1844 presidential campaign and his proposal to abolish slavery. Carter described Smith’s plan as “among the most morally ambitious proposals of the antebellum era,” citing language from Smith’s campaign platform and excerpts from the Book of Mormon.

Carter said Smith demonstrated “moral courage” by pursuing the presidency, adding that such a decision amounted to a “death warrant.” “He knew what he was doing. It didn’t stop him,” Carter said, according to remarks delivered during the service. He also said that Smith’s ideas anticipated later national debates about slavery, stating, “Joseph Smith Jr. was Lincoln before Lincoln.”

In his presidential pamphlet, Smith wrote that when citizens “petitioned to abolish slavery in the slave states,” he would use “all honorable means” to secure liberty for those enslaved. Carter said that although Smith’s plan was never implemented, it remains “a prophetic witness to what America might have been.”

Carter also referenced Book of Mormon teachings that invite “all to come unto him — black and white, bond and free,” and quoted Smith’s call to “break off the shackles from the poor black man and hire him to labor like other human beings.” He said Smith’s opposition to slavery was rooted in a belief in the equality of all people before God.

Church Historian Spencer McBride said in an interview prior to the unveiling that while Smith’s presidential bid was unlikely to succeed, his platform offered a detailed vision for addressing the nation’s challenges at the time.

The portrait, titled Sunset on Nauvoo, was painted by artist Connie Lynn Reilly. It depicts Smith standing and holding a copy of the Book of Mormon, with the Nauvoo Temple in the background and Jacob’s ladder—a flower native to Illinois—in the foreground. Reilly said the flower symbolizes spiritual progression and sacred covenants.

Craig Ballard, a third great-grandnephew of Joseph Smith Jr. and chairman of the Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Foundation and Association, attended the unveiling with his son. He said the family views the placement of the portrait at Morehouse as meaningful and said the painting was “beautiful.”

The unveiling was also significant for Black members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. William Kennedy of the Genesis Group, a Utah-based organization established nearly 55 years ago to support Black Latter-day Saints and their families, said Smith’s teachings emphasized the global reach of the gospel. Kennedy said the moment reflects continued progress within the faith community.

Local church members also described the impact of seeing Latter-day Saint leaders represented at Morehouse. Cassie VanDyke of Atlanta said the portraits of Smith and Nelson will help her teenage son as he navigates his identity as both a Black man and a member of the Church. She said seeing President Nelson’s portrait during a previous visit to Morehouse had been meaningful to him.

Carter said the decision to include Smith in the hall reflects a desire to examine history more fully. “I think he deserves to be lifted up,” Carter said. “And that’s what I intend to do.”

Kennedy said the event was not only about the past but also about the future, emphasizing the importance of building relationships across differences. Carter echoed that sentiment, saying society must recognize shared humanity across race, culture and background.

The portrait’s addition marks the second time a leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been honored in Morehouse College’s International Hall of Honor.