“Honorable, fearless, and energetic; he would administer justice with an impartial hand.” — Times and Seasons¹

In 1844, frustrated by national candidates’ reluctance to help the Saints, Joseph Smith declared his candidacy for president of the United States. He aimed to use his campaign to publicize the grievances of the Saints and champion the rights of the oppressed. Joseph had previously stated that the only fault in the constitution was that "those who have the misfortune to be weak or unpopular, are left to the merciless rage of popular fury".² Joseph was concerned about protecting minority rights, particularly those of the minority religions, like the Latter-day Saints.

With the help of William Phelps, Joseph developed a platform which proposed giving the president more power to stop mob violence, liberating slaves by compensating their owners, turning prisons into places of learning and reform, as well as expanding westward with the consent of Native Americans.³ The Quorum of the Twelve formally nominated Joseph, and his campaign sought to make him the protector of liberty and justice.⁴

1. Times and seasons (Nauvoo, Ill. : 1839-1846) / 1844-1845 (Volume 5) / 1844 February 15 (No. 4)

2. History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844], The Joseph Smith Papers

3. Saints, Chapter 42, Round Up Your Shoulders, Page 513-514, 517

4. Council of Fifty in Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph Smith Papers