Portrait of Joseph Smith Unveiled at Morehouse College

A portrait of Joseph Smith Jr., the first prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is unveiled during a Vespers at the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 1, 2026.

A portrait of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr., the first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was unveiled Sunday in the International Hall of Honor at Morehouse College’s Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel in Atlanta, Georgia.

The International Hall of Honor features more than 300 oil portraits of global leaders recognized for advancing civil rights, humanitarian values, and fundamental human dignity. Joseph Smith’s portrait will be displayed between those of Abraham Lincoln and the late President Russell M. Nelson, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose portrait was added to the hall in 2023.

The unveiling took place during a vespers service and marked a historic moment of interfaith and intercultural recognition. The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, highlighted Joseph Smith’s advocacy for basic human rights, particularly his opposition to slavery during his 1844 presidential campaign.

The Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. Carter Sr., Dean of Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, honors Joseph Smith Jr., the first president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during the unveiling of his portrait at a Vesters there on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

Dr. Carter described Smith’s proposal to abolish slavery as “among the most morally ambitious plans of the antebellum era,” noting that the Prophet’s willingness to pursue such reforms came at great personal risk.

“He knew what he was doing, and it didn’t stop him,” Dr. Carter said. “If he had succeeded, countless lives lost in the Civil War might have been saved.”

Joseph Smith’s presidential platform emphasized liberty and justice for all, including his pledge to use “all honorable means” to abolish slavery and “give liberty to the captive.” Dr. Carter compared Smith’s moral vision to that of Abraham Lincoln, calling him “Lincoln before Lincoln.”

Church Historian and Recorder Spencer McBride noted that although Smith’s campaign was unlikely to succeed, his platform offered a compelling vision for addressing the nation’s moral and political crises.

“The plan endures as a prophetic witness of what America might have been,” Dr. Carter said. “It reflects the belief that freedom is not merely a political achievement, but a sacred obligation owed to every human being.”

Dr. Carter also referenced teachings from the Book of Mormon that affirm the equality of all people before God, stating that Joseph Smith’s revelations proclaimed a gospel without racial distinction.

The portrait, titled Sunset on Nauvoo, was painted by artist Connie Lynn Reilly. It depicts Joseph Smith standing with a copy of the Book of Mormon, with the Nauvoo Temple in the background and Jacob’s Ladder flowers in the foreground—symbols of spiritual progression and sacred covenant-making.

Craig Ballard (right), 3rd-great-grandnephew of Joseph Smith Jr., the first president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with his son Brigham, look over the space where Joseph’s portrait will hang — next to Abraham Lincoln and the late president of the Church, Russell M. Nelson at Morehouse College’s Marting Luther King Jr. International Chapel, in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

Craig Ballard, a third-great-grandnephew of Joseph Smith and chairman of the Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Foundation, attended the unveiling and expressed gratitude for the recognition.

“That Morehouse College wanted and welcomed this portrait is deeply meaningful to our family,” Ballard said. “It is a moment we believe our ancestors would be proud of.”

The event resonated strongly with Black members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. William Kennedy of the Genesis Group, an organization established nearly 55 years ago to support Black Latter-day Saints and their families, described the unveiling as a powerful acknowledgment of Joseph Smith’s inclusive teachings.

“This is something to celebrate,” Kennedy said. “It shows that we are moving forward and building unity.”

For Atlanta resident Cassie VanDyke, the presence of the portraits at Morehouse College holds personal significance for her teenage son.

“To see someone who represents both his faith and his identity is everything,” she said. “It helps him feel that he belongs.”

Dr. Carter said the unveiling reflects a broader call to recognize shared humanity and build bridges across cultural and religious divides.

“We must think holistically and inclusively,” he said. “This moment is about the past, but it is also about the future.”