October 31, 1838: Joseph Smith surrendered to Missouri officials and was charged with high treason. He escaped after five months in jail, however, and fled to Illinois. Joseph Smith (1805-1844) was the man who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormon Church. He claimed to have had a vision in 1823 which lead him to the discovery of Golden Tablets - this tablets contained sacred writings which he translated and which became the Book of Mormon.