Dean C.
Jessee, an American historian of the early Latter Day Saint movement and a leading expert on the writings of Joseph Smith Jr., died on December 31, 2025. Born on August 29, 1929, he was raised in Springville, Utah, and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He served an LDS mission to Germany. In 1959, Jessee received a Master of Arts in LDS church history from Brigham Young University, where he wrote a thesis on Mormon fundamentalism. He later taught LDS Seminary for four years at West High School in Salt Lake City.
Dean Cornell Jessee (August 29, 1929 – December 31, 2025) was an American historian of the early Latter Day Saint movement and leading expert on the writings of Joseph Smith Jr.