By Eldred and Hortense Smith
The Hyrum Smith Family Association was organized and activated on Dec 29, 1980 mainly for the purpose of raising funds to purchase the Hyrum Smith home in Kirtland, Ohio to save it from destruction. The project was successful and the home was purchased.
The board consists of representatives of each of Hyrum’s children as follows:
| CHILD | REPRESENTATIVE |
|---|---|
| Lavina Smith Walker | Rex Campbell (now deceased) |
| John Smith | Eldred G. Smith |
| Jerusha Smith | Earl H. Peirce |
| Sarah Smith | Rae Jean Davis |
| Joseph F. Smith | Joseph Patrick (now deceased) |
| Martha Ann Smith Harris | Carole King |
The passing of these two stalwart family and board members, Rex Campbell and Joseph Patrick, saddens us. We express sincere gratitude for their services.
It has been proposed by the board that there be two representatives of each child on the board. It is therefore, requested that the families make Recommendations for not only filling the vacancies but to add an additional board member for each family. These suggestions may be submitted to Eldred G. Smith, who is the President of the board. His address is 2942 Devonshire Circle, SLC, UT 84108; (801)582-9610.
We have been engaged in some significant activities:
1. An effort, which began as far back as l939, to memorialize, with a monument in the Kirtland cemetery, the burial spots for Hyrum’s wife, Jerusha Barden Smith; Mary (the little daughter of Hyrum and Jerusha); as well as Mary Duty Smith (the grandmother of Hyrum, Joseph and the other children), will finally have it’s day as arrangements are now reaching finality.
2. A work is underway to publish a biography of Jerusha.
3. A wonderful achievement has been the restoring of the surface and lettering on the large granite monument to Hyrum Smith that stands in the Salt Lake City cemetery. It now looks like new with the lettering very readable
4. The wonderful memorial celebration of Hyrum’s 200th birthday last year, as reported in the last newsletter, was a high point. The many thousands, who participated and grew to love their progenitor even more, enjoy its memory and the video (still available).
5. The family association participated in the placing of the heroic statue of Hyrum Smith in the City Center of Hyrum, Utah-which bears his name.
6. In Hyrum’s memory the association placed a bust statue of him in the home in Kirtland, Ohio.
7. We have launched our www.HyrumSmith.Com website with the help of Jared Glade. It is accessible either directly or as a link from the Foundation website or the Joseph F. Smith website (www.josephfsmith.org), as they are also accessible from ours. Please visit us.