Grandma Emma’s Birthday
The Joseph Smith Jr. family will be gathering for their fourth time this July 7th and ending on Emma Hale Smith’s birthday the 10th of July. Over 200 family members are expected to arrive in Independence, Missouri, many from as far away as Australia where almost 1/3 of Alexander’s posterity live. There are so many fun games and activities planned for the children that a van has to drive the contents for the games to Independence from Salt Lake.
Thursday night is registration, pizza, lots of visiting, and the film at the LDS visitor’s center “Prophet of the Restoration.†Friday morning we will hear from our Australian families and then everyone has the choice throughout the day of sitting back and visiting or choosing from several activities: LDS Visitor’s Center, Independence Walking Tour, Community of Christ Temple and Museum tour, The Temple Lot, Jessie James Museum, Harry S. Truman Museum and Library, or family fun activities. In the middle of the day we will be laying a special marker for Joseph and Emma’s granddaughter Alice Fredericka, the only child of Frederick G. Williams and Anna Marie Jones Smith. Friday ends with a Luau, a variety of family talent and a spotlight on David Hyrum’s family.
Saturday we go to Liberty where Joseph was imprisoned for 6 months, and will then visit the construction of the building of the temple in Kansas City. We have special guests Andy Ehat and Matthew Brown on the buses to share why Joseph had Temples built. We will return midday for everyone to build up an appetite with the Stick Pull championships, tug of war and other games. That evening we will have special presentations and a birthday cake celebrating Grandma Emma’s birthday along with special gifts to the children and to every family that is there.
We end with a Sunday morning devotional and lots of hugs and farewells.
For more information, please see www.josephsmithjr.com.