On August 5-7, 2005, descendants of Joseph Smith Jr., will gather for a family reunion to celebrate the 200th birthday of Joseph Smith. Special programs and activities will be enjoyed in Salt Lake City and in Provo at BYU.
Michael (Mike) Kennedy, a 3rd great-grandson of Joseph Smith, through Alexander Hale Smith and president of the Joseph Smith Jr. Family Organization, reports that their committee e-mailed invitations December 23, 2004, to nearly 300 in the United States; soon nearly as many more invitations will be sent to descendants living in Australia.
Each invitation includes a copy of the newly released book, “Joseph Smith: the Man, the Mission, the Message,” by Matthew B. Brown. Brown said the book deals with Smith’s personality, trials and life. “It’s written as a broad-based biography so that people can get an idea about who Joseph Smith is as a man. . . it’s not a religious work.” The book contains photographs of rare personal items belonging to Joseph, or his family; it also contains only verifiable facts.
Darcy Kennedy, a member of the committee, and Mike’s wife, observed, “We hope this book will generate interest and enthusiasm for the upcoming reunion. Many of this family have felt they didn’t have any connection to their Smith heritage. We want the family to come together to get to know each other, to learn more about their heritage, and to have a good time.”
Kennedy said many Hyrum and Samuel Smith descendants have volunteered to house the relatives, help them get around, and just show them love during their stay in Utah.