Registration for Joseph’s Miracle Run and the Joseph Smith, Sr and Lucy Mack Smith Reunion are now open. If you register for the race, you will receive a coupon code for a $5.00 discount off your Reunion registration. Just enter the code during checkout.
Eldred Smith celebrates 106th birthday
Oldest living Utah man celebrates 106 years
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=23684420
SALT LAKE CITY — Most of us have to read about what happened 100 years ago in a history book, but one Utah man has lived it.
Eldred Smith, a Salt Lake City man who celebrated his 106th birthday Wednesday, has a title no one else in the state has: He is oldest man in Utah.
In 1907, doctors performed the first successful blood transfusion and a bouncing baby boy named Eldred G. Smith entered the world. Fast forward more than a century, and Eldred is as sharp as ever — though he does get tired a little faster than he used to.
“What’s your secret to a long life@f0” I asked him, watching his eyes slowly open.
“Getting sleep, apparently,” Eldred said with a laugh.
This great-great-grandfather has lived a lot of life &38212; in years, and experience. During World War II, he worked as an engineer for a company that enriched uranium for the atomic bomb.
He is also the oldest and longest-serving general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And his own great-great-grandfather is Hyrum Smith, brother to the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith.
Eldred he spent years travelling, displaying church artifacts. KSL caught up with him when he was a spry 100-years-old.
“I tell ’em exercise is a waste of energy,” Eldred said during our 2007 interview. “I use my energy to accomplish something that gives me all the energy I need.”
He has outlived two spouses — his second sweetheart passed away in May 2012, at age 95. But he is still surrounded by his loving children and grandchildren down the line.
“He’s always talked about being around ‘till 110,” said daughter Miriam Skeen. “(He’s) one year closer.”
Eldred celebrated his birthday Wednesday surrounded by family and friends. Among his birthday visitors was LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson, who told Eldred’s family the biggest key to longevity is to just keep breathing.
Jennifer Stagg, Reporter
Season for Gratitude 2012
Smith Family Newsletter – December 2012
Joseph Smith Sr. Family – September 2012 Email News
A big thanks for the support and help if accomplishing the following projects for the Smith Family. If you would still like to contribute it is not too late. You can donate by going to http://www.josephsmithsr.org/node/34.
The Smith family returned again on Saturday, July 14, 2012 to replace each tree with an 8 foot Concolor pine tree. These trees are drought resistant, deer resistant, and established a little more. After working through one of the camp Forrester’s, Brother Robert Riddle, a new location was picked to increase the chance of survival of these trees. The trees now grace the slope on the way to the challenge course by Lucy Mack Smith’s Campground. Click here to read the complete story.
For those who attended the activity, please review the pictures and send on the names of the people so we can properly identify everyone.
Asael Smith Headstone to Be Preserved – July 28, 2012 Ceremony Funds Needed
The Joseph Smith Sr Family is spearheading the effort to preserve the Asael Smith headstone at the Union Cemetery in Stockholm, New York, and will re-set the headstone on July 28, 2012. Smith family members are invited to participate by donations and may attend the event if they desire.
Ben Pykles, LDS Church Historical Curator, visited friends who live on the Union Cemetery Road. When he saw the damaged headstone, he searched out family members who might be able to preserve the stone. No recent family member with ownership could be located, and eventually contact was made with the Joseph Smith Sr. Family Organization.
The headstone is cracked, weathered, and fallen at the base. The stone cannot be removed from the cemetery, so it will be cleaned properly and then inserted into a newer stone that will hold it upright; James Long, a Smith cousin who works for Hallmark Stone, will oversee cleaning of the stone. The stone will then be set on top of a cement foundation that will be four feet deep which will enable it up to endure the harsh winter conditions of northern New York.
The family will engrave Asael’s statement on the back of the stone, “It has been borne in upon my soul that one of my descendants will promulgate a work to revolutionize the world of religious faith.”
Funds can be donated via mail to Joseph Smith Sr Family, c/o Frances Orton, 381 W 3800 N, Provo UT 84604 or online at http://www.josephsmithsr.org/node/34.
Family will meet at the Union Cemetery in Stockholm, New York at 12 Noon on July 28, 2012. There will be a short family program about Asael.
Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith’s Birthday Party and Fundraising, July 14, 2012
When Joseph Smith was still a young boy, Mother Smith had a remarkable dream: She saw two majestic trees in a meadow by a stream, one with a gold band of light around the trunk. A gentle breeze blew, and the golden tree bent gracefully and exulted with joy as it was filled with the wind. But the other tree would not bend. As she awoke, she saw that her husband and his brother were the trees, and that Joseph Sr. would be willing to listen and accept the gospel, but his brother would be stubborn.
Trees hold a unique symbolism in our family; from Mother Smith’s dream, to clearing virgin farmland, to the Sacred Grove. Like trees, each of the Smiths stood out among men. They were tall, majestic people and lived larger than life. From the earliest days, it was always Joseph, Hyrum, Samuel, etc. who uplifted and sustained everyone.
Family Birthday Celebration
How fitting that our Family is celebrating Father Smith’s birthday this July 14th, at the beautiful Heber Valley Camp. One of the pavilions is dedicated to Lucy Mack Smith, and we have the unique opportunity to replant trees in each of the children’s names. In 2007, as part of the Smith Family reunion, we planted trees but some have been damaged by the elements and predators. The replacement tree will be large, mature trees, which will stand independent above the scrub oak surrounding the pavilion, in beautiful symbolism of our family. The camp missionaries love to show the trees to any visiting the camp.
This birthday celebration is for the entire family. With our children we will add items to be placed in a time capsule. Families will be organized with shoveling and water brigades. We’ll have a short program reminding us of the incredible accomplishments of our Smiths. Best of all, a hearty picnic luncheon will be served.
Fundraising event
We all can do our part to help honor Joseph and Lucy’s legacy. The Pavilion has limited seating of 250, so you’ll need to register as soon as possible. To register, print the pdf registration form below and mail to: Frances Orton, 381 W 3700 N, Provo UT 84604. If you have questions please contact Frances Orton at f.orton@digis.net.
Link to the Newsletter for The Lothropp Family Foundation
http://www.lothropp.org/News.asp
BYU CHURCH HISTORY SYMPOSIUM 2012
President Joseph F. Smith: Reflections on the Man and His Times
For more information see: https://rsc.byu.edu/book/joseph-f-smith-reflections-man-his-times
The Smith Family Cemetery Perpetual Fund
November, 2011
My Dear Cousins,
I want to express my deep love for each of you and thank all of you for what you are doing in honoring the names of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. The cemetery is a credit to all of the family members that have participated in helping to maintain and beautify the sacred spot where the Prophet Joseph Smith and those dearest to him are buried: Emma, Mother and Father Smith, Hyrum, Samuel, and others of the family. We must never ever lose the sense of appreciation and gratitude for those who have laid the foundation for this great work and have given us so much.
All of us should consider it an honor to support the work of the family, and so I encourage each of you to be as generous as you possibly can in providing financial support so that the work can move forward year after year, touching the lives of more of our family members.
I suppose that there will not be anything that will be more thrilling for anyone of us than to eventually be embraced by Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack and by our other forefathers and loved ones, and have them say to us, “Thank you, thank you, for keeping the cemetery beautiful. Thank you for seeking out the family members and building unity and love and strength within our family.”
We are on the Lord’s errand. There is a great family work that we must accomplish in His holy name. May we be blessed to do so is the prayer of my heart.
Sincerely,
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Joseph Smith, Sr. Family Reunion – 2011
21st Biennial Reunion in Kirtland, Ohio
August 4-7, 2011