2022 Scholarship Winners
50th Reunion – Treasured Connections
Facing death, Father Smith penned these words to his Dear Children: “Live together in an undivided bond of Love.” He urged them to continue to meet “if posably once Evry year [sic].”
By 1972, the Smith descendants were scattered not only across the United States but across the globe to Australia. Non–family member Buddy Youngreen became interested in the Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family, began identifying cousins, and encouraged the first Smith Family Reunion in Nauvoo in 1972. Descendants gathered at the Old Homestead overlooking the Mississippi, reminisced over scraggly lilac bushes, and began getting acquainted.
Since then, cousins have continued gathering at various locations. Granite tombstones have been placed for Father and Mother Smith at the cemetery next to the Old Homestead. The family has also beautified the cemetery and added a newer marker for Joseph Jr., Emma, and Hyrum.
In August 2022, 340 family members gathered for the 50th golden reunion in Nauvoo and made and renewed treasured connections. Frances and Steve Orton, reunion presidents, honored those who attended the first reunion 1972. Beautiful lilac bushes grace the edge of the granite markers for Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum. Lilacs are a favored family flower planted at various Smith locations. Debbie and Courtney Nelson pressed lilac petals from family gardens and then presented lilac necklaces and keychains to those who attended the first reunion.
Lilac mementos were also made available to family members. Suzanne Jones said her necklace “helped me feel a connection to our wonderful grandmothers that I’ve not sensed before, and for that, I’m immensely grateful.”
Joseph Fredrick Smith, a great– grandson of Joseph Jr., and John Smith, a great-grandson of Hyrum were acknowledged as the oldest living descendants at the reunion.
Joseph asked John Smith, “How old are you?” Then, after they spoke their ages out loud for everyone to hear, Joseph boldly said with good volume, “You are older than me. Bless you!” Joseph then grabbed John in a firm hug and said again, “Bless you.”
In 1991 Lois Smith Larsen (Joseph Jr.’s descendant) and Donna Lee Frogley (Hyrum’s descendant), Joseph and Hyrum descendants, joined together to place a wreath at
the granite markers of Father and Mother Smith. This August, Zoe and Chloe, descendants of Lois Smith Larsen and of Joseph Jr. and Emma, again placed a wreath.
And on the grounds of Joseph and Emma’s Mansion home, youth and families also helped build a split rail fence between the Mansion Home and Sidney Rigdon’s property. “The kids participated with joy. To realize they actually put up a fence on Joseph Smith’s property is something they’ll remember all their lives,” said Bob Smith, Samuel H. Smith descendant. The family service project also included painting fence panels to surround a garden behind the Mansion House wing—part of the Smith Family Gardens Phase I Project.
Family members visited local sites, enjoyed meals and visiting together, and were able to join the idigNauvoo archaeological project at the Hyrum Smith office site.
Were Father and Mother Smith looking on, would not they have seen their posterity together in an “undivided bond of love?”
See the painting and building of the split rail fence:
2022 Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Reunion
50th Golden Anniversary in Nauvoo, Illinois
Reunion Links
2022 Smith Reunion Final Program
Thursday, August 4 – Registration – Meet and Greet
Song written by David Hyrum Smith, Let Us Pray For One Another
Friday, August 5 – Events
Smith Family Gardens Phase One – Video
Friday Morning Family Gathering
Gary & Elizabeth Smith’s Tribute to Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith
Saturday, August 6 – Events
Family Photos and World’s Largest .005K Event
So Much To Be Grateful For
By Joy Ercanbrack
In architecture, an arch represents strength and support. This reunion arch beautifully illustrates, the strength of our Smith heritage and support we can lend one another as family now.
Our family story officially began January 24, 1796, when Lucy Mack married Joseph Smith. The heart at the center is for them and the love they have for each one of you, their dear grandchildren.
How many lilac blossoms can you count in the second arch? Lilacs are a favorite flower in the Smith family. The blossoms represent all eleven children born to Joseph and Lucy.
Seven bands of our arch represent the seven children who have living posterity. Is your great grandma Katharine or Lucy? Maybe your great grandpa is Don Carlos, William, Samuel, Joseph Jr., or Hyrum. The band width and mix of styles is an example of how Smith siblings love each other through thick and thin. Differences do not divide us. Instead we become a more beautiful and loving family.
The vine represents each new branch of the Smith family tree. Grandma Lucy would be delighted to see us all working together in the family garden, knowing the fruits of our labor include far more than just vegetables to harvest. Perhaps this band of leaves will remind you of the old willow tree growing behind the mansion house. Imagine having picnics with cousins in the shade or finding a quiet place under its branches for prayer.
Celebrating fifty years since Smith reunions began again in Nauvoo 1972, this arch also represents the span of generations past to present. In 1863, Joseph III said he could see “…the dawning of a day when the sons of our fathers will stand shoulder to shoulder … as stood our fathers in bygone days.”
Arches often remind us of rainbows which direct us to lift our eyes toward heaven and remember God’s promises. This week you will learn more about the promised blessings to the Smith family and perhaps make promises of your own. Our family friend, Karl Anderson taught at a previous reunion in Nauvoo, as you draw close to our Savior, you will grow close to Joseph, Hyrum, and each of the other children of Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack. He said, “I know that the work they tried to do is establish firmly the restoration of God’s Kingdom on earth. … That is what they were all about. It is true. It came from heaven through the Smith family.”
Smith Family Memorial Events
Topsfield, MA — May 13, 14 & 15, 2002
From an article written by Sarah Jane Weaver with Church News, she quotes Anne Barret, president of the Topsfield Historical Society. Anne said the history of the Smith family is intertwined with the Topsfield community. The new marker — built by the Ensign Peak Foundation in collaboration with town officials — serves as a quiet reminder that the Smiths were once here, she said.
Left to right: Association Committee Member – Don Blanchard, Smith Family Member, Tiina Maughan, helped with planning events in Topsfield – Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association Committee Members from left to right: Robert (Bob) Smith, Julie Maddox, Daniel Adams, Steve Orton, Mike Kennedy, Michael Jr. & Meagan Kennedy, Michael Nebeker, Daniel Larsen, Laura Blanchard, and Jared Glade. Sitting in front: Frances Orton, W. Emery Smith, and Karl Anderson. Photo provided by Daniel Adams.
Left to right: Karl Anderson, Executive Secretary of the Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association, Michael Nebeker (Smith Association Committee), Craig Ballard (Smith Association Trustee), Daniel Adams (Smith Association Committee), Tony Rogers (Topsfield Church Moderator), Steven and Frances Orton (Trustee &Chair of Activities of Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association) and Emery Smith (Smith Association Treasurer). Photo credit: SWhelan.
Topsfield Smith Memorial Report
Congregational Church Sunday Program – Including Smith Family
We Are Stronger Together
From the 1985 Smith Family Reunion News: “Matriarch Lucy Mack clearly pointed out in her writings that her family possessed close family ties and had a divine destiny. Patriarch Joseph Smith Sr., recognizing his wife to be “one of the most singular women in the world,” told her, “You have brought up my children for me by the fireside, and when I was gone from home, you comforted them.”
in 1863, Joseph III said he could see “…the dawning of a day when the sons of our fathers will stand shoulder to shoulder…as stood our fathers in bygone days.”
Service Project – Nauvoo Smith Family Gardens
Some August 4-6, 2022 Reunion Highlights:
- Pickup your registration Thursday evening and meet and greet your cousins.
- Join with the family at the tents by the Nauvoo House.
- Participate in the service project—working in the new Smith Family Gardens by the Mansion House.
- Honor Father and Mother Smith with the family wreath memorial.
- Sign up to participate in a family archeological experience with iDig Nauvoo.
- Enjoy the homecooked barbeque dinner arranged by Doug Smith and Bob Smith and sponsored by the Samuel Smith Family.
- Smile for the traditional Smith Family Reunion Group Photo.
- Gather for the banquet and program at the Nauvoo Stake Center.
Purchase Price before July 5th:
$60 – Adult Registration
$45 – 10 and younger
Free for 2 and under
50 Years Reunited
Thursday, August 4th — Saturday, August 6th, 2022
More details will be posted closer to the reunion.
2021 Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Scholarship Winners
Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith sacrificed their lives to support the Prophet Joseph and establish the restoration of the gospel. Without their support, the restoration would not have been possible. This legacy has been passed down through their descendants. The Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association has established this Scholarship to share their legacy, strengthen today’s youth, and tie the younger generation to their ancestors.
This year we had significant participation and strong entries sharing stories that creatively show how the Smith Family examples impacted them.
This year the judges chose two First Place winners.
Scholarship 2021 – 1st Place – Benjamin Hill
Benjamin is currently living in Provo, Utah, and attending Brigham Young University. He wrote a feature-length screenplay that chronicles Mary Fielding Smith’s immigration to Canada from England.
Benjamin states, “The story of Mary Fielding’s conversion to the gospel and of how she became the faithful mother of Joseph Sr. and Lucy Smith’s grandchildren is so inspiring that I could not overlook.”
Scholarship 2021 – 1st Place – David Pinegar
David, from Chesterfield, New Hampshire, is a Junior at Keene High School. He plans on attending Brigham Young University.
David arranged two songs from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints hymnal, Praise to the Man and I Believe in Christ, and I have formed a medley arranged for a full orchestra. Complete sheet music and a recording was submitted.
David said, “The words and message of Praise to the Man pay tribute to the man and by extension his family, who was worthy enough to be the Lord’s primary instrument of the Restoration and the leader of the last dispensation. The message of I Believe in Christ is only made possible by the revelation brought through “the man who communed with Jehovah!” These two songs go together because one is the cause, and the other is the effect. Because Joseph Smith initiated the ongoing process of the Restoration, we can believe in Christ and know of all He has done for us.”