Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Organization

In Kirtland, Ohio 1836
Rejoined Family in Kirtland, Ohio in 1836

By Julie Maddox

This August we celebrate a significant milestone–the 175th Anniversary of the First Smith Family Reunion. In May of 1836, Mary Duty Smith, almost 93 years old, traveled 500 miles from Stockholm, New York to Kirtland, Ohio for “she had asked the Lord that she might live to see her children and grandchildren once more.”

The Prophet Joseph noted that his grandmother was overjoyed at meeting her children and grandchildren, “knew all of us she had ever seen [and] . . . was much pleased at being introduced to her great grand-children.” Joseph wrote, “It was a happy day.”

Mary was born on Oct. 11, 1743 in Rowley, Massachusetts, to Moses and Mary Palmer Duty. On Feb. 12, 1767, she married Asael Smith of Topsfield. Mary bore eleven children. Eight children survived to adulthood. In 1772 Mary and Asael moved to New Hampshire and began farming. After Asael’s father died in 1785, Asael and Mary moved back to Topsfield to settle his father’s estate. Mary’s son John remembered her as a “first rate dairy” woman, and Asael wrote of her tenderly and sought her comfort.

Mary and Asael sought earnestly to follow their personal convictions. They were Congregationalists and according to the church minutes of March 8, 1772 “owned the covenant.”

In 1830, Joseph Smith Sr. and his son Don Carlos traveled to Stockholm, New York to share the restored gospel with their relatives. Although Mary’s oldest son Jesse opposed the message, Mary, Asael and 5 of their children embraced the truth that they brought.

Joseph wrote “My grandfather, Asael Smith, long ago predicted that there would be a prophet raised up in his family, and my grandmother was fully satisfied that it was fulfilled in me. My grandfather Asael died in East Stockholm, St Lawrence County, NY, after having received the Book of Mormon, and read it nearly through; and he declared that I was the very prophet that he had long known would come in his family.”

When Mary arrived in Kirtland, she told Lucy “I am going to have your Joseph baptize me but I will have my blessing from My Joseph.”

Mary greatly enjoyed visiting with family in Kirtland, but her health began failing. Before she could be baptized, she became too ill. After a visit of just 10 days in Kirtland, Joseph wrote that on May 27, 1836, she “fell asleep without sick-ness, pain or regret. She breathed her last about sunset, and was buried in the burial ground near the temple, after a funeral address had been delivered by Sidney Rigdon.”

Of his grandmother Mary Duty Smith, the Prophet Joseph said, “she was the most honored woman on earth”.

by Joy Ercanbrack

Whenever I read Smith histories, I’m intrigued by the smallest conversations or bit of details. As I look for stories that show family connections, I think this one is rather sweet.

While crossing through the wetlands of the Mississippi River during the swift move to Commerce, Illinois (July 1839), many Saints including members of the Smith family became ill. Hyrum’s oldest daughter, Lovina, who was just eleven, had a most severe case. Uncle William volunteered to take his niece to Plymouth, hoping the ride would aid her recovery. When she became increasingly weak, William sent for Hyrum. However, Hyrum was too sick to go himself, so Grandma Lucy and sister Lucy went instead. By the time they arrived in Plymouth, Lovina, under Uncle William’s care, had improved and continued from that point to regain her health.

I wonder if he made her chicken soup or how many hours he sat by her bedside? What is evident is the continual concern given among Smith family members. We hold all of our Smith cousins dear in this same way.

As we look forward to our reunion in Kirtland, I feel certain our family is rejoicing in Heaven. I see the Kirtland Temple as a great symbol of the unity among the Smith family. Grandma Lucy said, “There was but one main spring to all our thoughts and actions, and that was, the building of the Lord’s house.” They finished the temple in 1836 and now a modern-day group of Smiths will gather at this beautiful building 175 years later. I can’t wait! I’m so thankful to call you family.

Aug 4-7, 2011
(Bus Tour Aug 1-10)

Dear Cousins,

This August we have a once in a lifetime opportunity—a Smith family celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the Kirtland Tem-ple Dedication and the 175th Anniversary of the First Smith Family Reunion.

We will experience an abbreviated reenact-ment of the Temple Dedication within the Temple walls and hear from Karl Anderson, who “has gained fame as ‘Mr. Kirtland’ from his devotion and love for the Kirtland area and by his tireless efforts to restore it.” We will listen to a family choir singing historic music from the four corners of the temple.

We will feel the star bit drill pound in our hands as we carve stone in the temple quarry, the way our stone cutter fathers did and breathe in that dust–their dust; run our hands along their sweat-stained rubble stone walls; and see the monumental task of erecting that great edifice to the Lord, and learn what it meant to give your all.

We will recognize our ancestors’ sacrifices by providing service at a girl’s camp near the John Johnson Home that will bear the names of Lucy Mack Smith and Emma among the campsites. This August, our children can feel the fire of the spirit that gave our pioneer an-cestors the strength to do great things. This is one reunion not to be missed.

For more information or to register, go to: www.josephsmithsr.org/@f0q=node/75.

We can’t wait to see you!
Steve & Frances Orton
Co-Presidents
Joseph Smith Sr. & Lucy Mack Smith
Family Reunion
Phone: 801-226-6054
Mobile: 801-310-8686
Email: f.orton@digis.net