Tag: Smith Family Reunion 2018

Posted on

Reunion News – February 27, 2018

“Dreaming of a Heavenly Home”
Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Reunion
August 2-5, 2018

From LDS History Sites

The Smith family home in 1818 which is their second home in Palmyra.

  • The reconstruction is located on the site of the original.
  • The eight witnesses saw the golden plates in a grove near the log home.
  • Joseph’s first visit from Angel Moroni was here.
  • Joseph lived here at the time of the First Vision which occurred in the woods behind the home.
Dreaming of a Heavenly Home — 2018 Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Reunion Theme

By Daniel Adams

Father and Mother Smith knew better than anyone what it meant to be refugees. But their trials had also allowed them to glimpse eternity. They saw their heavenly home and what their family could be, and this knowledge, like that of the saints before, gave them the strength to endure, to continue to dream of their heavenly home.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Father and Mother Smith being driven from their home and having to rebuild once again, in a tiny log cabin in Palmyra, New York. Here, they would find a short refuge until they would be forced again to leave. Here, Father and Mother Smith would read the Bible to their children and plead for divine protection. Here, Joseph Sr. told his children of his remarkable dreams of the restoration. Here, Lucy would tell her children how God answered her desperate prayers in a grove of trees.  Here, Joseph would read the invitation of the Apostle James and determine to ask of God what he should do. Here, the heavens would rend and the Angel Moroni would descend to reveal a mighty work and a wonder. Here, the family gathered nightly to hear Joseph recount his remarkable visions of the ancient inhabitants of this continent. Here, the Smith boys and girls grew strong in faith and work, believing that God was watching over their family. This place, more than any other, symbolized what can be ours — no matter the coming persecution, trials and difficulties — when we dream of our heavenly home.

On this 200th anniversary, the Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith descendants have the opportunity to gather in Salt Lake and help current refugees that have been driven from their homes and lost all of their worldly possessions. We will be building bunk beds for refugee children and their families. We would like to give each family a history of the Smith Family and Smith embroidered blanket for each bed, so they might know that God is aware of them, that our family understands to some degree what it means to be refugees, and now with this gift, perhaps they too can dream of a heavenly home.

Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association is Working with Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

The Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association is working with Sleep In Heavenly Peace for our summer’s service project. Sleep In Heavenly Peace was featured this month on a program called Returning The Favor. Please watch this clip https://www.facebook.com/ReturningTheFavor/videos/2020109721593621/ and see why their team stopped by Twin Falls, Idaho to meet Luke Mickelson who started Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization whose mission is to ensure that no child in their town ever has to sleep on the floor.

Click to donate toward our service project.

Or contribute by Mail with Checks or Money Orders to:

Joseph Smith Sr. Family Association
c/o Frances Orton
381 W 3700 N
Provo, UT 84604
Make a notation on the check: Sleep In Heavenly Peace.

Join host Mike Rowe as he travels the country in search of remarkable people making a difference in their communities. Returning the Favor gives back to those who pay it forward with humor, heart and surprise. Because one good turn deserves another.

Mike Rowe is an American actor primarily known as a television host and narrator. He is known for his work on the Discovery Channel Series Dirty Jobs and the CNN series Somebody’s Gotta Do It.

Returning the Favor

2013 – This Is The Place Heritage Park
2014-Independence Temple Lot
2016 – Nauvoo Smith Family Cemetery

Steve & Frances Orton
Steve: steve.ortonio@gmail.com
Frances: ortonfrances@gmail.com
c/o Steve and Frances Orton
381 West 3700 North
Provo UT 84604

Posted on

Reunion News – January 28, 2018

  • Mark Your Calendars
  • The Family Gathered in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Smith Family Cemetery Dedication

Mark Your Calendars

Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Reunion

August 2-5, 2018

From LDS History Sites
  • The second home the Smith family lived in after moving to Palmyra.
  • The reconstruction is located on the site of the original.
  • The eight witnesses saw the golden plates in a grove near the log home.
  • Joseph’s first visit from Angel Moroni was here.
  • Joseph lived here at the time of the First Vision.

Two hundred years ago, the Smith Family had been driven from their home and had to relocate and rebuild in a new place. More than anyone, the Smiths knew what it meant to be homeless and refugees. We are helping build bunk beds for those down on their luck and refugees so they can sleep with more comfort, in memory of Joseph Sr. and Lucy pulling and building together in 1818.

What would you have given for our Father and Mother Smith to be able to sleep with a roof over their heads?

Today, 200 years later, we have an opportunity to help others with similar difficulty and have Joseph’s family and name known for good. In 2018, in conjunction with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association is honoring their sacrifice and endurance, by building beds for refugee families in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.

At this 200th Anniversary gathering, we will be donating and building bunk beds for refugee children.

Won’t you join us for this seminal event? With your family’s donation for a bunk bed, we can make a difference for hundreds of children, and just as our past gatherings, your good works and Joseph’s name will be broadcast to thousands.

You can learn more about Sleep in Heavenly Peace by watching these links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkm2mSKi09Q

Provo group donating beds to help others KSLcom

Watch for additional Family Association and Reunion details that will be coming soon.

Click to donate toward our service project.

The family in from of the Smith Family Cemetery during the 2016 reunion.
(Photo: Lindsey Orton)

The Family Gathered in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Smith Family Cemetery Dedication

August 6, 2016

You can read more about the 2016 Nauvoo Reunion activities by going to http://josephsmithsr.org/2017/02/12/2016-nauvoo-memories/

During the program held at the cemetery, Elder Ballard said, “There is no one who has ever lived in my judgement, with the exception of the Savior, who is more entitled to rise up on the day of resurrection in a glorious and beautiful garden. I have always felt deeply that Joseph, Hyrum, Emma, and Father and Mother Smith, Samuel, Don Carlos and other family members will rejoice together on the day of resurrection. They all played important roles at an important time in our history.” Elder Ballard’s full address.

Lachlan Mackay is a member of Community of Christ Council of Twelve and a Trustee of the Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Foundation. He shared some stories about Lewis C. Bidamon and how Emma met him during the time Lewis was fighting to protect the remaining Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo.

Lach said, “Here is what I appreciate most about Lewis. He was father and parent to the children of the prophet. For David he was the only father he ever knew. Of course, Emma was pregnant when Joseph was killed and David was born 5 ½ months after his father’s death. For raising those children, I will be eternally grateful.” Read more about finally marking Lewis’ grave.

Steve & Frances Orton
Steve: steve.ortonio@gmail.com
Frances: ortonfrances@gmail.com
Checks made out to: Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Organization
c/o Steve and Frances Orton
381 West 3700 North
Provo UT 84604

Website: http://josephsmithsr.org/reunion/