And Now...The Rest of the Story

A few years ago, Ron, Emily, and I spent a lovely two weeks visiting "old stuff." We went to Washington D.C. for a few days and saw "old stuff." We went to Kirtland and Hiram, Ohio and saw "old stuff." We went to Palmyra and Manchester, New York and saw "old stuff." We went to Nauvoo and Carthage, Illinois and saw "old stuff." We finished our trip in Missouri where we saw more "old stuff."

Ron and I LOVED it. Emily, not so much. She says that if we were to take her on the same trip NOW she would appreciate it a lot more. I think she's right.

Today, I would like to share an experience as we visited the Liberty Jail in Missouri. It was one of our last stops on our Church History tour before we flew home.

A rendition of the conditions Joseph Smith experienced while staying in Liberty Jail.

There were very few tourists visiting the Liberty Jail the day we visited. The wife of the Director for this particular visitor's center asked the young sister missionaries if she could be our hostess. I am so glad she did, because it was such a wonderful spiritual experience. She gave the three of us our own private tour.

After explaining what happened to Joseph and the other men as they spent several bitter cold months in Liberty Jail she shared a powerful testimony of Joseph Smith. Perhaps because we were so attentive she felt impressed to share the following story.

"A few months ago, we had a tour group come through. They were the direct descendants of Joseph and Emma Smith. As you know, there has been a rift between their family and the Church but in recent years, the rift is healing.

"One of the tour leaders recently joined the Church. He wanted his family to learn more about their family and church history, so he had arranged this tour. Because we knew they were coming, we asked a young sister missionary who is a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith to be their tour guide. She was understandably nervous. Hyrum's family had gone West with the Saints while Joseph's family had stayed in Illinois. How would they react when they found out who she was?

"The Spirit was strong as she led the tour and then shared her testimony of Joseph Smith. She knew he was a prophet of God and she payed tribute to his descendants. The tour leader then shared with this young missionary and his family how he came to join the church.

"He related that for years he was troubled about how Brigham Young could leave Emma and her family behind after Joseph's martyrdom. He needed to understand what had happened.

"One day, he was traveling in his car, listening to some music. Suddenly, the car radio shut off. He fiddled with the dials, but the radio simply stopped working. As he sat in the silence of his car, his mind went back to his great- great-grandmother Emma and again he pondered HOW could Brigham Young and the other church leaders just leave her behind?

"Suddenly, he heard a woman's voice. He said he knew it was Emma. Her voice seemed to come from the radio but he knew it didn't. The woman said, 'I was too tired to go west.'"

After spending nearly 1 1/2 weeks walking the streets that Emma had walked and comprehending more greatly how much Joseph and Emma had gone through, this story really touched me. My heart went out to her for all the trials and sacrifices she had gone through. I could understand how she could be so weary and so tired--after losing several children, her parents and now her beloved husband. I have shared this story a couple of times with others as a lesson that we shouldn't judge others harshly since we don't know all they are going through.

Imagine my joy when I opened up Meridian Magazine's website the other day and learned the "rest of the story." I invite you to follow this link and read what Bob Smith, the direct descendant of Joseph and Emma has to say about hearing Emma tell him "I was too tired to go west" and his decision to join the Church.

http://www.ldsmag.com/index.php?option=com_zine&view=article&Itemid=3&ac=1&id=7384

Happy Birthday, Joseph Smith

Two hundred and five years ago, a tiny baby was born to the Smith family. He was named Joseph, after his father. His family wasn't particularly well-off or educated, but what they lacked in material goods, they made up in love.

Young Joseph had a deep interest in spiritual things. When he was 14 years old, he wondered which church was true. While reading the Bible one day, he came across James 1:5 where it reads,

If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God...

Joseph knew he lacked wisdom. After pondering this scripture for some time, he gathered his courage, walked to a nearby grove of trees, knelt, and uttered a prayer that would change not only his life, but the lives of millions of other people as well.

He saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. He was told that all churches had some truth in them, but that they did not have the fullness. Several years later, he restored The Church of Jesus Christ here on the earth.

A few years ago, Ron, Emily, and I met my parents in Ohio and we went on a Church History tour. We visited the Sacred Grove. We saw where the Book of Mormon was printed. We saw the small farmhouse where the Church was organized. We walked the streets of Kirtland and Nauvoo. We toured Liberty Jail where Joseph received some of the most touching revelations I have ever read. We also visited Carthage Jail where Joseph and his brother Hyrum sealed their testimonies with their blood.

Our family in the Sacred Grove.

Tonight, December 23, our family celebrated Joseph Smith's birthday. We ate a simple supper by candlelight. We sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer." We read from the scriptures about his life. I had a hard time reading aloud the following verse from Doctrine and Covenants 135:5 as the Spirit bore witness to me once again, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fullness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!


How grateful we are for the life Joseph led. Happy Birthday, Joseph Smith!