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Brother Hyrum was born 9 February 1800 in Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont, United States to Joseph Smith (1771-1840) and Lucy Mack (1775-1856) and died 27 June 1844 Carthage Jail, Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, United States of Assassination. He married Jerusha Barden (1805-1837) 2 November 1826 in Manchester, Ontario County, New York, United States. He married Mary Fielding (1801-1852) 24 December 1837 in Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio, United States. He married Mercy Rachel Fielding (1807-1893) 11 August 1843 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, United States.

Biography

Hyrum Smith, was the older brother of Mormon Church founder, Joseph Smith, and provided key assistance to him there in many capacities. Some important roles that Hyrum fulfilled include the following:

  • Assistant President of the Church (1841-1844)
  • Latter Day Saint Apostle (1841-1844)
  • 2nd Presiding Patriarch (1840-1844)
  • 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency (1837-1841)

Early Life

Hyrum was born in Tunbridge, Vermont, the second son of Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. Smith received a limited education, and established himself as a farmer.

Smith attended Dartmouth College in his teens. This may have been one of the factors behind Dr. Nathan Smith treating Smith's brother Joseph's leg.

Witness to the Gold Plates

Hyrum is one of the Eight Witnesses to the Gold Plates.

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.

He later reaffirmed this testimony: See Times & Seasons Vol 1, pg 23 - (A portion of a letter written by Hyrum Smith from Liberty Jail in 1839.)



Zions Camp Participant

Zionscamp01

This Judith Mehr rendition depicts struggles endured by members of Zion's Camp, an expeditionary force to help Church members in Jackson County redeem their brethren.

One of the most interesting episodes in the early history of LDS Church was the march of Zion's Camp (1834). The members of the Church in Missouri were being persecuted, and the Prophet Joseph made it a matter of prayer and received a revelation on February 24, 1834. The Lord instructed the Prophet to assemble at least one hundred young and middle-aged men and to go to the land of Zion, or Missouri. (See D&C 130:19–34.)

Zion’s Camp, a group of approximately one hundred and fifty men, gathered at Kirtland, Ohio, in the spring of 1834 and marched to Jackson County, Missouri. By the time they reached Missouri, the camp had increased to approximately two hundred men.


Marriage and Family

First Marriage: Jerusha Barden

Hyrum first married Lovina Smith in 1826. She died after birth of their sixth child in 1837.

  1. Lovina Smith (1827-1876)
  2. Mary Smith (1829-1832)
  3. John Smith (1832-1911)
  4. Hyrum Smith (1834-1841) - died young, buried in Nauvoo
  5. Jerusha Smith (1836-1912)
  6. Sarah Smith (1837-1876)

Second Marriage

After the death of Jerusha, Hyrum married Mary Fielding (1801-1852) on Christmas Eve, 1837. She bore him two children, future church president Joseph F. Smith and Martha.

  1. Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918) - 6th President of the LDS Church
  2. Martha Ann Smith (1841-1923)

Third Marriage

Hyrum had one polygamous marriage. In August 1843 he married his wife's sister, Mercy Fielding, the widow of Robert B Thompson. They had no children.


Children


Offspring of Brother Hyrum and Jerusha Barden (1805-1837)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Lovina Smith (1827-1876) 16 September 1827 Manchester, Ontario County, New York, United States 8 October 1876 Farmington, Davis County, Utah, United States Lorin Edwin Walker (1822-1907)
Mary Smith (1829-1832) 27 June 1829 Manchester, Ontario County, New York, United States 29 May 1832 Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, United States
John Smith (1832-1911) 22 September 1832 Kirtland, Ohio, United States 6 November 1911 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Helen Mariah Fisher (1835-1907)
Nancy Melissa Lemon (1833-1915)
Hyrum Smith (1834-1841) 27 April 1834 Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio 21 September 1841 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois
Jerusha Smith (1836-1912) 13 January 1836 Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, United States 27 June 1912 Harper, Box Elder County, Utah, United States John William Peirce (1833-1908)
Sarah Smith (1837-1876) 2 October 1837 Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, United States 6 November 1876 Ogden, Weber County, Utah, United States Charles Emerson Griffin (1836-1900)


Offspring of Brother Hyrum and Mary Fielding (1801-1852)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918) 13 November 1838 Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, United States 19 November 1918 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States Levira Annette Clark Smith (1842-1888)
Julina Lambson (1849-1936)
Sarah Ellen Richards (1850-1915)
Edna Lambson (1851-1926)
Alice Ann Kimball (1858-1946)
Mary Taylor Schwartz (1865-1956)
Martha Ann Smith (1841-1923) 14 May 1841 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, United States 19 October 1923 Provo, Utah County, Utah, United States William Jasper Harris (1836-1909)



Siblings


Offspring of Joseph Smith (1771-1840) and Lucy Mack (1775-1856)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Infant Smith (1797-1797) 1797 Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont 1797 Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont
Alvin Smith (1798-1823) 11 February 1798 Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont 19 November 1823 Palmyra, Wayne County, New York
Hyrum Smith (1800-1844) 9 February 1800 Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont, United States 27 June 1844 Carthage Jail, Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, United States Jerusha Barden (1805-1837)
Mary Fielding (1801-1852)
Mercy Rachel Fielding (1807-1893)
Sophronia Smith (1803-1896) 17 May 1803 Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont, United States 28 October 1876 Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois, United States Calvin W. Stoddard (1801-1836)
William McCleary (1793-1846)
Joseph Smith (1805-1844) 23 December 1805 Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, United States 27 June 1844 Carthage Jail, Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, United States Emma Hale (1804-1879)
Samuel Harrison Smith (1808-1844) 13 March 1808 Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont, United States 1 August 1844 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, United States Mary Bailey (1808-1841)
Levira Clark (1815-1883)
Ephraim Smith (1810-1810) 13 March 1810 Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont 24 March 1810 Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont
William B Smith (1811-1893) 13 March 1811 Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont, United States 13 November 1893 Osterdock, Clayton County, Iowa, United States Caroline Amanda Grant (1814-1845)
Roxie Ann Rosanna Grant (1825-1900)
Eliza Jane Sanborn (1827-1889)
Rosella Goyette (1830-1923)
Katherine Smith (1813-1900) 28 July 1813 Lebanon, Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States 2 February 1900 Fountain Green, Hancock County, Illinois, United States Wilkins Jenkins Salisbury (1809-1853)
Joseph W Younger (1803-1900)
Don Carlos Smith (1816-1841) 25 March 1816 Norwich, Windsor County, Vermont, United States 7 August 1841 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, United States Agnes Moulton Coolbrith (1811-1876)
Lucy Smith (1821-1882) 18 July 1821 Manchester, Ontario County, New York, United States 9 December 1882 Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois, United States Arthur Millikin (1817-1882)


Descendants

Hyrum's descendants have played significant roles in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph F. Smith, his son by Mary Fielding Smith, served as president of the LDS Church between 1901 and 1918. His grandson, Joseph Fielding Smith also served as president of the church between 1970 and 1972. His eldest son, John Smith, served as Presiding Patriarch of the church between 1855 and 1911, and John Smith's descendants held this post from 1912 to 1932 and from 1942 to 1979, when the office was effectively discontinued and the incumbent, Eldred G. Smith, was given the title patriarch emeritus. M. Russell Ballard, a current member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church, is also a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith.

In 1918 Hyrum Smith descendants erected a Monument to him in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.


References



Residences

  





Footnotes (including sources)

‡ General




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