by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel
“I am ready to bear my testimony of the same, at any time, or at any place, or in whatever circumstances I may be placed…”
In the last installment we reviewed Joseph F. Smith’s life from his birth in 1838 until his call to serve his first mission in 1854. The mission to the Sandwhich Islands (Hawaii) played a significant role in preparing Joseph F’s for future assignments in the Kingdom of God.
Hawaii (1854-1857)
Early in the mission, Joseph F. became quite sick, probably with yellow fever. A local woman, Ma Mahuhii, nursed him back to health and became, in a real sense, the orphan’s second mother. Years later, during a visit to the islands, President Joseph F. met her again in a very heartfelt and joyous reunion. Bishop Charles W. Nibley, one of Joseph F. dearest friends and constant traveling companion during this period, provided a word-picture of the occasion:
I noticed a poor, old, blind woman tottering under the weight of about 90 years being led [into the meeting house where the Saints were gathering to greet President Joseph F.]. She had a few choice bananas in her hand. It was her all–her offering. She was calling “Iosepa, Iosepa!” Instantly, when he saw her, he ran to her and clasped her in his arms, hugged her, and kissed her over and over again, patting her on the head saying, “Momma, Momma, my dear old Momma!” And with tears streaming down his cheeks he turned to me and said, “Charley, she nursed me when I was a boy, sick and without anyone to care for me. She took me in and was a mother to me!” (1)
Joseph F., pulling back the curtains of time, noted his appreciation for the mission experience and his gratitude for the kindness shown him by the people with whom he lived and worked: “I shall never cease to be grateful for that experience, hard though it was at times, and shall ever remember the kindness manifested towards me by many of the good native people of Hawaii. (2)
Mission life was difficult; living conditions were rather crude; North American missionaries struggled with a new diet and a significant language barrier; and there were always rejection of the message and even a lack of commitments by some of the converts. Sometime during this mission, Joseph F. received an important manifestation that helped him overcome the challenges he faced in Hawaii–and, in a real sense, the challenges he faced in his life. Joseph F. recalled:
I was very much oppressed, once, on a mission. . . . I felt as if I was so abased in my condition of poverty, lack of intelligence and knowledge, just a boy, that I hardly dared look a white man in the face. While in that condition I dreamed that I was on a journey. . . . Finally I came to a wonderful mansion. . . . As I passed towards it, as fast as I could, I saw a notice, “Bath.” I turned aside quickly and went into the bath and washed myself clean. I opened up this little bundle that I had, and there was a pair of white, clean garments, a thing I had not seen for a long time. . . . And I put them on. . . . I knocked and the door opened, and the man who stood there was the Prophet Joseph Smith. He looked at me a little reprovingly, and the first words he said: “Joseph, you are late.” Yet I took confidence and said: “Yes, but I am clean–I am clean!”
He concluded, “When I woke up I felt as if I had been lifted out of a slum, out of despair, out of the wretched condition that I was in.” (3)
Joseph F.’s spirituality was taking shape, as a letter to his uncle, George A. Smith, reveals:
I know that the work in which I am engaged is the work of the living and true God, I am ready to bear my testimony of the same, at any time, or at any place, or in whatever circumstances I may be placed; and hope and pray that I ever may prove faithful in serving the Lord, my God. I am happy to say that I am ready to go through thick and thin for this cause in which I am engaged; and truly hope and pray that I may prove faithful to the end. (4)
Though young and inexperienced, he was recognized as one of sound judgment; and the natives, as well as the missionaries, respected his prudence, wisdom, and discernment. He was also blessed with the gifts of the Spirit. Writing home, he said, “Of the many gifts of the spirit which were manifest through my ministration, next to my acquirement of the language, and the most prominent was perhaps the gift of healing, and by the power of God, the casting out of evil spirits which frequently occurred.” (5)
During his mission, he experienced another trial when the Church’s storehouse burned down. In the fire, Joseph F. lost his clothing, family photographs, personal papers, and precious copies of the scriptures that had belonged to his father. He wrote stoically in his diary: “Well these dear earned few things are gone and not one saved, and now I am destitute, but with old Job exclaim, ‘The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord,’ I am confident that he has and will provide for his servants, so all is well.” (6)
On 28 June 1856, he wrote: “We found also some Poi in the house and after hunting we made [?] of one or two onions and sat down to eat. (As we had had nothing to eat for two or three days) when we was about to cry enough some of the brethren came with a large fine chicken which after it had been cooked, we despatched (all but the feathers) with but very little ceremony.” (7) A few weeks later, he noted: “Begged a little for our selves. As we have no shoes, clothing &c our Trunks being destroyed by the fire.” (8)
Another entry in his Hawaiian diary, dated 9 February 1857, provides a vivid description of the situation following the fire: “I bought enough stuff to day to make a pair of garments. I being destitute on account of the loss of my trunk and clothes by fire at Lanai.” (9)
Another famous story was born at this time when Joseph F. and his companion shared one suit between them. On any given day, one of the elders would, of necessity, remain in bed while the other, wearing the suit, went to the meetings to preach. The next day, the venue was reversed, and the elder who had gone off to the meetings remained in bed while the other wore the suit and preached.
Home Again to Utah (1857-58)
On 6 October 1857, Joseph F., along with six other missionaries, set sail for San Francisco on the ship Yankee. These early trips across the oceans were not enjoyable. Later, he recalled this particular passage: “Things have changed since I was a boy and crossed the seas with the divine message you bear. Experience is better possessed than to be gained. It is like a bruise, it feels better after it quits hurting.” (10)
In late 1857, the Church was under attack in the press, and a large army was marching toward Utah to occupy the Mormon settlements. It was during this time that another famous story occurred in his life. Joseph F. was making his way back to Utah. One evening, he was away from the camp looking for firewood when a group of drunken men rode into the camp on horseback, cursing and looking for Mormons to kill. Unaware of what waited for him in camp, Joseph F. headed back with an arm full of wood. While still a distance off, Joseph F. soon realized there was a problem. He recalled: “Why should I run from these fellows?” Feeling a bit emboldened, he marched back into camp and became the first to meet the armed group of hostile men. As he was depositing the recently acquired firewood, one of the leaders of the group, still holding a gun, came toward Joseph F. cursing and declaring in drunken speech that he was duty bound to exterminate any Mormon he found. The inebriated scoundrel shouted, “Are you a Mormon?” Without a moment of hesitation and looking the ruffian in the eye, Joseph F. Smith boldly answered, “Yes, siree; dyed in the wool; true blue, through and through.” (11)
The answer was given boldly and without any sign of fear, which completely disarmed the belligerent man, and in his bewilderment, he grasped the missionary by the hand and said: “Well, you are the ______ ______ pleasantest man I ever met! Shake, young fellow, I am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions.” (12)
Defending the Saints (1858)
When Joseph F. reached home in 1858, the Latter-day Saints in Utah were facing another difficult moment in their history–a large military force bent on occupying the region, arresting Church leaders and diverting the attention of the nation from the real crisis of escalating tension between the North and the South, was at their very door steps, east of Salt Lake City. Joseph F., like other missionaries arriving home, reported to Brigham Young. He was assigned to join territorial militia units located in Echo canyon for military duty. Joseph F. remembered: “I sat up all night molding rifle bullets from a pig of lead I had brought with me from a ‘Mormon’ smelter at Las Vegas.” (13) Later, he was assigned to the front where performed faithful service under the direction of Porter Rockwell. (14)
Shortly after the conclusion of the conflict, Joseph F. fell in love with Levira Smith, a sixteen-year-old cousin. She was the daughter of Samuel Harrison Smith, one of Hyrum Smith’s brothers. During this time, it was not unusual for first cousins to marry, which they did on 5 April 1859.
First Mission to Great Britain (1860-63)
Joseph F. found employment as the sergeant-at-arms of the territorial legislature. At the same time, he was ordained a seventy on 20 March 1858 and soon thereafter that a high priest, being called to the Salt Lake Stake High Council. The pace of change continued when Joseph F. was called to serve another mission at the April general conference in 1860. Before the month was out, Joseph F. bid his wife goodbye and left for England. He was accompanied by Levira’s brother, Samuel Harrison Bailey Smith, who was also going to the British Isles to serve a mission.
It was a difficult separation from family and friends, especially as he reflected upon the death of his mother and the breakup of that household following her death. He noted in one diary entry during this period: “I am now 5,000 miles from what only a short time before was a peaceful lovely home, now broken up and its inmates scattered.” (15)
Joseph F. recalled this assignment shortly after becoming President of the Church: “I prize very highly my many pleasant reminiscences of the Saints in the European mission, where I labored successively as a traveling Elder in the Leeds conference, as president of the Sheffield conference, and as pastor of the Sheffield district, comprising the Sheffield, Leeds, Hull and Linconshire Conferences. Towards the latter part of my mission, while Apostle George Q. Cannon was presiding in that land, I accompanied him, by his invitation, on a tour through the Scandinavian conferences; a very pleasant trip, lasting about six weeks. (16)
Second Mission to Hawaii (1864)
Brigham Young asked Joseph F. to accompany Apostles Ezra T. Benson and Lorenzo Snow and Elders William W. Cluff and Alma L. Smith on a special mission to Hawaii in 1864. It was a difficult mission because he went not to baptize, but to reclaim the flock. Walter M. Gibson, the leader of the mission at the time, apostatized and set-up another church organization in the islands. Joseph F. noted: “We confronted him, charged him with his misdeeds, and labored faithfully to reclaim him, but he proved obdurate and impenitent and was therefore cut off from the Church. (17)
This mission not only provided Joseph F. with an opportunity to observe closely the seasoned Church leaders who accompanied him to the islands, but provided them an opportunity to witness for themselves his growing strengthens and administrative abilities. Joseph F. recalled: “I was given charge, with Elders Cluff and Smith as my assistants; the two Apostles returning to Utah. . . . We worked energetically against the imposture, and gradually won back those whom Gibson had deceived.” (18)
Joseph F. proposed to Brigham Young through a letter that the Hawaiian Saints gather to Oahu. Following the acceptance of the plan, a site was identified and soon work began to build up the Laie plantation and Church headquarters. Later, President Joseph F., during a visit, dedicated the Hawaiian temple site at this location.
New Opportunities and Responsibilities (1865-66)
In January 1865, within a few weeks of his arrival home, Joseph F. became a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office. This experience gave him the opportunity to become well acquainted with Church history through conversations with those who participated in the events, especially with George A. Smith, Church historian, and Wilford Woodruff, assistant Church historian.
The following extracts from the Historian’s Office journal, covering the period from 24 January through 2 July 1865, reveal the nature of his work and his activities during the first months of his assignment:
[24 January 1865] Joseph F. Smith–Writing letters under G.A.S’s dictation and for W. Woodruff. (19)
[18 February 1865] J. F. Smith–Cleaned up the Office. putting papers in order. P.M, filed away 10 letters into Geo. A. S’s box, on historical notation. (20)
[20 February 1865] J. F. Smith, Shoveled Snow off front Steps. Posted the Office Journal, polled his vote for the Canal. P.M. on historical Notation. adding to the Same for Prest. Young’s large letter book. (21)
[16 March 1865] J. F. S. in the Office writing letter for Geo. A. S. copying &c. went on an errand to bookbinder’s, & post Office. posted the Journal. (22)
[12 April 1865] R. L. C. & J. F. S. Getting out items for Gen. Epistle. (23)
[7 May 1865] Meeting in Tabernacle–Several of the Missionaries preached. After-noon, Joseph F. Smith preached. (24)
[17 June 1865] J. F. S. at Endowment house–keeping records. (25)
[2 July 1865] Pres. B. Young, John Taylor, W. Woodruff, Geo. A. Smith, F. D. Richards, Geo. Q. Cannon, John W. Young & Jos. F. Smith met and prayed, this p.m. (26)
The above quotes not only reveal Joseph F.’s activities in the Historian’s Office but also reveal the additional responsibility to labor in the Endowment House, keeping records of the important ordinances performed there under the direction of President Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. Located on the northwest corner of the Temple Block, the Endowment House was a temporary temple in Salt Lake City, used to perform baptisms for the dead, endowments, sealings, etc. for the living. This particular assignment eventually caused President John Taylor to assign Joseph F., his counselor at the time in the First Presidency, to go on the “underground” during the federal government’s efforts to prosecute Latter-day Saints for violation of antipolygamy laws in the 1880s. Because Joseph F. was the most knowledgeable about such sacred ordinances, President Taylor wanted him to avoid arrest.
Additionally, the Historian’s Office journal provides insights to Joseph F.’s Sabbath activities, including attending meetings at the Tabernacle (speaking from time to time at those Sunday meetings) and participating in the private prayer circles of the leading brethren of the Church. Eventually, as noted above, Joseph F. participated in Brigham Young’s prayer circle where he acted as the clerk, keeping records of attendance and minutes of discussions. It is in this setting that he was ordained an Apostle on 1 July 1866.
At the end of the year, Joseph F. began serving in the Territorial Legislature. He continued in this office for several terms, stepping down in 1874 to serve another mission. Later, in 1880 and 1882, he served in the Council, or Senate, and in 1882, he presided over a constitutional convention to formulate plans for Utah statehood. In early 1866, Joseph F. was also elected to the Salt Lake City Council.
It was a busy time for Joseph F., as he continued attending Salt Lake Stake High Council meetings and the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve weekly prayer circles.
Marriage to Julina Lambson (May 1866)
At this period of busy community and ecclesiastical labors, President Young asked Joseph F. to marry a second wife. Apparently, Joseph F. was happily married and had not considered such a move at the time. While working in the Historian’s Office, Joseph F. met Julina Lambson, the niece of George A. and Bathsheba Smith. In the presence of Levira, he was sealed to his first plural wife, Julina, on 5 May 1866 by Heber C. Kimball.
Julinia and Jospeh F. eventually had eleven children, one of whom died during Joseph F.’s lifetime: Mercy Josephine, born 14 August 1867 (she died 6 June 1870). The other children were Mary Sophronia, born 7 October 1869; Donette, born 17 September 1872; Joseph Fielding, born 19 July 1876; David Asael, born 24 May 1879; George Carlos, born 14 October 1881; Julina Clarissa, born 10 February 1884; Elias Wesley, born 21 April 1886; Emily, born 11 September 1888; Rachel, born 11 December 1890; and Edith Eleanor, born 4 January 1894. They also adopted two children: Marjorie Virginia, born 7 December 1906, and Edward Arthur, born 1 November 1858.
Ordained an Apostle (July 1866)
A few weeks later, on the first day of July 1866, Elder Woodruff recorded having attended President Brigham Young’s prayer circle that day and made note of a singular event:
I met at the Prayer Circle with President Young John Taylor W. Woodruff G. A. Smith G. Q. Cannon & Joseph F Smith. John Taylor Prayed & President Young arose from his knees. . . . Of a sudden he stoped & Exclaimed hold on, “Shall I do as I feel led? I always [feel] well to do as the Spirit Constrains me. It is my mind to Ordain Brother Joseph F Smith to the Apostleship, and to be one of my Councillors.” He then Called upon Each one of us for an Expression of our Feelings and we Individually responded that it met our Harty approval . . . After which Brother Joseph F Smith knelt . . . we laid our hands upon him, Brother Brigham being mouth & we repeating after him in the usual Form He Said: Brother Joseph F. Smith, we lay our hands upon your head in the name of Jesus Christ, and By virtue of the Holy Priesthood we ordain you to be An Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, And to be a special witness to the Nations of the Earth. We seal upon your head all the Authority, Power and keys of this Holy Apostleship, and we ordain you to be a Counselor unto the First Presidency of the Church & Kingdom of God upon the Earth. These blessings we seal upon you in the name of Jesus Christ & By the Authority of the Holy Priesthood. Amen. (27)
Although this was a momentous Sunday for the twenty-seven-year-old son of the martyred Patriarch, the ordination was not publicly announced until the following year.
During his lifetime, Joseph F. served longer than any other man as a counselor to Presidents of the Church, including Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow–a total of thirty-eight years.
Broken Heart (June 1867)
On 10 June 1867, Joseph F’s marriage to Levira ended in divorce. This was a most difficult time for him. Although it is impossible to know all the details, it appears that Levira suffered physically and mentally during her lifetime and was unwilling or unable to bear the rigors of the frontier life in Utah and the common sacrifices that young Mormon couples faced together, especially plural marriage. Additionally, like many marriages, Joseph F. and Levira often struggled to communicate; and, having failed, Levira ended the marriage when she asked for a divorce. She moved to California shortly thereafter and died heartbroken herself.
One of the poignant aspects of the story, is the love and concern Julina Lambson Smith had for this sister-wife. Apparently, Julina was very solicitous to Levira, helping and comforting her during Levira’s sicknesses and troubles. When Levira decided to leave the family, Julina recalled: “This was a very sad experience for both Joseph and me.” (28)
Later, Levira visited Julina in Salt Lake City. Julina recalled: “Some time later I was happily surprised to have a caller. Here was Levira. She said she was on her way through Salt Lake on her way East, but could not go without first seeing me and my baby. We again parted in sadness, but friendly, and my heart surely went out to her.” (29)
Julina knew how much her husband loved Levira and asked if she could stand as proxy for Levira. Apparently, eventually went to the temple and stood proxy for Levira to be sealed to Joseph F., ending a tragic story on earth. (30)
To Be Continued…
About the Author
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel is an associate professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University and the co-author of the recently released, Joseph F. Smith: Portrait of a Prophet (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2000).
Notes
1. Joseph Fielding Smith, The Life of Joseph F. Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938), 185-86; hereafter cited as LJFS.
2. Joseph F. Smith, “My Missions,” Deseret Evening News, 21 December 1901, 57.
3. LJFS, 445-47.
4. Ibid., 176-77.
5. Ibid., 179.
6. Joseph F. Smith Diary, 4 June 1856, typescript, Joseph F. Smith Papers, 1856-1918; LDS Church Archives.
7. Ibid., 28 June 1856.
8. Ibid., 6 July 1856.
9. Ibid., 9 February 1857.
10. LJFS, 187-88.
11. Ibid., 189
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. Joseph F. Smith Diary, 13 November 1860, Joseph F. Smith Papers, 1856-1918, LDSCA; as cited in typescript extracts, Scott G. Kenney Collection, Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.
16. Joseph F. Smith, “My Missions,” Deseret Evening News, 21 December 1901, 57.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Historian’s Office Journal, 24 January 1865, typescript, LDS Church Archvies.
20. Ibid., 18 February 1865.
21. Ibid., 20 February 1865.
22. Ibid., 16 March 1865.
23. Ibid., 12 April 1865.
24. Ibid., 7 May 1865.
25. Ibid., 17 June 1865.
26. Ibid., 2 July 1865.
27. Wilford Woodruff Journal, 1 July 1866, LDS Church Archvies; as cited in Scott G. Kenney, ed., Wilford Woodruff’s Journals, 1833-1898, 9 vols. (Midvale, Utah: Signature Books, 1983-85), 6:289-90.
28. “Wives of Joseph F. Smith,” typescript, 1; Utah State Historical Society.
29. Ibid.
30. Vivian McConkie Adams to Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, 7 February 2000, in author’s possession.
© 2001 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.