From the moment Joseph Smith declared his revelation of a visiting angel and the existence of the golden plates, the character of the Smith family has been important. Were the Smiths the God-fearing and honest folk that they and most traditional Latter-day Saint accounts said they were? Or were family members the idle and unstable people that D. P. Hurlbut’s Palmyra affidavits made them out to be? First appearing in Eber B. Howe’s Mormonism Unvailed, these affidavits have since become a staple used to disparage the religion’s first years.1
This issue’s Historians’ Corner adds another piece of evidence. A key personality in question is Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith’s mother. Like many nineteenth-century American women, she deeply influenced her children, nine of whom lived to adulthood. But her influence was stronger than that of many women because in the Smith household her husband, Joseph Smith, Sr., usually acceded to her domestic industry and initiative. What kind of woman was she? What values did she teach her children?
Fortunately she left behind several historical records that are biographically revealing, including an October 1845 Nauvoo general conference talk delivered in her seventieth year. In this sermon, Lucy speaks of her basic religious feelings. She encourages honesty, applauds youthful Bible study and obedience, and affirms general Christian beliefs. She is quick to teach, even moralize.
But there is more. The sermon shows Lucy’s consistency. In her advanced years, Mother Smith, as she was called, continued to tell the same story about the origins of Mormonism that she had told earlier. For instance, in her Nauvoo speech she confirms Martin Harris’s major role during the first years of the Restoration and speaks tellingly of the poverty of the Smith family, who despite their lack of means, struggled to get the Book of Mormon translated and published. The document, however, does more than help readers understand its author. It is important for history’s sake, clarifying and giving texture to a variety of issues, including Mormonism’s first missionary effort. Lucy’s accounts of this preaching, performed by her son Samuel, places a woman, Rhoda Young Green, in an unfamiliar leading role in the chain of events that helped bring about the conversion and baptism of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. Moreover, she gives important and often poignant detail about the Missouri turmoil of 1837–38. Here Lucy remembers herself busy with good works, ministering to twenty or thirty who were sick. She also speaks of the moment when she believed Missourians were carrying her son to his death (as she reached for his hand, he said, “God bless you my poor mother”) and of her own terrible suffering during the Church’s retreat from the state.
During her lifetime, the Nauvoo newspaper Times and Seasons provided a sketchy synopsis of her speech, and that account was later republished in the History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.2 These early reports drew on the original minutes of the conference, hastily penned by William Clayton, who without shorthand skills did his best to catch Lucy’s words. These original minutes, now included in the General Church Minutes collection, are printed below for the first time. They have not been altered except for bracketed editorial insertions.
The Clayton transcript has been enlarged by references to two other sources of the speech, which were apparently made shortly after the general conference. Both of these—one written in an anonymous hand, the other by Curtis E. Bolton3—likely relied on the Clayton manuscript but were more polished and complete. Where the anonymous and Bolton versions provide significant additional phrasing, these words are placed within braces { } and angle brackets < > respectively. The Nauvoo General Church Minutes and the two other transcripts of the Smith address are housed in the Archives Division, Church Historical Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.
The Lucy Mack Smith sermon was given in the Nauvoo Temple, which Church leaders had opened for congregational worship several days before the conference. Elder Joseph Young and President Brigham Young spoke at the morning session, after which Mother Smith requested the podium and began her remarks.
Lucy Mack Smith Speaks to the Nauvoo Saints
Well[,] bro[thers] & Sis[ters] I have been looking round upon this con[gregation]. I have long been waiting for the time when the Lo[rd] would give me strength to look upon you & my children. [I] feel solemn. [I] Want every one to look into their hearts to see what they have come to this place for Whether [they have come] to follow Ch[ri]st through evil & good report or for any other cause. I want to have time to talk about my husband[, ] [and my sons] Hyrum [and] Joseph and want to give you all my advice. B[righam] Y[oung] has done the errand. He has fixed it completely.4 For a long time I have [been] wanting to ask whether you were willing to receive stolen goods or not. <I want to know if you believe in such things> There is one thing I want to speak off—There is may be 2000, here that never was acquainted with Mr Smith or my family. I raised 11 children, 7 boys, we raised them in the fear of God.5 When they were 2 or 3 year[s] old {I told them I wanted} that they may [would] love God with all their hearts <I told them to do good> Wants all you to do the same.6 God gives us our children & we are accountable. In the fear of God I warn you I want you to take your little children & teach them in the fear of God. [I] Want you to teach them about Joseph in Egypt and such things and when they are 4 yr. old they will love to read their bible. I presume there never were a family that were so obedient as mine. <I did not have to speak to them only once—Set your children to work & try to bring them up to your comfort> don’t let them play out of doors.7 If I cant talk to a few 1000s how can I meet millions and talk in celestial glory [?].8 [I] Want the young men to remember that I love children, young folks and every body. [I] Want them to be obedient to their parents and do every thing just right. [I want them to] <be good & kind and do in secret as you would do in the presence of Millions> Brothers & sisters I can call you bro[ther]s sisters children If you consider me a mother in Israel I want you to say so <Presid[ent]. B[righam] Young arose & said—all who consider Mother Smith as a Mother in Israel signify it by saying yea (loud shouts of Yes)> my feelings has been hurt by hearing them say[,] [“]Told mother Smith. there goes old Mother Smith.[”] had her feelings hurt a great deal. [I] Want to speak about the dead. 18 years ago last 2[2]9 September that J[oseph] took the plates out of the earth. 18 years last Monday since the J[oseph]. S[mith] the prophet of the Lord got the plates from the earth.10 {It was in a morning my son} J[oseph]. came to me and told me he had taken those plates out of the ground. <and he said [“]go> Tell all three f them11 {The} (Harris[’s]) that I have got them I want Martin to assist me and {I want} [to] take some of the characters off to send them to N[ew]. Y[ork].[”]12 I am in my 70[th] year—{it is} 18 years since J[oseph] began to receive this gospel {of Glad tidings to all people} and preach it. I have got [it] all in a history & I want this people to be so good {and so kind} as to get it printed before they go to C[alifornia].13 Martin Harris was the first person that helped Joseph about this work to get the book of Mormon printed[,] for the gospel Could not be preached until this was done.14 <here was only my family and Martin Harris to do anything about it> Just as soon as they commenced the devil began to war {roar} <and attempt to destroy them>. But a little while before we were turned out of house & home.15 Joseph went to P[ennslyvani]a. Joseph, Hyrum and Samuel had to go and work in the woods <all day & then at night haul[ing] the wood> & they had to go to get means to help Joseph publish the book. 2 of them guarded the house. This was the way it commenced and now see what a congregation is here. You talk about going to Cal[ifornia]. how easy this can be done. My family could go to work and get means to print the B[ook] of M[ormon]. You need not be to work and get means to print the B[ook] of M[ormon]. You need not be discouraged you cant get wagons & every thing else. {As Brigham says you must be honest} But if you are not honest you wont get there and if you feel cross you will have trouble. My family made out to get the Book pr[inted]. the Angels <of the Lord> told them what to do. They began 18 years last Monday. {Thousands have come into the church since then} [I] Dont suppose that ⅓ of this people every saw or knew any thing of Joseph H[yrum] S[amuel],16 {William} or [the rest of] my family. Now they are all gone and none left but poor Wm. and he is gone I don’t know where.17 I have 3 daughters18 at home they have never had any thing [from tithing] but worked for the church. After the Book was printed Samuel took some of them to sell. He went into bro. Greens. <a Methodist preacher.>19 [Samuel] had been turned out of doors 3 times. Samuel asked him[,] [“]wont you buy a book[?”] He20 asked[,] [“]what it is[?”]. Samuel said[,] [“]it is a B[ook] of M[ormon]. that my brother has translated <from plates out of the ground>.[”] She21 asked her husband but he would not buy. Sam[ue]l left one till he returned. He had to sell them to buy us victuals. I want to speak of this that you may not complain of hard times. {He went into a [another] house [in the neighborhood] and asked to have a breakfast & he would give a book for it} [Later] He again went to Mr Greens22 he was not at home. She [Mrs. Green] said he must take the book again. Samuel took the book & looked & looked—said {She afterward told me} she never saw a man look so—she [k]new he had the sp[ir]it of God. He said he could not take the book. <the Spirit forbids me taking this book> She fell on the floor & asked him to pray with her. She read & became a Mormon & thus the work began <& then it spread like a mustard seed>—After the church began to grow we were driven again we had to go from place to place to Kirtland <then> to Mo. W[illia]m was taken sick—Sam[ue]l[’s] wife23 and others [too] and we had 20 or 30 sick to take care off during the mobbing. <I felt strong in health> [I] Could take care of 20 sick then better than sit on my chair now. Whilst W[illia]m. was sick he had a Vision & saw the mob come in. He said he saw them come thousands & thousands and says he <Mother> {You will be driven and says} [“]if I die I want you to take care of my wife <I want you to carry my corp[se] wherever you go[”]—The first day William was able to Walk as far as the door> {the mob came} When the mob came in 10 of them into my house {room} after they had taken Joseph & Hyrum {into their camp} there was thousands of them hollowing & screaching in my hearing how do you think I feel [felt][?] Have you any feelings for me[?]. Whilst they were in the camp I could not go to see them {and now my children are in the grave} 10 men came in & said they wanted {we have come in} to kill the heads of the family. Says I[,] [“]do you want to kill me.[”] They said [“]yes.[”] Then says I[,] [“]do it quick like men for I would then be happy.[”] They then said [“]G-d damn it these Mormons would as soon die as live.[”] They then tried Joseph & Hyrum & sentenced them to be shot in 15 minutes. A man came in and said[,] [“]<Mother Smith> if you ever want to see Mr Smith again you must go now for he is going to be shot in Jackson Co.[”] I went to the wagon the
ymen lift up their swords and swore I should not see them. {He took me by the hand & it was as much as we could do to get thru the crowd to the waggon} I finally got to the wagon & put up my hand & he [Joseph] took hold of it & kissed it. Says I [“]now Joseph speak once more.[”] Says henow[“]God bless you my poor mother.[”] They were taken away They were in bands and irons. All this time my <my son> W[illia]m & wife24 were sick. Samuels wife was sick and some others & I had them all to take care off. After that we had to move. Joseph went to City of Washington25 It rained 3 days as hard as it could rain but we had to travel & nothing to shelter us We walked 6 miles <in the [river] bottom> my cloth[e]s was wet {so high up I could scarcely walk} and when we got to the quincy river26 it snow[d] {it rained} & hailed and was cold. We laid down on the <cold> snow <& a blanket over us> and took off our wet stockins & did the best we could. In the morning <the cover [over us] was frozen stiff> we could not make a fire for the snow, Joseph then went to the City of W[ashington]. He had a rev[elation]. to importune at the Governors feet & the prest. feet for the Lord said if they would not heed them he would vex the nation.27 After he returned he went to preaching down between Mr. Durfees [and] the Mansion house He told the brethren & sis[ters] that he had done all he could for them, says he [“]they are determined we shall not have justice <while we stay in Nauvoo>[”] But says he [“]keep good courage You never shall suffer for bread as you have done before.[”] says he [“]all these cases is a record on earth & what is recorded here is a record in heaveny.[”] Now says he [“]I am a going to lay this case of their taking away our property or I am a going to take it up to the highest court in heaven.[”] he said so 3 times—Never did I think he was going to leave us so soon to take this case to heaven. He never could get justice till he took it there. {The Lord has got even the Marshall there28} I feel now just exactly that the Lord has got even the Smiths there—They know all our sufferings and dont you think our case is being tried[?] I think they will do more for us there than they could if they were here. I feel if there was no evil here [—] no talking [—] all would go right <I feel that if every soul would stay at home they would be blessed> I feel that the Lo[rd] is vexing the Nation a little here & there. And I feel that the Lo[rd] will let brother Brigham take the people away.29 I dont know that I shall go [West] but if W[illia]m and the rest of the family go I shall go. I feel to bless you all <I pray that the Lord may bless the heads of the Church> Brother Brigham and all. <when I go to another world I want to meet you all> Here lays my dead my husband and children. I want to lay my bones so that in the res[surection]. I can rise with my husband & children. If so be that my children go <And I would to God all my children would go> with you but they will not go without me and if I go I want to have my bones fetch[ed] back to be laid with my husband & children.30