Abstract

The Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family: 
A Family Process Analysis of a Nineteenth-Century Household

Kyle R. Walker

Marriage and Family Therapy Program

School of Family Life

Doctor of Philosophy

This study evaluates the Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family—the first family of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church. The researcher uses contemporary family process concepts from the field of social science to evaluate a historical family. The family process constructs selected for the study include cohesion, resiliency, religiosity, conflict management, family work, and recreation.

Results of the study found the Smith family to show high levels of cohesiveness and resiliency. The Smith family demonstrated both intrinsic and extrinsic forms of religiosity. Family members also exhibited effective problem-solving strategies including prayer, letter writing, and allowing a moderator to ^[iii] help resolve conflicts. The study also provided empirical support that the family had a strong work ethic. The varying types of work and recreation that the family engaged in is documented.

Mormonism’s founder, Joseph Smith Jr., was found to have struck a balance between family work and family recreation. Although the Smith family engaged in many forms of recreation, the researcher was unable to determine if the family achieved a healthy balance between the variables of work and recreation. Implications for researchers—both those in the historical and social science fields—are discussed. Also, the implications for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for marriage and family counselors are addressed. ^[iv]