The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-24
President Joseph F. Smith undertook


men. 1t is now fifty years since his
death, Still the Saints have never made
a practice of celebrating his birth.
In calling upon those who knew hiHd
for brief speeches regarding his char
acteristics, it was with q. view to edu-
eating those who have not seen him
regarding the great founder of the
church. Some knew one thing and
others another. In all this. however, we
should not forget that he was the man
called of God Ito restore the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
the world.
The speaker recited an incident in the
life of the prophet which he witnessed
and that was when he Goseph F) and
his cousin Alexander were playing
marbles in front of the mansion at
Nauvoo. . The prophet kicked Josiah
Butter6eld out of doors for insulting
him. Some might say this was a
strange act for a, prophet, yet he mad
been greatly harassed and annoyed,
AND would have been less than a man
mad he not done as he did.
Although but a boy at the time Prelsi-
dent Smith remembered seeing the
prophet in uniform at the head of the
legion and of hearing him speak. He
saw him for the last time returning to
Nauvoo, when, tainted by those who
claimed that as a bad shepherd he was
fleeing from his flock he came back to
go to his death at Carthage, Joseph
intended to bring his people ito the
Rocky mountains and there find a
home, but he was cut down. ere the OBJ
ject could be accomplished, as history
relates. President Smith concluded by
aging that the prophet was a man full
of joy; full of gladness; full of courage;
lovable and loving, and wfthal a true
prophet of God who retgns above.
S. H. B. Smith remembered the
prophet coming to his fathers house
and vividly recalled the memorable
9th of June when his father left on
his horse to assist his brothers in their
distress. He, too, testified to Joseph's
divinity as a prophet.
General R. T. Burton. who was or
dained under the hands of Hyrum
Smith, a brother of the prophets, was
on guard at the time the latter was
killed. 1t being impossible, so Bishop
Burton said. for him to convey an in
telligent idea Of the scene, he pictured
the mantle of Joseph falling on Brig
ham Young. While at that memoir
able meeting all knew that Brigham
was in front of them, it was the voice.
the face, and the gestures of Joseph.
Joseph was a true prophet of God.
prophets wives, was thankful to be
able to bear testimony that her dead
husband was true prophet. She bore
testimony that President Young was
his rightful successor as stated by.
General Burton.
Lucy Walker Smith, another wife
who was sealed to the prophet in
Nanuvoo, related an incident which
occurred one time at a prayer meeting
where Joseph saw the Savior of Man,
kind. A member of the meeting, re-
plying to the prophets question "Who
do you suppose was with us tonight?'
answered Christ" whereat Joseph re-
piled, 1.-The Lord hath revealed this
unto YOU"
Mrs. Bethsheba w Smith had. seen
the prophet and talked with him. She
never had anything disturb her faith
in him.
Mrs. Rachel Grant, who went to
Nauvoo in 1874 visited friends in the
prophets house although she was not
acquainted with him as we'll as others
who had spoken. She mad heard him
speak in New Jersey when she was a
Baptist Mrs. Grant reioiced to say
that she enjoyed now the true faith
Mrs. Bethsheba Smith arose at this
point TO say that the pictures on the
walls purporting to be the portraits of
the prophet were libels and ought to
be burned. She declared that. she was
Judge of handsome men; that Joseph
was a handsome man and these pic
lures were but little better than car
toons.
President Angus NJ. Cannon corrob,
GRATED this statement and said that
where the copy came from he did not
know. He never saw picture OF
Joseph. He had seen him often to-
gether with his wife Emma, woman
the prophet was killed was a terrible
one in Nauvoo. The dogs h0wled and
the storm ragged as if the very ele'
ments were angry at his death.
Patriarch Smith said the pictures OF
Joseph were libels. Joseph was a
handsome man. six feet In MS STOCK
ings and weighed 212 pounds. His
an inch shorter but of equal weight.
The day they started for Carthage his
father left his watch at home Inc
speaker still carries 1t.
Mrs. Romney read a beautiful trlb-
11te to the memory of the dead prophet
which was greatly appreciated
Edwin Rushton was boy at Ndu>
VOC when he first met the prophet.
The latter spoke to him very kindly
when he landed from the boat he
was an admirably built man and so
stronp that the speaker was sausfed
that he never knew his own strensi u IN
from lack of opportunity to use 1t ali.
Homer Duncan described ms eH-
rerience in becoming 9. Mormon ana re-
iated the physical characteristics OF
Tosenh after which he corroberated
General Burton in the matter OF the
succession of President Young TO MS
place.
The first time Walter Wilcox saw
Joseph was in the temple at NauVoo,
and he recognized in him at once
nronhet. The seer was baptized June
10. 1874. seventeen days before he was
killed. and the speaker stood as proxy
for his father in sealing his mother IN
the prophets office shortly afterward.
Claudius V Spencer was in the Maui
VOC Legion and knew the prophet when
a bow. He was in Stephen Margett's
company. He heard Joseph say at one
time that this people shall be numerous
in the Businesses OF the Rocky noun
tains.
Oliver Workman, with fifteen brothers
and sisters. was baptized by the
prophet at NauVoo. He was present
when Brigham received the mantle of
Joseph. and could bear testimony to the
truth of what had been said.
Mrs zina Smith made a few remarks
and Bishop Kessler announced the clos
ing hymn. After singing it Apostle John
Henry Smith pronounced the benedic-
ton.
nu Tn EDnr-U.r