Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-02
OBITUARY..
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st. George, Utah, Feb. "A. 1sss.-John
l.. Smith departed this life on Monday,
Feb. u. 1898. He was the son of John
and Clarissa Smith, and was born at
Potsdarn. st. Lawrence county, New
York, on the 18th OF November, 1928.
His father and family moved to Kirt-
land. Ohio. In the year 1888. When he
was years old he was baptized a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. In 1888 he moved
with the Saints to Missouri and after
wards to Far West. On the 18th OF
November, 1874. he was ordained an
Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints and on the nth of
the same month was ordained q Sew
enty and was placed in the Twelfth
quorum OF Seventy, he being 16 years
old on that day.
He was with the Saints in all their
trials In Nauvoo. He was n cousin to
and firm defender of the Prophet
and Patriarch Joseph and Hyrum
smith, and although only a youth,
shouldered his gun on many occasions
and would have laid down his life in
their defense. He arrived In Salt Lake
city on the 25th OF September, 1Si7, In
1881 he was called to Parowan and ar
rived there on the 25th of October of the
same year.
At the April conference, 1855. he was
the brethren who were to accompany
him on his mission were ready to start
he was very sick and yet 80 determined
to I'LL his mission that he directed that
the brethren put cords across the top of
the wagon box and put bed on them
on which-to lay him; and this being
don he was assisted In the wagon and
In this way started on his mission. He
soon gained strength and filled his mis-
sion with honor to the cause of God.
and returned home on the 21st of June.
lslS. In Aug, 1860, he was called on a
second mission to Europe and returned
I'm Oct. 1864
on the 10th of December, 1872. he was
ordained patriarch under the hands
OF President Brigham Young and
George \. Smith at Beaver. He was
own brother To the latter When the 81
George Temple was being built he was
sent among the different Stakes and
wards of Zion to solicit aid for its cree
ton, and was very successful in that
work: and when the Temple was dedi-
Gated he was one among the first that
were called and set apart to labor there :.
In. and continued to do so until March
rs. 1907, when he was taken down with
the sickness from which he never re-
covered.
He took part In many of the Indian
wars of Utah. 1t was his delight to
assist In every way in his power tn
roll on the work of God upon the earth.
and many have heard him bear a faith
ful testimony to the divinity of this
crest latter-day work. Although pos
sesscd Of but few earthly goods he
leaves rich legacy Of well written
history and of a faithful, devoted life
To the cause Of Christ upon the earth
which should he carefully preserved
and read by his posterlty In genera
tons yet unborn. His record shows
that he has given 1,105 patriarchial
blessings. He has personally and
ut his instance performed the labor in
the House of the Lord, for 2,OO2 per-
sons OF the Lyman family who will
welcome him on the other side.
Thus We have In the person of John
l., Smith. one OF the saviors who
should stand on Mount Zion. He also
ala considerable work for the Smith
and Cleveland families. He leaves
q family consisting Of wife and six
living children, twenty-sevcn grand
children, twelve great grandchildren
md a host OF friends who call him
blessed.
Funeral services were held in the st.
George Tabernacle at p. m. Feb. 81.
Prayer by Elder George Woodland
Singing, Elder James G. Bleak was
the first sneaker. He said that the
family and friends had cause TO rejoice
over the release from suffering that
had come to Brother Smith. and bore
testimony TO his worth and faithful
ness. Elder Henry W. Bigler, the sec
ond speaker. had been acquainted with
the deceased ever since they We're
boys together in Adam Ondi- Ahman
and testified that, throughout his whole
life. he had been faithful to this call
Ing
Elder David H. Cannon, president of