Joseph Smith's Faith in Prayer: Told by John Lyman Smith

Some of those who knew Joseph Smith shared wonderful insights into his character:

Elder John Lyman Smith, brother to the late President George A. Smith, who now resides at St. George, Washington County, Utah, was born November 17th, 1828, at Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York. He was baptized at Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio, when eight years of age. At this place he first met the Prophet Joseph Smith. The following incidents he relates of the Prophet, with whom he lived for several months when a boy:

In my early years I used to often eat at the table with Joseph the Prophet. At one time he was called to dinner. I being at play in the room with his son Joseph, he called us to him, and we stood one each side of him. After he had looked over the table he said, "Lord, we thank Thee for this Johnny cake, and ask Thee to send us something better. Amen." The corn bread was cut and I received a piece from his hand.

Before the bread was all eaten, a man came to the door and asked if the Prophet Joseph was at home. Joseph replied he was, whereupon the visitor said, "I have brought you some flour and a ham."

Joseph arose and took the gift, and blessed the man in the name of the Lord. Turning to his wife, Emma, he said, "I knew the Lord would answer my prayer."

From this time to his death I always revered and honored him, and when but a boy of ten or twelve years have in Nauvoo often said to him I was ready to die for him.

"Don't Flinch. Die Like Men."

Do you have the faith and continuing commitment to demonstrate the principles of the gospel in your own lives, consistently? You have served well, but do you, like the pioneers, have the courage and the consistency to be true to the faith and to endure to the end?

Here I recall a pioneer example of faith, commitment, and courage by some young men just about the age of our missionaries. A few months before the Prophet Joseph Smith was murdered at Carthage, some of his enemies plotted to kill him. As part of their plan, they sought to enlist others in their conspiracy. Among those they invited to a meeting in Nauvoo were two young men still in their teens, Robert Scott and Dennison L. Harris. Dennison’s father, Emer, was the older brother of Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. Being loyal to the Prophet, these young men immediately reported the invitation to Dennison’s father, who advised the Prophet Joseph and sought his advice. Joseph asked Emer Harris to request that the young men attend the meeting, pay strict attention to what was said, make no commitments, and report the entire matter to the Prophet.

As events proceeded, there were three meetings. They began by denouncing Joseph as a fallen prophet, proceeded to considering how Joseph could be overthrown, and concluded with specific planning to kill him. All of this the two young men reported to the Prophet Joseph after each meeting.

Before the third meeting, the Prophet foresaw what would happen and told the young men this would be the last meeting. He warned them that the conspirators might kill them when they refused the required oath to participate in the murderous scheme. He said he did not think the conspirators would shed their blood because they were so young, but he called upon their loyalty and courage in these words: “Don’t flinch. If you have to die, die like men, you will be martyrs to the cause, and your crowns can be no greater.”  He renewed his original caution that they should not make any promises or enter into any covenants with the conspirators. Then he blessed them and expressed his love for their willingness to risk their lives.

As Joseph had foreseen, the third and final meeting required all present to unite in a solemn oath to destroy Joseph Smith. When the two boys refused, explaining that Joseph had never harmed them and they were unwilling to participate in his destruction, the leaders declared that since the boys knew the group’s plans, they must agree to join them or they must die on the spot.  Knives were drawn.

Some protested killing the boys, especially since their parents knew of their presence, so their failure to return would cast suspicion on some of the conspirators. By the barest margin, the most cautious course was chosen, and those who opposed killing prevailed. The boys were threatened with certain death if they ever revealed what had transpired in the meetings or who had participated, and they were then allowed to leave unharmed.

As the boys passed beyond the view of the guards, they were met by the Prophet, who was anxiously watching and praying for their safe return. They reported everything to him. He thanked and praised them, and then, for their safety, counseled them not to speak of this to anyone for 20 years or more.

Dallin H. Oaks, “Following the Pioneers,” Ensign, Nov. 1997

Henrietta Cox: Recollection of Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith, Jr., was born on December 23, 1805. In the midst of the Christmas season, it is good to pause to remember his great contributions to our dispensation, second only to the Savior Himself.
Gordon B. Hinckly once said:


"This is a season for giving and a time for gratitude. We remember with appreciation the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith, which is celebrated this same month of December, two days before Christmas.
"How great indeed is our debt to him....
"Let us not forget him. Let not his memory be forgotten in the celebration of Christmas. God be thanked for the Prophet Joseph."

The following recollection of the Prophet was written by Henrietta Cox:

"In the spring of 1841 my parents were both baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and soon after started for Nauvoo in company with some other Saints. After reaching their destination the company camped for a few days on the bank of the Mississippi until they had opportunity to find homes, a Brother Sherwood kindly giving them the use of one small log house which he owned.

"While the Saints camped here the Prophet visited them. A meeting was held in the aforementioned log house. I remember that when the Prophet came into the room he shook hands with all, old and young, who had assembled. I cannot remember much that was said that day in meeting, as I was so very young, but one incident of the day's proceedings fastened itself so firmly upon my mind that I have never forgotten it.

"Brother Joseph was sitting with his head bent low, as if in deep thought, and had not spoken for a few minutes, when one of the elders present began to chide him for being bowed in spirit, and said, 'Brother Joseph, why don't you hold your head up and talk to us like a man?'
"Brother Joseph presently answered the elder by calling his attention to a field of ripening grain, saying that many heads of grain in that field bent low with their weight of valuable store, while others there were which, containing no grain to be garnered, stood very straight.

"Proof of the correctness of his words was given shortly after, as the elder to whom they were addressed soon after apostatized and went back east.
"I know of a surety that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, and have had abundant testimony that the work which he established is the work of our Father in Heaven."


(Henrietta Cox, "Recollections," _Juvenile Instructor_ 27:203, April 1, 1892)

Compiled and written by David Kenison

Lyman O. Littlefield's Testimony of Joseph Smith's Calling

Lyman O. Littlefield was born in New York in November 1819, and after moving to Michigan, joined the Church with his parents in his youth. Along with his father and older brother, he accompanied the march of Zion's Camp to Missouri when he was only 13 years old. He recorded the following impression of that journey:

"The journey was extremely toilsome for all, and the physical suffering, coupled with the knowledge of the persecutions endured by our brethren whom we were traveling to succor, caused me to lapse one day into a state of melancholy. As the camp was making ready to depart I sat tired and brooding by the roadside. The Prophet [Joseph Smith] was the busiest man of the camp; and yet when he saw me, he turned from the great press of other duties to say a word of comfort to a child. Placing his hand upon my head, he said, 'Is there no place for you, my boy? If not, we must make one.' This circumstance made an impression upon my mind which long lapse of time and cares of riper years have not effaced." (George Q. Cannon, _Life of Joseph Smith the Prophet_, pp. 343-4.)

As Elder Cannon wrote, Joseph's "deeds and words of thoughtfulness were a constantly flowing stream."

Later in life, Lyman Littlefield added this testimony of Joseph:
"The Spirit of the Lord had previously testified to me, in the state of Michigan, that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, and when I beheld him at Salt River, where Zion's Camp was resting near Brother Burget's house, the spirit of truth furnished me with an additional evidence of his divine mission. I bear my testimony that he was a Prophet of God." (Lyman Littlefield "Recollections," _JI_ (1892) 27:65.)

Lyman went on to live a long and faithful life, passing away in September 1893 at age 73.

(Compiled and written by David Kenison)

Five Dollars for Joseph Smith; A Gift Before His Martydom

            I'm beginning to wonder," said one of the men on the high council in Missouri, "if Joseph Smith isn't a fallen prophet." Several of the other men, worried and frightened as mobs continued to terrorize the Saints who were trying to flee the state, murmured their agreement.  "There he is in jail in Liberty, Clay County, while the Saints need him!  Does that sound like a true prophet?"

            But Solomon Hancock stemmed the tide of disaffection by saying, "Brethren, I'm a firm believer in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and covenants. Brother Joseph is not a fallen prophet!  He will yet be exalted and become very high."  ( 3:225.)

            That event, recorded about Joseph Smith, was just one example of the great love Solomon Hancock had for the gospel--and for the Prophet Joseph Smith.

            And perhaps because of Solomon's loyalty to the Prophet, he was chosen to perform one of the last kindnesses given to Joseph Smith before his death.

            Solomon's wife, Phoebe Hancock, was pregnant when once they went to Quincy, Illinois, to buy food and clothes.  Solomon had promised his wife five dollars to buy clothes and other articles for the new baby, which would soon be born, and their wagon was also loaded with butter and eggs to sell in town.

            But just before they arrived in Quincy, Solomon informed his wife that he felt he could not give her the five dollars after all.  She was surprised--and more than a little disappointed. After all, the money was for things their baby would need.                                                                                                                      

            "I'm sorry," he told her, "but I've had three strong warnings from the Spirit that I shouldn't expect to use this money for the baby."

            Frustrated, Pheobe showed her husband the list of items that she had planned to buy with the money, but Solomon only told her that she should use the money from the sale of the butter and eggs to buy the most important items. She reluctantly complied, and bought all that she could with the little money she had.  But she was so disappointed that on the way home she sat down on the wagon board, pulled her bonnet down to hide her face, folded her arms, and turned her back on her husband.

           They had traveled only a little way when they came to a crossroads, where they were surprised to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith.  To their dismay, the men with the Prophet were taking him to prison in Carthage, Illinois.

            Joseph called Solomon by name and said, "Have you got five dollars?"

            "Yes,I have," Solomon said.

            "I knew it," Joseph responded.  "I told these men we would get something to eat before we got to the Carthage jail."

            Solomon gave the Prophet the five dollars, and his guards took him on his way.  Phoebe wept, and asked forgiveness for wanting the money which the Prophet needed so much for food.

            

           Soon the Prophet and his brother were killed by a mob that stormed the prison, and Solomon's and Phoebe's grief at the death of the Prophet could be assuaged, a little bit, by the knowledge that the Spirit had called on them to aid him during his last hours.

Spencer J. Palmer, "Five Dollars For Joseph Smith,"  (April 1978), p. 67.

Brigham Young Defends the Prophet, Joseph Smith

In the fall of 1836, a spirit of opposition existed in Kirtland against the leaders of the Church - specifically against Joseph Smith. Brigham Young recorded that on one occasion, he met with several of the apostles, the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and other leaders in the upper room of the Kirtland temple. The question was raised by someone as to how they could "depose" the Prophet and appoint David Whitmer as President of the Church.

Brigham reported that there was some opposition from Father John Smith and Heber C. Kimball, but then Brigham's turn came to speak:
"I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased, they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God and sink themselves to hell. Many were highly enraged at my decided opposition to their measures, and Jacob Bump (an old pugilist [fighter or boxer]) was so exasperated that he could not be still. Some of the brethren near him put their hands on him, and requested him to be quiet; but he writhed and twisted his arms and body saying, 'How can I keep my hands off that man?' I told him if he thought it would give him any relief he might lay them on.

"This meeting was broken up without the apostates being able to unite on any decided measures of opposition. This was a crisis when earth and hell seemed leagued to overthrow the Prophet and Church of God. The knees of many of the strongest men in the Church faltered.

"During this siege of darkness I stood close by Joseph, and, with all the wisdom and power God bestowed upon me, put forth my utmost energies to sustain the servant of God and unite the quorums of the Church." (Watson, _Brigham Young History, 1801-44_, pp. 16-17)

Brigham soon found out that there was a plot to "waylay" Joseph as he was expected to return to Kirtland from a trip; the intent was to take the Prophet's life. Brigham immediately obtained a horse and buggy and rode out with William Smith to meet Joseph, helping to bring him safely home.


George A. Smith commented on this incident: "The voice seemingly of an individual, was absolutely necessary to say that Joseph had a single friend. You look at times of danger, moral and physical, and you will find that the spirit of determination and strong will in the breast of a single man may save a most terrible panic and disaster." (_JD_ 11:12)