Stories of Lucy Mack Smith by Susan Evans McCloud

Author:Susan Evans McCloud
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LDS, inspirational, history, Joseph Smith, compilation, mother, restoration, clean, non-fiction
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2017-02-10T00:00:00+00:00

The Lord Gave Us Strength and Mercy According to Our Need

The brief Kirtland years were filled to overflowing with challenges, wonders, and blessings.

As a mere scratching of the surface, 1831–1837 brought the establishment of a community with Saints from all places and all walks of life, including Brigham Young; the establishment of a newspaper, The Evening and Morning Star; the death of Joseph and Emma’s adopted twin when Joseph was dragged from their house to be brutally tarred and feathered; the death of Hyrum’s wife, Jerusha; the commandment in 1832 to begin building a temple; and much new revelation, including the Word of Wisdom.

In 1834, the cruel persecutions that were taking place in Missouri caused Joseph to travel the thousand miles there with the group of brethren called Zion’s Camp. Their desire was to assist and befriend the stricken Saints and see what good they might be able to exert upon their persecutors. It was from this group—the men who suffered and sacrified with faith and without complaint—that the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Quorum of the Seventy were selected.

Lucy and her husband were concerned about their sons marching into the jaws of the lion in Missouri. It was difficult, as the long days passed, to have no knowledge of what might be happening to them. As a result, Lucy turned to her first, last, and constant resort: prayer.

When cholera struck the camp, both Joseph and Hyrum were overcome with severe cramps and pain. They determined to pray until the Lord relieved them, taking turns in prayer. After a time Hyrum suddenly sprang to his feet. “Joseph, we shall return,” he cried, “for I have seen an open vision in which I saw Mother on her knees under an apple tree praying for us, and she is even now asking God, in tears, to spare our lives. The Spirit testifies to me that her prayers and ours shall be heard.”1

Amid their rejoicing, Joseph mused, “Oh, my mother, how often have your prayers been a means of assisting us when the shadows of death encompassed us!”2

In 1835, Michael Chandler appeared in Kirtland with Egyptian mummies and papyrus. The papyrus held the writings of Abraham and Joseph of Egypt, and these the Prophet Joseph was able to translate through the gift of the Lord.

That same year, the Prophet’s parents were still living on and working a farm; but that wasn’t all. They were also struggling to help, feed, and even house what Lucy calls “droves of company,”3 both members and nonmembers of the Church.

Despite his many responsibilities, Joseph was always sensitive to his parents’ needs. When he realized the extremity of their situation and that they were “breaking themselves down with hard work,” said Lucy, “he told us that it would not answer for us to carry on a public house at free cost any longer, and by his request, we moved into an upper room of his house, where we lived very comfortably for a season.”4

Because she was given

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