Hyrum Smith: A Life of Integrity

by Jeffrey S. O’Driscoll

In this welcome biography, author Jeffrey S. O’Driscoll paints an intimate portrait of Hyrum Smith, an exemplary disciple who stood by his prophet-brother through the glorious and trying days of the early restored Church. At Joseph’s side during dark months of confinement in Liberty Jail, Nauvoo’s rise to fame, and the martyrdom at Carthage, Hyrum was “as firm as the pillars of heaven.” Hyrum Smith: A Life of Integrity reveals the heart of this Church patriarch and assistant president through the words of those who knew him best and through the inspiring, unassuming sermon that was his life. Relying on painstaking research, the author helps us appreciate the character and invaluable contributions of this devoted husband, father, Church leader, and friend. Most important, we learn why the Lord said of Hyrum, “I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart.”

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Hyrum Smith’s Patriarchal Blessing

Blessed of the Lord is my brother Hyrum for the integrity of his heart-he shall be girt about with strength, truth and faithfulness shall be the strength of his loins. From generation to generation he shall be a shaft in the hand of his God to execute judgment upon his enemies: and he shall be hid by the hand of the Lord that none of his secret parts shall be discovered unto his enemies, unto his hurt. His name shall be called a blessing among men. His acquaintance shall be among kings, and he shall be sought for that he may sit in council, by nations and kings that are afar off, and thousands of souls shall he be an instrument in the hand of his God in bringing unto salvation. And when he is in trouble, and great tribulation has come upon him, he shall remember the God of Jacob, and he shall shield him from the power of Satan. He shall receive counsel in the house of the most high that he may be strengthened in hope. He shall be as a cooling spring that breaketh forth at the foot of the mountain, overshadowed with choice trees bowed down with ripe fruit, that yieldeth both nourishment to the appetite and quencheth the thirst, thereby yielding refreshment to the weary traveler: and the goings of his feet shall ever be by streams of living water. He shall not fail nor want for knowledge, for the Lord his God shall put forth his hand and lift him up and shall call upon him with his voice in the way wherein he is travelling, that he may be established forever. He shall stand in the tracks of his father and lie numbered among those who hold the right of patriarchal priesthood, even the evangelical priesthood and power shall be upon him, that in his old age his name may be magnified on the earth. Behold he shall be blessed with an abundance of riches of the earth: gold, silver, and treasures of precious stones, of diamonds and platina. His chariots shall be numerous; and his cattle shall multiply abundantly, horses, mules, asses, camels, dromedaries, and swift beasts; that he may magnify the name of the Lord and benefit the poor. Yea, this shall be the desire of his soul, to comfort the needy and bind up the broken in heart. His children shall be many and his posterity numerous, and they shall rise up and call him blessed.

And he shall have eternal life. Amen.

Kirtland December 18, 1833

Ancestry and Descendants of John Walker

The Second Edition of Ancestry and Descendants of John Walker 1794-1869
of Vermont and Utah, descendant of Robert Walker, an emigrant of 1632 from England to Boston, Mass.

Descendants of John Walker compiled by Rodney Wilson Walker

Ancestry of John Walker compiled by Noel C. Stevenson

Published by John Walker Family Organization 1985

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Preface

Preface of the First Edition

This work contains a list of more than 3600 descendants of John Walker,
along with more than 1000 families of the same Walker family. John Walker is
the head of a branch of the Walker Family and brought his family to Utah from
where many descendants were scattered all over the Western States and Western
Canada.
William Holmes Walker, being the eldest son of John Walker, was a great
pioneer of the Salt Lake Valley and the Upper Snake River Valley in Idaho,
and had a long successful and useful life. His numerous descendants at
gatherings at different times during the past 30 years have expressed a
desire for such a record, and about 1946 his great-grandson Rodney W. Walker
volunteered to gather the necessary data which offer was gladly accepted in
April 1948.
The tremendous task was accomplished only after many months of long
hours of a work of love, which was the driving force that brought about the
completion of the gathering of the information.
Appreciation is expressed to all those who have assisted in furnishing
information and means that makes this volume possible.
Rexburg, Idaho
July 1952
Frank L. Davis

Preface of the Second Edition

This preface is similar to the one in the First Edition except that the
Second Edition is a revised and enlarged edition so as to include records of
many missing families that should have been in the First Edition and also
updated records on thousands of families. This volume contains over 16,300
descendants and about 7,000 spouses of descendants. Many descendants are
found in almost every state of the United States, Western Canada and other
countries.
This project was proposed and voted upon at the reunion held in Las
Vegas, Nevada in 1975. The task has been overwhelming and enormous because
the John Walker family is so large that it is next to impossible to gather
records on all families while keeping up with the growing family.
As of today this volume may be obsolete because hundreds of descendants
have already been born, many new marriages have been performed and many
deaths have occurred. These events are not mentioned in this book. It is hoped
that all of us will keep our own records for our posterity and treasure the
rich heritages which we have inherited from our forefathers including John
Walker.
Salt Lake City, Utah
March 1985
Rodney W. Walker

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Acknowledgements

For and in behalf of the John Walker Family Organization, I want to thank you all, everyone of you, for your assistance in making this volume possible. This volume is the product of our work for nearly five years.

In the beginning, much deserved credit and appreciation goes to my wife, Georgia, for her sacrifice and patience during the time when the Second Edition manuscript was being prepared.

This volume is made possible through the use of a word processor in a computer which was purchased in 1980. Thanks are given to a committee who were picked to search for a reliable computer and a printer and to those who have made generous contributions toward the purchase of the computer.

Since the John Walker family is growing and outpacing the gathering of records, many branch genealogists were appointed. They have given their time and financial means in gathering records in their own branches. They and those who have helped them deserve a large share of thanks from the family organization.

Due to passing of time, many records were found to be outdated. It was necessary to send out proofs to all families for their help in updating and verification. Thousands of letters were mailed out but less than half of the letters remained unanswered. Thanks are given to all those who have replied to the requests for information, to verify proofs and also who have contributed financial means to push the Second Edition along. The list of those is too long to be mentioned.

Heart felt thanks are given to all those who have placed orders with remittances and who have helped push the project toward the goal of 1000 copies which is necessary to bring success toward publishing this volume.

Gratitude is also felt for the officers, past and present, of the family organization for their support and to keep the family organization going on with board meetings and reunions. The officers of this family organization also want to express their thanks to all those who have given their support by any means and for their attending reunions in past years.

Salt Lake City, Utah
March 1985

Rodney W. Walker

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