Descendants Celebrate 200th Anniversary of Hyrum Smith’s Birth

Ensign, June 2000

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/06/news-of-the-church/descendants-celebrate-200th-anniversary-of-hyrum-smiths-birth?lang=eng

An estimated 3,200 descendants of Hyrum Smith gathered at Temple Square on 13 February to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth. Some 2,300 descendants and other participants squeezed into the Assembly Hall with overflow crowds in the Tabernacle and the North Visitors’ Center.

Hyrum, loyal older brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, was born on 9 February 1800. Four of the children born to Hyrum’s first wife, Jerusha Barden, survived to adulthood. After Jerusha died in childbirth, Hyrum married Mary Fielding, to whom two children were born. There are an estimated 31,000 living descendants of Hyrum Smith today. Among Hyrum’s posterity were two prophets: President Joseph F. Smith, his son, and President Joseph Fielding Smith, Hyrum’s grandson.

President Gordon B. Hinckley was among those who honored the early Church leader. “I’m not a descendant of Hyrum Smith,” he said, “But I’m a great admirer and one who loves the name of Hyrum.” Then he gave a charge to Hyrum’s posterity: “There rests upon you a tremendous and abiding responsibility to walk in the ways that Hyrum walked, with faith in the divinity of this work of the Lord, with love for this great cause, with respect for those who established it, and with resolution to do your part to strengthen it in whatever capacity you may be called to serve.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Eldred G. Smith, emeritus Patriarch to the Church—both second-great-grandsons of Hyrum Smith—also spoke. After noting that an estimated 6,000 of Hyrum’s descendants have served full-time missions, Elder Ballard said, “So upon the family of Hyrum Smith has rested a great responsibility of the carrying on of this great work.”

Elder Smith quoted from Hyrum’s patriarchal blessing: “‘The righteous shall rise up, and also thy children after thee, and say thy memory is just, that thou wert a just man and perfect in thy day.’” Certainly this gathering of thousands of his descendants was one fulfillment of that promise.

Among the items on display, courtesy of Elder Eldred Smith, were the clothes Hyrum wore when he was martyred on 27 June 1844 and Alvin Smith’s toolbox, used by the Prophet to hide the gold plates.

The meeting was conducted by Craig R. Frogley, a fourth-great-grandson of Hyrum, who noted that on 9 February 2000, a wreath had been placed by family members on the Hyrum Smith pylon in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. (Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum Smith are buried at the family homestead in Nauvoo, Illinois.)

Hyrum Smith 200th Birthday Celebration – Program and Video

The 200th Birthday Celebration for Hyrum Smith was held February 13, 2000, at the Assembly Hall at Temple Square. The program was video taped, and copies were made available to family members.

CONDUCTING: Craig R. Frogley …………………………………4th great grandson

PRAYER: Michael Nebeker ……………………………………..5th great grandson

MUSICAL PORTRAYAL………………………………………..Love is the Master Key
by Lorena Normandeau……………………………Granddaughter of Joseph Smith Jr.
Father Smith: Hulbert Keddington………………………………2nd great grandson
Hyrum Smith: Scott Frogley …………………………………..4th great grandson
Joseph Smith Jr.: Jason Woodland………………………………4th great grandson
William Smith: ……………………………………………..5th great grandson
Accompanied by: Jenny Frogley………………………4th great granddaughter-in-law

HYRUM REMEMBERS
Portrayal by: Matthew D. Maddox…………………………4th great grandson-in-law

HYRUM’S CHARGE TO HIS POSTERITY:
Eldred G. Smith, President, Hyrum Smith Family Association……….2nd great grandson

POSTERITY’S RESPONSE
LOVINA: Rhonda Frogley…………………………………. 4th great granddaughter
JOHN : E. Gary Smith………………………………………… 3rd great grandson
JERUSHA: Pamela Alligood…………………………………3rd great granddaughter
SARAH: Cherise Clayton…………………………………. 4th great granddaughter
JOSEPH F: Russel Smith Walker…………………………………2nd great grandson
MARTHA ANN: Carol King…………………………………..3rd great granddaughter

I LOVE HIM original music and words
By Noni Sorensen………………………………………. 2nd great granddaughter
Sung by: Kent Sorensen……………………………………… 3rd great grandson
Accompanied by: Lindsay Sorensen………………………….3rd great granddaughter

SPEAKER: M. Russell Ballard…………………………………..2nd great grandson
Co-President of the Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Foundation

REMARKS: Gordon B. Hinckley
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

THE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT original music and words
By Noni Sorensen………………………………………..2nd great granddaughter
Sung by: Dan Sorensen ……………………………………… 3rd great grandson
Accompanied by: Lindsay Sorensen …………………………3rd great granddaughter

PRAYER: LaRene Gaunt…………………………………… 2nd great granddaughter

200th Birthday Celebration of Hyrum Smith

The 200th Birthday Celebration of Hyrum Smith will be held on February 13, 2000 in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square at 7:00 p.m. Elder M. Russell Ballard will speak and there will be a segment aimed especially for children so this is a family affair. We need to get this info out to as many of Hyrum’s descendants as we can. So let everyone in your families know.

Mary Donoho

See also Elder M. Russell Ballard Speaks at BYU Devotional – January 18, 2000, and in the Deseret News.

The text from the Hyrum Smith 200th Birthday Celebration on February 13, 2000 is now available online!