Some miscellaneous memories of Joseph Smith

The quotations below are drawn from Hyrum L. Andrus and Helen Mae Andrus, Personal Glimpses of the Prophet Joseph Smith (American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications, 2009):

Jacob Earl knew Joseph Smith both in Missouri and then in Illinois:

Naturally, he was of a cheerful disposition, and I remember when I was with a number of other boys that we caught a ball while Joseph knocked flies to us.  (147-148)

James Worthington Phippen was born in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, in October 1819.  He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 3 February 1839:

I first met Joseph Smith in company with Brigham Young on the banks of the Mississippi River.  I was favorably impressed with his noble mien, his stately form, his pleasant, smiling face and cheerful conversation. . . .

I have seen him on the playground with “the boys,” as he called them, ball playing, wrestling, jumping, and also helping to roll up logs on buildings for the widows.  I have seen him in public and in private talking with the Saints on various occasions, so kind, so charitable, a prophet in very deed, so noble in appearance.  He loved the Saints.  He was willing to suffer for them, and die, if necessary.  (153)

Mrs. Jacob Earl was a young girl in Nauvoo, Illinois, when she came to know the Prophet:

Joseph Smith was possessed of a fine courtesy that made him the friend and companion of all, and the idol of the poor, the lowly and humble, to whom he was especially, though unaffectedly attentive.  (149)

Lucy W. Kimball was born in Peacham, Caledonia County, Vermont, in 1826.  She was baptized at Ogdensburg, New York, came to the Mormon settlements in Missouri in 1837 and then to Nauvoo in 1841:

Naturally, he was courteous, kind and obliging; frank to all men, both friends and foes.  He was remarkably cheerful for one who had seen well-tried friends martyred around him and felt the infliction of calumny, the vexations of law suits, the treachery of intimates and mulitiplied attempts on his person and life, together with cares of much business.  (150)

Thomas Hall, who was born in England and converted to Mormonism there, immigrated to Nauvoo in 1844, not long before the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith:

I first met the Prophet Joseph Smith in his home, and I felt as if I had known him a long time.  He was so kind and courteous.  God had made known to me in various ways that he was a true prophet, and I could have risked my life in defending him.  (157)

Mary Frost Adams was born in Hancock, Illinois, just a few miles from the fateful town of Carthage, in 1836:

When I was about seven years old, we moved to Nauvoo, where we became intimately acquainted with Joseph’s family.  I grew to love him, as all children did, for he was never so busy that he always had a kind word and a smile for a little one.

While Joseph was acting as mayor of the city, a black man called Anthony was arrested for selling liquor contrary to law.  He pleaded that the reason he had done so was that he might raise the money to purchase the freedom of a dear child held as a slave in a southern state.  He had been able to purchase the liberty of himself and wife and now wished to bring his little child to their new home.  Joseph said, “I am sorry, Anthony, but the law must be observed, and we will have to impose a fine.”

The next day Brother Joseph presented Anthony with a fine horse, directing him to sell it and use the money obtained for the purchase of the child.  (158)

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Posted from Newport Beach, California