Hyrum Smith

Hyrum Smith was a pivotal early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and the elder brother of its founder, Joseph Smith. He served in the highest councils of the church, including the First Presidency and as Patriarch to the Church, providing steadfast support to his brother during periods of intense persecution. His assassination alongside Joseph at Carthage Jail in 1844 cemented his status as a martyr within the faith, profoundly impacting the movement's subsequent trajectory and leadership succession.

Early life and family

Hyrum Smith was born in Tunbridge, Vermont to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, the second son in a family that would become central to the Restoration. He worked on the family farm in Manchester, New York, and received a limited formal education, though he was known for his studious nature. In 1826, he married Jerusha Barden Smith, with whom he had six children before her death in 1837. He later married the English convert Mary Fielding Smith in 1837, and their children included future church president Joseph F. Smith. The Smith family was deeply involved in the religious seeking that led to the events in the Sacred Grove and the publication of the Book of Mormon.

Role in the Latter Day Saint movement

Hyrum Smith was an early and unwavering supporter of his brother's work, serving as one of the Eight Witnesses to the plates of the Book of Mormon. He was baptized shortly after the formal organization of the Church of Christ in 1830 in Fayette, New York. He participated in the early missionary efforts and the gathering of Latter Day Saints to Kirtland, Ohio, and later to Missouri and Nauvoo, Illinois. Hyrum was present for many foundational events, including the dedication of the Kirtland Temple and the establishment of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. His consistent presence provided crucial stability during the church's formative and often tumultuous years.

Leadership and church service

Following the death of his father, Hyrum Smith was ordained as the presiding Patriarch to the Church in 1841, a position that involved giving patriarchal blessings. That same year, he was also called as an Assistant President of the Church and as a counselor to Joseph Smith in the First Presidency, making him one of the most powerful figures in the church hierarchy. He served as a member of the Nauvoo City Council and as a trustee for the Nauvoo House association. Hyrum was deeply involved in the administration of Nauvoo, including its civic and economic development, and he played a key role in the introduction and practice of plural marriage among the top leadership.

Relationship with Joseph Smith

The relationship between Hyrum and Joseph Smith was exceptionally close, with Joseph often referring to him as his "brother Hyrum" in revelatory texts like Doctrine and Covenants. Hyrum acted as a chief confidant, bodyguard, and loyal defender, frequently sharing his brother's imprisonments, including in Liberty Jail. He was appointed as his brother's successor in the event of Joseph's death, a designation outlined in a revelation recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. This bond of trust was central to the church's operations, with Hyrum managing many ecclesiastical and temporal affairs, which allowed Joseph to focus on theological developments and external pressures.

Death and legacy

On June 27, 1844, Hyrum Smith was assassinated by a mob at Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois, alongside his brother Joseph Smith. He was shot in the face while attempting to bar the door, uttering "I am a dead man" as he fell. This martyrdom triggered a major succession crisis that ultimately led to the schism between the LDS Church under Brigham Young and the Community of Christ under Joseph Smith III. Hyrum is revered as a martyr and a model of faithful brotherhood; his descendants, including Joseph F. Smith and Joseph Fielding Smith, became prominent presidents of the LDS Church. His legacy is commemorated in Latter-day Saint history, art, and at sites like the Carthage Jail visitors' center. Category:1800 births Category:1844 deaths Category:American Latter Day Saints Category:Assassinated American religious leaders Category:People murdered in Illinois