http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Zsvml57PE is a video describing how to learn more about the Mormon Church.
Joseph F. Smith was the sixth prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in that position for seventeen years.
Born on November 13, 1838, to Hyrum (Joseph Smith's brother) and Mary Fielding Smith, he experienced upheaval and hardships early in life. His father was in jail when he was born, and the rest of his family was forced from their home in Far West, Missouri, when he was only a couple of months old.
The family fled to Illinois, and for a time life was peaceful as the family lived in Nauvoo. Then in June of 1844, when Joseph F. Smith was only five years old, his father and his uncle Joseph Smith were martyred. Although he was young he said:
"I saw his lifeless body together with that of my father after they were murdered in Carthage jail; and still have the most palpable remembrance of the gloom and sorrow of those dreadful days."
In the fall of 1846 the family was again forced from their home, and Joseph F. Smith crossed the Missouri river to begin his journey with his mother across the plains to Utah. Joseph, though only seven when their journey began, was in charge of driving an ox team.
In September of 1848, the family finally arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. A few years later, at 13, Joseph F. Smith was baptized as a member of the Church. Only five months after his baptism, Joseph's mother passed away. Though he was still relatively young, he cherished tender memories of his mother's abiding faith and willingness to sacrifice. During the eight years between Hyrum's martyrdom in 1844 and Mary's own death in 1852, she shepherded her family across the plains to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, established a home and farm, and nurtured the faith of her children.
At fifteen years old Joseph F. Smith served his first mission for the Church. He was sent to Hawaii and stayed there preaching until he was nineteen.
Joseph F. Smith embraced the Hawaiian people and learned the language in just 100 days. In 1857, he returned to Utah and just three years later left again for another mission, this time to England. When he returned in 1863, he was again called on another mission to Hawaii.
In July 1866, at only 27 years old, Joseph F. Smith was ordained as an apostle and served as a counselor to President Brigham Young. He also served as the president of the European Mission. Joseph F. Smith served as second counselor to three presidents of the Church: John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow. Then in October,1901, at 62 years old, he was called as the sixth president of the Church.
While president and prophet, Joseph F. Smith began the Church's work to maintain church history sites. Under his direction the Church purchased Carthage Jail, a part of the temple site in Independence, Missouri, Joseph Smith's birthplace, the Sacred Grove, and Joseph Smith Sr. family farm. Joseph F. Smith also oversaw the building of more temples, and oversaw the construction of both the Cardston Alberta Temple in Canada and the Laie Hawaii Temple, though he died before either was finished. He was also concerned about promoting a good family environment and instituted the weekly home evening program. This zeal for the preservation and teaching of the family came from his own love for his family. He said often that "life everlasting should begin at home," (Teachings Of Presidents Of The Church: Joseph F. Smith, p.241). Joseph F. Smith was also the first President of the Church to visit Europe while serving. He also received the revelation now found in Doctrine and Covenants section 138, concerning the Savior's visit to the spirits of the dead while his body was in the tomb 138.
In November 1918 at 80 years old, Joseph F. Smith passed away. His son Joseph Fielding Smith, who also became a president of the Church, remembered his father this way, "His spirit was gentle and kind. A more sympathetic soul, one who suffered with the sufferer, who was more willing to help the helpless to carry his burden, and the downtrodden to regain his feet, could not be found in all the borders of Israel. He was a peace-maker, a lover of peace."
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lds9999 is very busy making good mormon movies. Go on, you do well
DeutschlandBettina 3 years ago
I didn't realize that the LDS hospital and the institute programs were started by JFS.
I didn't realize the Church purchased those historical sites under JFS.
I loved the story about JFS and the ANTImormons harrassing him! Unfortunately the harrassment is too familiar!
omiolo 3 years ago