---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 9
number: 2
published: 1905-12
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Portrait of Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch," *Improvement Era* 9, no. 2 (December 1905): 112.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0902unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera0902unse
start_page: 112
end_page: 112
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1905-12)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0902unse
  publication_year: 1905
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1905, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Portrait of Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch

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1]2                      IMPRO VEMENT ERA.

fulness of the gospel    was revealed to him by ministering angels,
with many other precious truths, which       finally led to the publica-

tion of the Book of Mormon and the organization of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with power and authority from
God, because of what was conferred upon Joseph, to officiate in
the name of the Lord.
        Joseph Smith's testimony,   concerning these things, in later
life,was as simple, straightforward, plain and true as it had been
in childhood; his fidelity, courage, and love, implanted in and char-

acteristic of his life in boyhood, neither faltered nor changed.
     One marked illustration of this was his love for children. He
never saw a child but he desired to take     it up and bless it, and

many he did so bless, taking them in his arms and upon his knee.
I have myself sat upon his knee.    He was so fond of children that
he would go far out of his way to speak to a little one, which is to
me a striking characteristic of true manhood.
        His was true love for the human race.    His life was definitely
characteristic of the great principle expressed in his prayer in
Liberty jail. (Doctrine and Covenants, section 121      :   39).   He re-
proved at times with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy
Ghost, but afterward showed forth an increase of love toward him
whom he reproved, lest the latter should esteem him an enemy.
He was full of charity toward all men, and virtue indeed garnished
his thoughts.
        He exercised dominion and authority by persuasion, long-suf-
fering, gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned, until kindness
and pure knowledge enlarged his manly soul without hypocrisy and
without guile.     He waxed strong in the presence of God, and the
doctrine of the Priesthood distilled upon his soul as the dews from
heaven.
        Can such a tree bring forth evil fruit? No; verily, no.
        When, at last, having demonstrated these qualities         all   his
days, he freely gave his life for his testimony     and his people, he
had succeeded in outlining the work of the Lord, and in revealing
to mankind the foundation principles of  all progress and salvation.

I   know, and have known, from my childhood, that he was a prophet
of God, and I believe in his divine mission with all my heart; and
in the authenticity and inspiration of the revelations which he re-