The Prophet and the Patriarch

The Prophet and Patriarch. On the beautiful grounds in the famous temple block, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 27, 1911, were erected life-size statues in bronze, of Joseph Smith the prophet and his brother Hyrum. There was no special unveiling ceremony, owing to the unexpected absence of President Joseph F. Smith in Washington, D. C. The pedestals are of Utah granite, the base of each being five feet ten inches by four feet, and one foot four inches high; and the die, four feet four inches, by two feet six inches, three feet high, making a total height of four feet four inches. The statues are from models by the artist Mahonri M. Young, son of the late Joseph Young, and formerly occupied the niches at the east entrances to the Holy Temple. 'They were placed in the open grounds that visitors might more easily see them, and be informed of the noble mission of the martyr brothers, by means of the inscriptions on the pedestals. The inscription plates were cast by Winslow Brothers of Chicago, and with the granite blocks were placed in position under the personal supervision of Nephi L. Morris, of Elias Morris & Sons, Salt Lake City. The letters are block-type with polished face and brushed background, legible and clear, making the words easily readable. Text on the plate of the Hyrum Statue: HYRUM SMITH The Patriarch and a witness of the Book of Mormon. An elder brother and the steadfast friend and counselor of Joseph Smith, the Prophet. Born at Tunbridge, Vermont, February 9th, 1800; suffered martyrdom with the Prophet at Carthage, Illinois, on the 27th of June, 1844. # The friendship of the brothers Hyrum and Joseph Smith is' foremost among the few great friendships of the world's history. Their names will be classed among the martyrs for religion. The Book of Mormon—the plates of which Hyrum Smith both saw and handled; the revelations in the book of Doctrine and Covenants; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—these, to bring them forth for the salvation of the world, cost the best blood of the 19th century. "I could pray in my heart that all men were like my brother Hyrum, who possesses the mildness of a lamb and the integrity of Job; and, in short, the meekness and humility of Christ. I love him with that love that is stronger than death."—Joseph smith. "If ever there was an exemplary, honest and virtuous man, the embodiment of all that is noble in the human form, Hyrum Smith was the representative."—President John Taylor. As he shared in the labors, so does he share in the honor and glory of the new dispensation with his prophet brother. In life they were not divided; in death they were not separated; in glory they are one The front plate of the Joseph Statue: JOSEPH SMITH The Prophet of the new dispensation of the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. He was born at Sharon, Vermont, on the 23rd of December, 1805; and suffered martyrdom for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus at Carthage, Illinois, on the 27th of June, 1844.

HYRUM SMITH, THE PATRIARCH. "Blessed is my servant, Hyrum Smith, for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord. * * * * I give unto you Hyrum Smith, to be a Patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my Church, even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you."—(Doctrine and Covenants.)

HIS VISION OF GOD I saw two personages whose glory and brightness defy all description. One of them spake unto me and said: THIS IS MY BELOVED SON: HEAR HIM. I asked which of all the sects was right and which I should join. I was answered I must join none of them; they were all wrong; they teach for doctrine the commandments of men; I received a promise that the fulness of the gospel would at some future time be made known to me. THE BOOK OF MORMON This book was revealed to him, and he translated it by the gift and power of God. It is an inspired history of ancient America, and contains the fulness of the gospel. It is the American Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH Joseph Smith received divine authority through the ministration of angels to teach the gospel and administer the ordinances thereof. He established again in the earth the Church of Jesus Christ, organizing it by the will and commandment of God on the 6th day of April, 1830. He also received commission to gather Israel and establish Zion on this land of America; to erect temples and perform all ordinances therein both for the living and the dead; and prepare the way for the glorious coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign on earth. The back plate of the statue of the Prophet reads: TRUTH-GEMS From the Teachings of Joseph Smith. The glory of God is intelligence. It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance. Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life will rise with us in the resurrection. There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated; and when we obtain any blessing from God it is by obedience to that law on which it is predicated. This is the work and glory of God: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Adam fell that man might be; and men are that they might have joy. The intelligence of spirits had no beginning, neither will it have an end. Jesus was in the beginning with the Father: man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light oi truth was not created or made, neither indeed can be. The spirit and body is the soul of man; and the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul. "It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God; and to know that man, (as MosesJ, may converse with Him as one man converses with another." The pedestal art work is rugged and bold, typifying the robust types of manhood which characterized the brothers. That these memorials are thus erected in the metropolis of the great western commonwealth, in such surroundings—the temple, the tabernacle, lovely lawns, flowers, fountains, music, houses of worship, the great buildings, the city itself, the hundreds of prosperous towns, cities and settlements of the West,—is the fulfilment in itself of the famous utterance of the prophet just before his martyrdom: "The Saints shall become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains." Tens of thousands of strangers from all parts of the world annually visit the grounds, and hundreds of thousands will here read the Prophet's messages of salvation.—Edward H. Anderson.

JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET. "Thou shalt he called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the Church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord, Jesus Christ, being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith, which church was organized and established in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty, on the sixth day of April."—(Doctrine and Covenants.)