Patriarch John Smith

EDITOR'S TABLE l75 Patriarch John Smith. The Latter-day Saints were again called upon to part with another of their beloved leaders, when Patriarch John Smith died. Nov. 6. Faithful to the gospel, true to every call made upon him, energetic in his labors, and in the full enjoyment of the spirit of his holy calling, he passed to the life beyond, honored and respected by his people, in all the world. And more than twenty thousand Latter-day Saints treasure blessings pronounced upon their heads by this faithful servant of the Lord, for they found in his words a source of comfort, an impetus to righteousness, and rich prophetic promises frequently fulfiled in their lives. Through all his trials and hardships, he responded to every call with alacrity, and displayed in all things a conscientious regard for the rights of his fellow men, and a spirit of fairness and honor that won the respect of all. In private and public life, and in the secular, civil, and religious offices which he held, he was the soul of integrity, and was as honorable and considerate as he was honest and upright. John Smith's early life was full of hardship and thrilling incident Born of Hyrum Smith and Jerusha Barden, in Kirt- land, Ohio, in 1832, he was left motherless five years thereafter, and fatherless when, in 1844, Hyrum, the Second patriarch, was cruelly martyred in Carthage. He passed through the severe Missouri persecutions, with the cold, hunger, and hardship inci- dent thereto; and the lad had only little peace in Nauvoo, before the martyrdom. Three years later, early in 1846, he started west. On the journey, he herded cattle, drove teams, and did odd work, in all kinds of weather — in storms and driving rain. At Winter Quarters he worked at building, farming, and fencing, taking a man's place in the hay and harvest field. Coming over the plains in 1848, when only sixteen years of age, he yet took his place with the men in driving team, breaking wild steers, standing guard at night, herding animals, and carrying wood and water to the travel- ling camp of pioneers. On his 16th birthday anniversary, he drove his wagon down "Big Mountain," on the old trail, and on the day following arrived in the Valley. Then came the days of standing guard to protect the settlements from Indians — he was a minute- man, night and day — and work on the farm and in the canyons to help support the family. He married Helen Maria Fisher, December