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Three Brigham Young University-Idaho
employees have taken part in writing a new book titled “United
by Faith: The Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family.” The book
shares stories from the lives of the family members of the
prophet Joseph Smith.
Kyle Walker, a counselor at BYU-Idaho, served as editor and
authored four chapters in the volume. Roy Huff, a BYU-Idaho
Associate Academic Vice President, and Nathan Williams, a member
of the BYU-Idaho Religion Department faculty, authored one
chapter each in the book. Six other writers also contributed to
the book.
The idea for this account came as Walker completed his
dissertation, which was done on the dynamics of Joseph Smith’s
family.
“United by Faith: The Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family”
gives readers the chance to meet the people who knew the Prophet
the best. The Smith family served as a constant strength to
Joseph in a life filled with fierce opposition and continuous
trial. Whether it was Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack, the faithful
parents of a seer; or Hyrum, who stood with the Prophet in many
occasions, including death; or Samuel, who served as the first
missionary in the last dispensation; or the sisters of the Smith
family; each played an integral role in the molding of the
Prophet Joseph Smith. They supported and followed Joseph to the
very end of his life, and this record helps one better
understand why they were entrusted and qualified to raise the
Prophet of the Restoration.
“The purpose for writing this book was that we realized the
stories of Joseph Smith’s family members hadn’t been told,”
Walker said. “People just don’t know a lot about them, and they
need to know. There is not a more powerful witness in Church
history of the Prophet Joseph Smith than the Smith family.”
The book can be found in LDS bookstores
everywhere. |