Hyrum Smith (1800-1844)
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by Aug. 1804; back to Tunbridge, by Mar. 1808; back to Royalton, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811; to Norwich, Windsor Co., 1813; and to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816–Jan. 1817. Member of Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, early 1820s. Lived at Palmyra, 1817–1825. Lived at Manchester, Ontario Co., 1825–1826. Married first Jerusha Barden, 2 Nov. 1826, at Manchester. Returned to Palmyra, 1826. Baptized by Joseph Smith, June 1829, at Seneca Lake, Seneca Co., New York. One of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, June 1829. Assisted in arrangements for publication of Book of Mormon, 1829–1830, at Palmyra. Among six original members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 Apr. 1830. Ordained a priest, 9 June 1830. Presided over branch of church at Colesville, Broome Co., New York, 1830–1831. Migrated to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1831. Ordained a high priest by Joseph Smith, 4 June 1831. Left to serve mission to Missouri with John Murdock, June 1831. Appointed counselor to Bishop Newel K. Whitney, 10 Feb. 1832. Attended organizational meeting of School of the Prophets, 22–23 Jan. 1833, in Kirtland. Member of committee to supervise construction of Kirtland temple, 1833–1836. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Appointed to Kirtland high council, 24 Sept. 1834. Ordained assistant president in presidency of the high priesthood, Dec. 1834. Stockholder in Kirtland Safety Society. Sustained as assistant counselor in presidency of church, 3 Sept. 1837. Wife died, 13 Oct. 1837. Appointed second counselor in First Presidency, 7 Nov. 1837. Married second Mary Fielding, 24 Dec. 1837, at Kirtland. Migrated to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, Mar.–May 1838. Imprisoned at Liberty, Clay Co., Missouri, with his brother Joseph Smith, 1838–1839. Allowed to escape during change of venue, 16 Apr. 1839, en route from trial in Gallatin, Daviess Co., Missouri, to Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri. Arrived at Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 22 Apr. 1839. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1839. Succeeded Joseph Smith Sr. as church patriarch, 1840. In Joseph Smith revelation dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed to buy stock for building Nauvoo House, appointed patriarch of church, released as counselor in First Presidency, and appointed a prophet, seer, and revelator in First Presidency; instructed to “act in concert” with Joseph Smith, who would “show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessing, and glory, and honor, and priesthood, and gifts of the priesthood, that once were put upon . . . Oliver Cowdery” [D&C 124:77, 91-96]. Elected to Nauvoo City Council, 1 Feb. 1841. Appointed chaplain in Nauvoo Legion, Mar. 1841. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge; elected Worshipful Master, 10 Nov. 1842. Vice mayor of Nauvoo, 1842–ca. 1843. Appointed to replace Elias Higbee as member of Nauvoo temple committee, 10 Oct. 1843. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 11 Mar. 1844. Participated in plural marriage during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Murdered at Carthage, Hancock Co.
Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.