In 1915, when Joseph F. Smith was President of the Church, the First Presidency wrote a letter encouraging families to hold "home evening" activities. They promised blessings to families who would participate: "If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them" (in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [196575], 4:33839).
Just six weeks before his death, while reading and pondering the scriptures, Joseph F. Smith received a beautiful and magnificent vision. This vision showed Jesus Christ visiting the spirits of righteous people who had died. The Savior organized the spirits into a missionary force to preach the gospel to those who had died without a knowledge of the gospel or who had rejected the truth. Among the faithful who were teaching others were his father, Hyrum Smith, and the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Church accepted this revelation as scripture, and it was published in 1976 as section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
1838
Born on 13 November in Far West, Missouri, to Hyrum Smith (the Prophet Joseph's brother) and Mary Fielding Smith
1844
Age 5, his father martyred at Carthage Jail, Carthage, Illinois
1848
Age 9, drives an ox team across the plains
1852
Age 13, baptized a member of the Church on 21 May in City Creek, Salt Lake City
1852
Age 13, becomes an orphan when his mother, Mary Fielding Smith, dies on 21 September
185458
Ages 1519, serves a mission to Hawaii
186063
Ages 2124, serves a mission to Great Britain
1864
Age 2526, serves a special mission to Hawaii
1866
Age 27, marries Julina Lambson on 5 May; she dies in 1936
1866
Age 27, ordained an Apostle by Brigham Young on 1 July and called as a counselor in the First Presidency; later called as a counselor to Presidents Taylor (1880), Woodruff (1889), and Snow (1898)
187375
Ages 3537, serves as president of the European Mission
1877
Age 38, serves again as president of the European Mission
1901
Age 62, sustained as President of the Church on 17 October, with John R. Winder and Anthon H. Lund as counselors
1915
Age 76, dedicates the temple site at Laie, Hawaii, where he had served on a mission as a youth
1918
Age 80, dies on 19 November in Salt Lake City after 17 years as President of the Church
Summary
Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, was five years old when his father, Hyrum Smith, was killed at Carthage Jail with the Prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph F. Smith was nine years old when he drove an ox team across the plains. As President of the Church, he encouraged families to hold "home evening" activities, promising that "great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them."
