2010–2019
The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead
October 2018


Ọhụ ahụ nke Mgbapụta nke Ndi Nwụrụ-anwụ

A na m agba-ama na ọhụụ Onye-isi-nduzi Joseph F. Smith bụ eziokwu. A na m ekwupụta akaebe na onye niile nwere ike ịbịa mara na ọ bụ eziokwu.

Ụmụnne m nwoke na ụmụnne m nwanyị, akwadoro okwu m tupu oge ezi nwunye m Barbara nwụrụ. Mụ na ezi-na-ụlọ m n’ekele unu maka ịhụnanya na nsetipụ nke obi-ọma unu. Ekpere m bụ ka Onye-nwe-anyị gọzie m ka m n’ekwuru unu okwu nụtụtụ a.

N’ime Ọktoba 1918, afọ 100 gara aga, Onye-isi-nduzi Joseph F. Smith natara mkpughe dị ebube. Ka ihe ruru afọ 65 gara nke ije-ozi dị uchu nye Onye-nwe-anyị n’ime Nzukọ-nsọ nke Jizọs Kraịst nke Ndi-nsọ Ụbọchị Ikpe-azụ a ma nanị izu-ụka ole ma ole tupu ọnwụ ya na Nọvemba 19, 1918, ọ nọdụrụ ọdụ n’ime ime-ụlọ ya na-atụle ịchụ-aja mgbaghara-mmehie nke Kraịst na ịgụ nkọwa Onye-ozi Pita maka mgbasa ozi-ọma nke Onye-nzọpụta n’ime ụwa mụọ mgbe Akpọgbuchara Ya n’obe.

Ọ dedatara: “Dịka m gụrụ e nwetere m mmetụta dị ukwuu… Ka m tulere gbasara ihe ndia niile…, anya nke nghọta m bịara mepee, ma Mụọ nke Onye-nwe-anyị dakwasịrị n’elu m, ma a hụrụ m igwe nke ndi nwụrụ anwụ.”1 Uju ndedata nke ọhụ ahụ ka edere n’ime Ozizi na Ọgbụgba-ndụ niile Nkeji 138.

Ka m kwuo ụfọdụ ihe mgbakwasị ukwu ka anyị wee nwe ike ghọtacha kpam kpam oge ndụ Joseph F. nke nkwado ịnata mkpughe nkea pụrụ iche.

Foto, oyiyi
Josef na Hyrum n’elu nyinya

Mgbe ọ bụụrụ Onye-isi-nduzi nke Nzukọ-nsọ a, ọ gara nleta na Nauvoo n’afọ 1906 ma tụgharịa uche na ihe ọ matara mgbe ọ gbara nanị afọ ise. O kwuru, “Ebe a bụ ebe m guzoro kpọmkwem mgbe [Joseph, nwanne nna m, na nna m, Hyrum] bịara na-agbagba n’ụzọ na-aga Kateg. Na-agbadaghị site na nyịnya ya nna hudara ma kulie m elu. O susuru m ọnụ gaa nke ọma ma doghachi m ala ọzọ ma a hụrụ ya ka ọ gbapụrụ.”2

Oge ọzọ Joseph F hụrụ ha, nne ya, Mary Fielding Smith, kuliri ya elu ịhụ ndi nwụrụ maka ihe ha kwere ka ha gbọtọ n’akụkụ n’akụkụ mgbe egbusịrị ha nke ọjọọ n’ime Ụlọ-mkpọrọ Kateg na Jun 27, 1844.

Afọ abụọ gasịrị, Joseph F., ya na ezi-na-ụlọ ya na nne ya jupụtara n’okwukwe, Mary Fielding Smith, hapụrụ ebe obibi ha dị n’ime obodo Nauvoo gawa Winter Quarters. N’agbanyeghị o rubeghị afọ asatọ, Joseph F., ka achọrọ ka ọ nyaa otu n’ime otu ox site na Montrose, Iowa, ruo Winters Quarters ma emesịa ruo na Ndagwurugwu Salt Lake, n’eru mgbe ọ fọrọ ihe nta ka ọ gbaa afọ 10. O doro m anya na unu ụmụnwoke na ndi nkom nta na-ege ntị ma ga amata oke na ọrụ na ihe a na-atụ anya atụkwasịrị n’isi Joseph F. n’oge nwantakịrị ya.

Nanị afọ anọ gasịrị, n’afọ 1852, mgbe ọ gbara afọ 13, nne ya ọ hụrụ n’anya nwụrụ anwụ—hapụ Joseph na ụmụnne ya ndị n’enweghị nne na nna.3

A kpọrọ Joseph F. ije-ozi mgbasa ozi-ọma n’ime Hawaiian Islands n’afọ 1854 mgbe ọ gbara afọ 15. Mgbasa ozi-ọma, nke ruru ihe karịrị afọ atọ, bụụrụ mbido ndụ nke ije-ozi n’ime Nzukọ-nsọ a.

Mgbe ọ lọghachịrị Utah, Joseph F. lụrụ nwunye n’afọ 1859.4 N’ime afọ ole ma ole bịara, ndụ ya jupụtara n’ọrụ, ọrụ ezi-na-ụlọ, na ozi mgbasa ozi-ọma abụọ agbakwunyere. Na Julaị 1, 1866, n’afọ 27, Joseph F. gbanwere ndụ ya kpam kpam mgbe echiri ya Onye-ozi site n’aka Brigham Young. N’ọnwa Ọktoba nke afọ sotere ya, ọ nọchitere otu oghere dị n’ime Kansụl nke Iri-na-abụọ.5O jere-ozi dịka onye ndụmọdụ nye Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Wordruff, na Lorenzo Snow tupu ya abụrụ Onye-isi-nduzi n’onwe ya n’afọ 1901.6

Joseph F. na nwunye ya Julina mụtara nwa ha mbụ, Mercy Josephine, n’ime ezi-na-ụlọ ha. 7 Ọ gbara nanị afọ-abụọ-na-ọkárá mgbe ọ nwụrụ. Mgbe n’adịghị anya, Joseph F. dedatara, “Ọ bụ otu ọnwa echi gara aga kemgbe… Josephine m ọma nwụrụ. O! na m gaara enwe ike zọpụta ya itolite ruo nwata nwanyị. A na m eche gbasara ya ụbọchị ọbụla ma owu kụrụ m. … Chineke gbaghara adịghị ike m ọbụrụ na ọ dị njọ ịhụ ụmụaka m obere n’anya otu m sị hụ ha n’anya.”8

N’oge ndụ ya, nna Onye-isi Smith nwụrụ, nne ya, otu nwanne ya nwoke, ụmụnne ya ndi nwanyị abụọ, ndi nwunye abụọ, na ụmụ iri-na-atọ. Ọ bịara mata nke ọma gbasara iru-uju na ndi ị hụrụ n’anya ịnwụ.

Mgbe nwa ya nwoke Albert Jesse nwụrụ, Joseph F. degaara nwanne ya nwanyị na ya arịọwo Onye-nwe-anyị ịzọpụta ya ma jụọ ajụjụ, “Gịnị mere o jiri dị otu a? O. Chineke gịnị kpatara o si diri?”9

N’agbanyeghị ekpere niile n’oge ahụ, Joseph F. anataghị azịza maka okwu nkea.10 Ọ gwara Martha Ann na “eluigwe niile [bịara dịka] eji ihe kpuchie n’isi anyị” n’elu isi-okwu gbasara ọnwụ na ụwa mụọ ahụ. Otu o sina dị, okwukwe ya n’ime nkwa ebigh-ebi nke Onye-nwe-anyị kwụrụ chịm ma sie ike.

N’oge zuru ezu nke Onye-nwe-anyị, azịza niile agbakwunyere, nkasị-obi, na nghọata gbasara ụwa mụọ ahụ Onye-isi Smith naara achọ bịaara ya site na ọhụ dị ịtụnanya ọ natara n’Ọktoba 1918.

Afọ ahụ fụrụ ya nnọ ezigbo ụfụ. O ruru uju n’ọnụ ọgụgụ ọnwụ nke Nnukwu Agha Ụwa ahụ nke gara n’ihu nagbago ihe karịrị nde mmadụ 20 egburu. Ọzọkwa, ọrịa ọjọọ flu naara agbasa gburu gburu ụwa, n’akpọrọ ndụ ihe ruru ọtụtụ dịka nde mmadụ 100.

Foto, oyiyi
Okenye Hyrum Mack Smith

N’oge afọ ahụ, ndi otu ezi-na-ụlọ atọ ọzọ bịakwara nwụnaghara Onye-isi-nduzi Smith. Okenye Hyrum Mack Smith nke Kworum Ndi-Ozi Iri-na-abụọ, nwa ya nwoke nke mbụ na nna nke ukwu m, nwụrụ ọnwụ mberede nke apendiks gbapuru.

Onye-isi-nduzi Smith dere: “O nyeghị m ọnụ-okwu—[ogbu] dara maka iru-uju! … Obi m agbawaala; ma na-achọ ume ndụ!… O! a hụrụ m ya n’anya! … A ga m ahụ ya na-anya ruo ọgwụgwụ karịa. Ma otu ahụ ka ọ dị ma ga-adịgịde n’ebe ụmụ m ndi nwoke niile na ụmụ m ndi nwanyị niile, mana ọ bụ nwa m nwoke nke mbụ, onye mbụ iwetere m ọńụ na olile-anya nke aha a na-asọpụrụ, n’enweghị ọgwụgwụ n’etiti mmadụ. Site n’ala ala obi m e kelere m Chineke maka ya! Mana … O! A chọrọ m ya! Anyị niile chọrọ ya! Ọ baara Nzukọ-nsọ ahụ uru karịchaa. … Mana ugbua, … O! gịnị ka m nwere ike ime! … O! Chineke nyere m aka!”11

Ọnwa nke sotere, di nwa Onye-isi-nduzi Smith, Alonzo Kesler, nwụrụ na mberede okporo-ụzọ dị ike.12 Onye-isi-nduzi Smith dere na jonalụ ya, “Ihe mberede okporo-ụzọ nkea rụrụ arụ kacha egwu ma n’agbawa obi, ọzọ kwa ewetewo iru-uju n’ime ezi-na-ụlọ m niile.”13

Ọnwa asaa gasịrị, n’ime Septemba 1918, nwunye nwa Onye-isi-nduzi Smith na nne m nke ukwu, Ida Bowman Smith, nwụrụ mgbe ọ mụchara nwa ya nke ise, dedem Hyrum.14

Ma otu ahụ ka ọ dịịrị, n’Ọktoba 3, 1918, ebe ọ hụtawo iru-uju dị ukwu gbasara nde mmadụ ndi nwụworo n’ime ụwa site na-agha na ọrịa na kwa ọnwụ nke ndi otu ezi-na-ụlọ ya, Onye-isi-nduzi Smith natara mkpughe sitere n’igwe amaara dịka “ọhụ nke mgbapụta nke ndi nwụrụ anwụ.”

Foto, oyiyi
Onye-isi Joseph F. Smith

O zoro n’ime mkpughe ahụ ụbọchị sotere n’ime nkeji mmepe nke ọgbakọ zuruọha Ọktoba. Ahụ-isi-ike Onye-isi-nduzi Smith naara ada ada, n’agbanyeghị o kwuru obere okwu: “Agaghị m, enweghị m ike, ịnwa ibanye n’ime ọtụtụ ihe ndi dakwasịrị m n’obi n’ụtụtụ nkea, ma aga m echeche ruo nwa oge nke dị n’ihu, Onye-nwe-anyị kwere, mgbalị m ịgwa unu ụfọdụ ihe ndi dị m n’uche, na nke bi n’ime obi m. E bibeghị m nanị m n’ọnwa ise ndia [gara aga]. A nọrọwo m na-mụọ nke ekpere, nke arịrịọ, nke okwukwe na nke mkpebi siri ike; ma enwetawo m mkparịta-ụka mụ na Mụọ nke Onye-nwe-anyị nọgidere.15

Mkpughe ọ natara n’Ọktoba 3 kasịrị mkpụrụ-obi m ma wete azịza nye ọtụtụ ajụjụ ya. Anyị kwa nwere ike inwete nkasị obi ma mụta karịa gbasara ọdịnihu nke onwe anyị mgbe anyị nan di anyị hụrụn’anya nwụrụ ma gaa n’ụwa mụọ site n’ịmụ mkpughe nkea na ịtụgharị uche uru ya n’ụzọ anyị si ebi ndụ anyị kwa ụbọchị.

N’etiti ọtụtụ ihe niile Onye-isi-nduzi Smith hụrụ bụụrụ nleta nke Onye-nzọpụta gara leta ndi okwukwe n’ime ụwa mụọ mgbe ọnwụ Ya n’elu obe gasịrị. Site n’ọhụ ahụ ka m si ekwupụta:

“Na lee, site n’etiti ndi ezi-omume, ka ọ haziri ndi ọrụ ya niile ma rọpụta ndi oje-ozi ya niile, ndi yikwasịworo ike na ikike dịka uwe na kwado ha ịga n’iru na bugara ha íhé nke ozi-ọma, bụ ndi nọwọrị n’ọchịchịrị, ọbụladị nye mụọ niile nke ndi mmadụ [na ụmụnwanyị];16 na site otu aka e si zisaa ozi-ọma nye ndi nwụrụ anwụ. …

“Ndi a ka a kụziworo okwukwe na Chineke, nchegharị site na mmehie, baptism n’ọnọdụ onye ọzọ n’ihi nsachapụ nke mmehie niile, onyinye nke Mụọ Nsọ site na-ibịkwasị aka abụọ,

“Na ụkpụrụ niile ndi ọzọ nke ozi-ọma ndi dịworo mkpa ka ha mara iji wee tozue-oke nye onwe ha ka e wee kpee ha ikpe dịka ndi mmadụ n’anụ arụ, na ha adị ndụ dịka Chineke n’ime mụọ. …

“N’ihi na ndi nwụrụ anwụ na-ele ogologo mgbe mụọ ha niile na-anọghị n’arụ ha anya dịka ị nọ n’oru.

“Ndi a ka Onye-nwe-anyị kụziworo, ma nye ha ike ịpụta mgbe mbilite n’ọnwụ ya site na ndi nwụrụ anwụ gafeworo, ka ha bata n’ime ala-eze nke Nna ya, n’ebe ahụ ka e wee kpube ha anwụghị anwụ na ndụ ebighi-ebi,

“Ma ha na-aga n’iru site mgbe ahụ gawa n’ọrụ ha dịka Onye-nwe-anyị kwere nkwa, ma bụrụ ndi niile ga-eso ịnata ngọzi niile ndi e dobere chere n’ihi ha bụ ndi hụrụ ya n’anya.”17

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Joseph na Hyrum Smith akpụrụakpụ

N’ime ọhụ ahụ, Onye-isi-nduzi Smith hụrụ nna ya, Hyrum, na Onye-amụma Joseph Smith. O ruworịị afọ 74 kemgbe ọ hụrụ ha n’ikpe-azụ mgbe ọ bụ obere nwa nwoke n’ime Nauvoo. Anyị nwere ike iche nanị ọńụ ya n’ịhụta nna ya na nwanne nna ya ọ hụrụ n’anya. Ọ nwetewo nnọọ mkwalite mụọ na nkasị-obi ịmata na mụọ niile na-anọgide n’ụdị nke anụ-ahụ ha na ha na-atụsị anya ike ụbọchị nke nkwa mbilite n’ọnwụ ekwere ha. Ọhụ ahụ kpughere karịa uju nkọwa atụmatụ nke Nna nke Eluigwe maka ụmụ Ya na ịhụnanya mgbapụta nke Kraịst na ike Aja-mgbaghara-mmehie Ya na-enweghị atụ.18

N’emume ncheta ugboro 100 nkea pụrụ iche, a na m akpọku unu ịgụ nke ọma na ịgụsike mkpughe ahụ. Dịka unu na-eme otu ahụ, ka Onye-nwe-anyị gọzie unu ịghọta karịa nke ọma ma nwe obi ekele n’ịhụnanya nke Chineke na atụmatụ Ya nke nzọpụta na ańụrị maka ụmụ Ya.

A na m agba-ama na ọhụ Onye-isi-nduzi Joseph F. Smith natara bụ ezi-okwu. A na m ekwupụta aka-ebe m na mmadụ niile nwere ike ịgụ ya ma bịa mata na ọ bụ eziokwu. Ndi ahụ na-anaghị anata amamihe nkea n’ime ndụ nkea ga abịa mata n’ezie eziokwu ya mgbe onye niile ga-abịaru n’ime ụwa mụọ. Ebe ahụ, onye niile ga-eto ma hụ Chineke n’anya na Onye-nwe-anyị Jizọs Kraịst maka nnukwu atụmatụ nke nzọpụta na ngọzi nke Mbilite N’ọnwụ ekwere na nkwa mgbe anụ-ahụ na mụọ ga ọzọ kwa nọkọta ọnụ n’enweghị mgbe a ga-ekewa ha ọzọ.19

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Nwanne nwanyị Barbara Ballard

Ụdị obi-ekele m nwere ịmara ebe Barbara m hụrụn’anya nke ukwuu nọ ma na anyị ga anọkọta ọnụ ọzọ anyị na ezi-na-ụlọ anyị ruo ebigh-ebi niile. Ka udo ahụ nke Onye-nwe-anyị kwadoo anyị niile ugbua na mgbe niile bụ ekpere m dị umeala, n’aha nke Jizọs Kraịst, amen.

Notes

  1. Doctrine and Covenants 138:6, 11.

  2. Joseph F. Smith, in Preston Nibley, The Presidents of the Church (1959), 228.

  3. See Joseph Fielding Smith, Life of Joseph F. Smith (1938), 13.

  4. He married Levira Clark in 1859, Julina Lambson in 1866, Sarah Richards in 1868, Edna Lambson in 1871, Alice Kimball in 1883, and Mary Schwartz in 1884.

  5. Joseph F. Smith was called as an additional counselor in the First Presidency (Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Daniel H. Wells). He also served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to three Church Presidents: Presidents John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow.

  6. Joseph F. Smith served as a counselor to the First Presidency during Brigham Young’s administration and served as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency during the administrations of John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow. He was the first Church President to have served in the First Presidency before being called as the President.

  7. Mercy Josephine, Joseph F.’s firstborn child, was born on August 14, 1867, and died on June 6, 1870.

  8. Joseph F. Smith, journal, July 7, 1870, Church History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.

  9. Joseph F. Smith to Martha Ann Smith Harris, Aug. 26, 1883, Church History Library; see Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and David M. Whitchurch, My Dear Sister: The Letters between Joseph F. Smith and His Sister Martha Ann (2018), 290–91.

  10. In many instances, the Lord directed Joseph F. Smith in his personal life and in his ministry as an Apostle and President of the Church through inspired dreams, revelations, and visions. Often these precious gifts from the Lord were recorded in his journals, sermons, reminiscences, and official records of the Church.

  11. Joseph F. Smith, journal, Jan. 23, 1918, Church History Library; spelling and capitalization modernized; see Joseph Fielding Smith, Life of Joseph F. Smith, 473–74.

  12. See “A. [P.] Kesler Is Killed in Fall from a Building,” Ogden Standard, Feb. 5, 1918, 5.

  13. Joseph F. Smith, journal, Feb. 4, 1918, Church History Library.

  14. See “Ida Bowman Smith,” Salt Lake Herald-Republican, Sept. 26, 1918, 4.

  15. Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, Oct. 1918, 2.

  16. See the reference to “our glorious Mother Eve” and the “faithful daughters who … worshiped the true and living God” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:39).

  17. Doctrine and Covenants 138:30, 33–34, 50–52.

  18. The text of the vision first appeared in the November 30, 1918, edition of the Deseret News, 11 days after the passing of President Smith, on November 19. It was printed in the December Improvement Era and in January 1919 editions of the Relief Society Magazine, the Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, the Young Woman’s Journal, and the Millennial Star.

  19. Although sons of perdition will be resurrected, they may not give love and praise to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as will those who receive a kingdom of glory. See Alma 11:41; Doctrine and Covenants 88:32–35.