History of the Saints ~ MARY FIELDING SMITH

FAITH IN EVERY FOOTSTEP, MOTHER OF APOSTLES AND PROPHETS

THE LEGACY OF MARY FIELDING SMITH LIVES ON, BOTH IN HER NOBLE AND NUMEROUS POSTERITY AND IN HER HOME, THE ORIGINAL OF WHICH IS AT THIS IS THE PLACE HERITAGE PARK IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

MARY FIELDING WAS BORN AND REARED IN ENGLAND AND JOINED THE CHURCH IN 1835 IN CANADA. WHEN SHE AND HER SIBLINGS EMIGRATED TO KIRTLAND, OHIO SHORTLY THEREAFTER, LITTLE COULD SHE HAVE KNOWN THAT SHE WOULD STEP OUT OF OBSCURITY INTO THE FULL LIGHT OF THE LEADING FAMILY OF THE CHURCH. WITH THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE, JERUSHA BARDEN SMITH, HYRUM WAS COMMANDED BY REVELATION TO TAKE MARY TO WIFE. THEY WERE WED ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 1836. FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, SHE WAS HYRUM'S BELOVED COMPANION AND THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN. WHAT HYRUM ENDURED SO TOO DID SHE. WHEN HYRUM WAS MURDERED IN JUNE 1844, MARY'S BURDEN OF GRIEF, AGONIZING AS IT WAS, WAS CARRIED WITH DETERMINED DIGNITY. SHE WOULD CARRY ON. SHE WOULD LEAD THE FAMILY. SHE WOULD FOLLOW THE APOSTLES TO THE SAINTS NEW HOME ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. THIS IS THE STORY OF ONE WOMAN WHO BY THE SMALL DAILY CHOICES OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE BECAME GREAT IN THE EYES OF GOD AND HER POSTERITY.