ONE
(1806)
The name and family Joseph was given at birth demonstrated how the advanced human beings who govern
this solar system carefully orchestrated his early preparations as a true messenger.In His First Year
Given that there were only eight days remaining in the year of Joseph’s birth on
December 23, 1805, we will begin his history during the first full year of his life through
- (He often related events in this manner in some of his personal written accounts, such
as referring to being in his “fifteenth year” at age 14.^1 ) Joseph was born into a family that at
the time consisted of his father, Joseph Smith, Sr., his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, his two
older brothers Alvin (born February 11, 1798) and Hyrum (born February 9, 1800), and an
older sister, Sophronia (born May 17, 1803).^2
A Name to Fulfill Prophecy
With divine purpose in mind, the names of Joseph, his father, and his grandfather
were all subtly suggested by advanced human beings. The purpose for ensuring that the
namesake of “Joseph” was given to the Smith’s third son would later be revealed in the Book
of Mormon.^3 Joseph Smith’s paternal grandfather was named Asael. This name was subtly
conveyed to the mind of Asael’s mother, Priscilla. “Asael” is a very rare name. The rest of
the males in the family had more popular names such as Samuel; but no one could change
great-grandmother Smith’s mind about naming her son the odd name of Asael. In Hebrew,
“Asael” means, “created by God.”^4
Grandfather Asael hated his name, and when his own sons were born, he overruled
anyone who wanted to name them anything but the most popular male names at the time.
He named his first son, Jesse, then, following the birth of a daughter (Priscilla), he named
his next son, Joseph (Sr.).
As it was customary at the time to name a son (almost always the firstborn son)
after the father, so that the name could be carried on through future generations, Asael’s
wife, Mary (Joseph’s grandmother), implored Asael to follow tradition. He finally
yielded to his wife, and named his third son, “Asahel.”^5 Although not precisely his
name, it was close enough to be a compromise.
Joseph Sr. and Lucy lost their first son^6 shortly after birth in 1797 and with guided
purpose didn’t give him a name.^7 Similar to the way that Joseph Sr. had not been named
after his father, Asael, advanced monitors subtly suggested into Joseph’s and Lucy’s
thoughts that their firstborn surviving son (Alvin) should not be named after his father.
Lucy, not really understanding why they hadn’t named Alvin after Joseph Sr., was
determined to give their second son his father’s namesake.
However, as it turned out—in adjustment-like fashion—when Joseph Sr. went to the
local Parrish to record the birth of their second son, his mind went completely blank even as he
was about to report the given name.^8 The clerk recording the information was perplexed by the