One (1806)man’s stupor of thought, and waited upon the bewildered father to give the name. The name
“Hyrum” was certainly not one of the most popular names at the time—nor was it a name in
any of Joseph Sr.’s or Lucy’s family ancestry. Nevertheless, the name “Hyrum” is what came out
of Joseph’s mouth. The name “Hiram” in Hebrew means, “My brother is exalted.”^9
Early Sibling Influence
When Hyrum was born, Alvin was almost two years old^10 —too young to take a
position of protection and responsibility over a younger sibling. On the other hand,
when Joseph was born, Alvin and Hyrum were older,^11 and couldn’t get enough of
their younger brother. Sophronia was too young at the time (two and a half years old)^12
to consider Joseph as anything but a rival to the attention she was used to receiving.
Alvin, nearly 8 years old, would hold the infant Joseph whenever the opportunity
presented itself. Alvin’s special love for Joseph was a demonstration of an older
brother learning to feel empowered and responsible for another. His relationship with
Joseph became an obsession.
Other children eventually arrived into the Smith family,^13 but none was ever as
important to Alvin as little Joseph.^14 Alvin’s involvement in Joseph’s early life would,
eventually, have great influence upon Joseph’s innately open and inquisitive mind. The
connection to Alvin became a developmental imperative, providing further liberation
toward his eventual rejection of all religion—and in seeking out the truth for himself.^15
Joseph’s Parents
Lucy Mack Smith
Joseph’s mother was the most dominant—if not overbearing—person in his
mortal foundationalization, powerfully influencing everything about her family and
those around her until her death. The Mack family from which she came was specifically
chosen to serve as the preconditioning source from which she was prepared to aid in
developing the proper foundation for Joseph. Her family’s influence on Lucy would in
turn have an impact on the upbringing and instruction that would help prepare young
Joseph for his life’s work.
Lucy’s mother, Lydia, made sure that Lucy was foundationalized to devote her
life to God. Lydia and her oldest son, Jason, were especially taken by the thought that,
through prayer and faith, God would manifest His power—as He had done anciently—
in signs and wonders.^16 Lucy was the one who questioned the religious hypocrisy she
saw during her early youth. Showing similarity to how Joseph later described his own
religious dilemma, she allegedly said the following:
In the midst of this anxiety of mind I determined to obtain that which I
had heard spoken so much of from the pulpit—a change of heart. To
accomplish this I spent much of my time reading the Bible and praying;
but, notwithstanding my great anxiety to experience a change of heart,
another matter would always interpose in all my meditations: If I remain
a member of no church, all religious people will say I am of the world;
and if I join some one of the different denominations, all the rest will say