THREE
(1808)
Not only Joseph’s mortal family, but also his associations with others, prepared him for his role as a true
messenger, providing him with both negative and positive experiences. He was also prepared before mortality as
a sibling of Christ and volunteered to support the works of Christ as one of his messengers.The mortal families and close associations of all chosen true messengers have been
arranged specifically to prepare the messenger for his role upon the earth in mortality. Each
sibling becomes an important part of the development of the messenger and often a part of his
support system as he performs his role. Joseph’s younger brother, Samuel, was no exception,
being born this year on the same day that would be shared by his next two siblings.
Samuel Harrison Smith
Samuel Harrison Smith was born on March 13 in the third year of Joseph’s life.
The two-year age difference had the opposite impact from the two years that separated
Joseph and his older sister Sophie, with whom his relationship was strained. Joseph was
now the big brother, and just as Joseph clung to the example of Alvin and idolized him,
Samuel came to respect and idolize Joseph.
During Joseph’s final days on earth, Samuel was the one who desperately
attempted to be with his older brothers Joseph and Hyrum at Carthage, when he
learned of their imminent danger. At first, in his attempt to reach them, he was turned
away on the road to Carthage by a bloodied mob when they realized that he was the
brother of Joseph and Hyrum. Barely escaping with his life, he was hunted by the mob,
and at some point during the chase, he was wounded when he was struck by the butt
of a rifle to his midsection. After his beloved brothers were murdered, Samuel made a
second ride to Carthage to retrieve their remains, whereupon he met Willard Richards
on his way from Carthage with the bodies.^1 Upon seeing the lifeless bodies of his
beloved brothers, Samuel threw himself on top of them and sobbed incessantly for a
long time before Willard Richards was able to lift him off of the corpses.^2
Some historians reported that the physical wound Samuel sustained when avoiding
the mob led to his death.^3 It did not. In keeping with the true history in Joseph’s notebook,
this author asserts that the emotional effects of losing his brothers caused Samuel to give up
the desire to live without them. Unreported by any historical accounts, Samuel committed
suicide on July 30, 1844, by ingesting poison. William Smith, the last remaining male sibling,
blamed Brigham Young^4 for his death.^5 Lucy Smith could never accept the fact that Samuel
had committed suicide, and reported in her story that he died from his wounds and lack of
sleep;^6 others reported the complications of illness. Samuel would have recovered from his
wound (a few broken ribs), but his desire for life was laid to rest with his brothers.^7