59. Tribute to Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith, sweet loving personality!

This year we will study the teachings of President Joseph Fielding Smith.  I remember President Joseph Fielding Smith when he was an apostle.  We had the vague impression that he was very strict, and that he would be that way if he became the Prophet.  NOT SO!  He was so kind, and perhaps the reason we misunderstood him was that he was so obedient, it seemed unbelieveable.  I really enjoyed the article about him in the new January 2014 Ensign.  I'll quote a bit from it:

When 33-year-old Joseph Fielding Smith entered the Salt Lake Tabernacle on April 6, 1910, to attend general conference, an usher said to him, “Well Joseph, who is the new apostle to be?”

“I don’t know,” replied Joseph. “But it won’t be you and it won’t be me!” As the names of the Twelve Apostles were being read for a sustaining vote, Joseph suddenly received an impression that his name might be the next one mentioned. It was, and he was then sustained as the 12th man in that esteemed quorum. 

Joseph’s humility and sense of humor were demonstrated when he returned home from the conference to inform his family of his new calling. He greeted his wife with a puzzling statement: “I guess we’ll have to sell the cow,” he said. Undoubtedly, she was surprised as she waited for further explanation. His simple response was, “I haven’t time to take care of it any more!” Thus commenced an apostolic ministry that lasted over six decades.

Grandson of Hyrum Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith was the 10th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served longer as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before his call to serve as President of the Church than any other Church President. During his 60 years as a member of that quorum of special witnesses, he traveled first by horseback and wagon and later by automobile and jet plane to teach the Saints. His sermons and numerous writings blessed the Church and all who would listen to his inspired messages.

 After his first wife died, in a few months he found Ethel Georgina Reynolds, and they were married in November 1908 in the Salt Lake Temple   I especially love the hymn, to which he wrote the lyrics.  It is called "Does The Journey Seem Long?"   He wrote it for Ethel, who was a wonderful second mother to the 2 daughters he had by his first wife, who had passed away young.  She also gave birth to nine additional children.  He wrote the poem to her once when he had traveled to a stake conference, and he had to be away when she was ill.  He sent this to her and wrote a letter in which he said:  "I am thinking of you and wish I could be with you constantly for the next few weeks to help take care of you."

 "Does The Journey Seem Long?"   (Hymn # 127)

1. Does the journey seem long, The path rugged and steep? 
Are there briars and thorns on the way ?

Do sharp stones cut your feet As you struggle to rise

To the heights thru the heat of the day?

2. Is your heart faint and sad, Your soul weary within,

As you toil 'neath your burden of care?

Does the load heavy seem You are forced now to lift?

Is there no one your burden to share?

3. Let your heart be not faint Now the journey's begun:

There is One who still beckons to you.  

So look upward in joy And take hold of his hand;,

He will lead you to heights that are new --

4. A land holy and pure, Where all trouble doth end,

And your life shall be free from all sin,

Where no tears shall be shed, For no sorrows remain.
Take his hand and with him enter in.  

(Written by Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith to his wife.)

I remember him best when we lived in Tooele, in 1960-1962, when he came to a Stake Conference.  His 3rd wife, Jessie Evans Smith, a marvelous contralto, sang, and I loved her rich voice.  After his second wife passed away he married Jessie, who had been a professional singer, and had never married. 

I want to include some about him from Wikipedia:

Smith married his first wife, Louie Emily "Emyla" Shurtliff (born June 16, 1876) on April 26, 1898. In March 1899, Smith was called on a mission to Great Britain by church president Lorenzo Snow. On May 12, 1899, Smith was set apart as a missionary and ordained a seventy by his father. A small group of missionaries, including Smith and his older brother, Joseph Richards Smith, left the next day for England. After his return from the British mission in July 1901, Smith and his wife Louise had two daughters, Josephine and Julina. Louie Shurtliff Smith died of complications of a third pregnancy on March 28, 1908.

Smith married Ethel Georgina Reynolds (born October 23, 1889), the daughter of prominent LDS Church leader George Reynolds, on November 2, 1908. They had four girls (Emily, Naomi, Lois, and Amelia) and five boys (Joseph Fielding (often called Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr.), Lewis Warren, George Reynolds, Douglas Allan, and Milton Edmund). Their youngest daughter, Amelia, married Bruce R. McConkie; McConkie became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shortly after Smith's death. Ethel Reynolds Smith died of a cerebral hemorrhage on August 26, 1937, at age 47.

Ethel had specifically requested that Jessie Ella Evans (December 29, 1902–August 2, 1971) sing at her funeral. Evans, born to Jonathan Evans and his wife, the former Janet Buchanan, joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 1918, was a member of the American Light Opera Company (1923–27) and the Salt Lake County Recorder. In November 1937 Evans and Smith were engaged to be married.

In April 1938, Smith married Evans in the Salt Lake Temple. The marriage was performed by Heber J. Grant. The couple had no children, although Milton was eleven when Joseph and Jessie married, with George and Douglas still under the age of 18. Jessie Evans Smith died on August 2, 1971.

A real treat is to listen to Jessie Evans Smith sing "He That Hath Clean Hands", on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duFYcQ9z4B4&safe=active

A photo of Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith and Sister Jessie Evans Smith is below: