FIRESIDES GALORE

It seems like we are always meeting or are in meetings. There is not meeting that cannot be attended and there is no meeting that seems to be unnecessary.

We had Stake Conference this weekend so there were several meetings but in addition, it was our turn to host a Missionary Fireside of an older Swiss-Austrian missionary group. These were missionaries that I picked up at the Basel Bahnhof in 1958 and helped them on their way. They have been meeting for the last 50 years come rain or shine and it was our turn to host them. This is a very successful group many of whom returned to serve as mission presidents in various parts of Europe.

The deal is when it is your turn, you provide the house, refreshments and line up a speaker. We invited someone in our ward to speak, Patriarch Eldred G. Smith and his wife Hortense. They give an unusual fireside but I did not know they have stopped doing this. They agreed to come and meet with our group.

Patriarch Smith is a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith, is the Emeritus Patriarch to the church and is 102 years old. He has kept several possessions of Hyrum Smith in their family over the years. Sister Smith spoke of Joseph and Hyrum and their martyrdom. She displayed the clothes Hyrum wore when he and Joseph were assassinated in the Carthage jail. There was his blood stained shirt, vest and trousers. I thought the shirt was a 3xl size, Hyrum was six foot three inches tall. She showed the bullet holes in the various pieces of clothing. It was amazing to actually see this in our home.

Elder Smith spoke of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and added some unusual details. He has the wooden laptop writing desk that belonged to Alvin Smith. Joseph Smith used this portable desk to carry the plates and the other things used in the translation. Alvin's name was carved in the edge of the desk. It was used as a box and easily fit those sacred contents. One received a good idea of the size of the plates which were 7 by 8 inches and six inches deep including the rings that bound them together. He explained the Breastplate and gave an indication of its size and purpose. It was most fascinating. At the martyrdom, these articles were gathered by Hyrum's second wife. (first one died in Kirtland giving birth and is buried there) Mary Fielding Smith, who went west with the church. It brought the reality of these momentous events to our vivid understanding.

Here is Emily looking at the box (turned on its side) that carried the plates, Patriarch Smith, 102 years old, Douglas and Mike. Other things were Lucy Mack Smith's footstool that you can see on the table. There were also two pocket watches that belonged to Hyrum. One was shattered by a bullet in the Carhtage jail.

It was a powerful and sweet fireside,

Love, Dad