David Hyrum Smith
Encyclopedia
David Hyrum Smith was an American religious leader, poet, painter, singer, philosopher, and naturalist. The youngest son of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Emma Hale Smith
, he was an influential missionary and leader in the Latter Day Saint movement
. He was born approximately five months after the murder of his father
. Beginning in December 1847, he was raised by his mother and her second husband, Lewis C. Bidamon
.
Smith was highly effective missionary
for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
(RLDS Church). From 1865 to 1873, he conducted missionary trips throughout the Midwest, Utah Territory
, and California
, debating preachers of different theologies, including representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 1873 to 1896, Smith was a counselor to his brother Joseph Smith III
in the First Presidency
of the RLDS Church. He was also the father of Elbert A. Smith
, who was a member of the First Presidency and a Presiding Patriarch in the RLDS Church.
Smith was called the Sweet Singer of Israel because many who knew him, who heard him sing, and joined him in song, stated that he was the most inspiring singer of God they had encountered. The Joseph Smith Historic Site, maintained by the Community of Christ, houses Smith's original paintings of Nauvoo, Illinois
.
In a 1998 biography of Smith, From Mission to Madness: Last Son of the Mormon Prophet, author Valeen Tippetts Avery
describes Smith's mental deterioration, starting with a probable breakdown early in 1870 and ending with his 1904 death in the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane
in Elgin, Illinois
.
In an 1869 letter to his mother, Emma Smith, at age 24, Smith wrote:
Smith was confined in the institution for twenty-seven years. Avery's book draws on a large body of Smith's correspondence and poetry to examine both his personality and his emotional state.
Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon was married to Joseph Smith, Jr., until his death in 1844, and was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, during Joseph Smith's lifetime and afterward as a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
, he was an influential missionary and leader in the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
. He was born approximately five months after the murder of his father
Death of Joseph Smith, Jr.
The death of Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844 marked a turning point for the Latter Day Saint movement, of which Smith was the founder and leader. When he was attacked and killed by a mob, Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and running for President of the United States...
. Beginning in December 1847, he was raised by his mother and her second husband, Lewis C. Bidamon
Lewis C. Bidamon
Lewis Crum Bidamon was a leader in the Illinois militia that assisted Latter Day Saints in the 1846 "Battle of Nauvoo". In 1847, Bidamon married Emma Smith, the widow of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement; from this time, Bidamon was the stepfather of Joseph Smith III...
.
Smith was highly effective missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
(RLDS Church). From 1865 to 1873, he conducted missionary trips throughout the Midwest, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, debating preachers of different theologies, including representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 1873 to 1896, Smith was a counselor to his brother Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
in the First Presidency
First Presidency (Community of Christ)
The First Presidency of the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the church's highest-ranking priesthood quorum. It is composed of the president and two counselors, and they preside over the whole church under the principles of "theocratic...
of the RLDS Church. He was also the father of Elbert A. Smith
Elbert A. Smith
Elbert Aoriul Smith was an American leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
, who was a member of the First Presidency and a Presiding Patriarch in the RLDS Church.
Smith was called the Sweet Singer of Israel because many who knew him, who heard him sing, and joined him in song, stated that he was the most inspiring singer of God they had encountered. The Joseph Smith Historic Site, maintained by the Community of Christ, houses Smith's original paintings of Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
.
In a 1998 biography of Smith, From Mission to Madness: Last Son of the Mormon Prophet, author Valeen Tippetts Avery
Valeen Tippetts Avery
Valeen Tippetts Avery was an American biographer and historian best known for her work on Western American and Latter Day Saint history...
describes Smith's mental deterioration, starting with a probable breakdown early in 1870 and ending with his 1904 death in the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane
Elgin State Hospital
The Elgin Mental Health Center is a mental health facility operated by the State of Illinois in Elgin, Illinois. Although during its history, its mission has changed, at times it treated mental illness, tuberculosis, and provided federally-funded care for veterans...
in Elgin, Illinois
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
.
In an 1869 letter to his mother, Emma Smith, at age 24, Smith wrote:
- Mother I must tell you . . . I feel very sad and the tears run out of my eyes all the time and I don't know why. . . . strive as I will my heart sinks like lead. . . . I must tell someone my troubles . . .
Smith was confined in the institution for twenty-seven years. Avery's book draws on a large body of Smith's correspondence and poetry to examine both his personality and his emotional state.