AUGUST ENSIGN

Well as you know this Ensign was all about being single! Yes I have read it and taken some considerations :). It was kind of funny when it came out, because everyone asked me if I had seen it yet. Even with all the good info about being single I found something I liked way better than that.

SAMUEL H. SMITH

Faithful Brother of Joseph and Hyrum

By: Larene Porter Gaunt and Robert A. Smith

"Who was Samuel H. Smith? He became the hands that helped his father care for the farm when his prophet-brother Joseph with Hyrum at his side, was working to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was Samuel who helped chop the wood, plow the land, and harvest the crops in 1892 so that Joseph was free to translate the gold plates. It was Samuel who, as an early missionary during the years 1831-32 walked more than 4, 000 miles through the Midwest and New England distributing copies of the Book of Mormon. It was Samuel who often helped his parents move as Joseph led the Saints from Ohio to Missouri to Illinois. And, in the end, it was Samuel who helped load the bodies of his martyred brothers, Joseph and Hyrum, into the wagons that carried them to Nauvoo. This was the pattern of Samuel's life."

"Samuel H. Smith willingly gave everything, including his life, to help build the kingdom of God. He did not "exaggerate either his importance of his experiences." His life attests to the truth that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass". With a pure heart, Samuel tended to the needs of his wife, children, parents, and siblings. Because of Samuel, the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum had more freedom to fulfill their missions relative to the Restoration of the gospel. In that, the words of a blessing from Father Smith were fulfilled: "Thou shall hear[the Lord's ] voice [saying] Samuel, Samuel. Thou shalt be equal to thy brethern."

I THOUGHT THIS STORY WAS AWESOME! I GUESS I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH JOSEPH'S FAMILY HAD TO SACRIFICE TO HELP HIM OUT. WE DON'T REALLY HEAR ABOUT ALL THEY WENT THROUGH THAT MUCH, BUT THIS STORY REALLY OPENED MY EYES AND GAVE ME MORE RESPECT FOR HIS WHOLE FAMILY AND HOW THEY HELPED AND SUPPORTED HIM. THIS ARTICLE TELLS A LOT ABOUT SAMUELS LIFE AND ALL THE THINGS HE DID. IT WAS BECAUSE OF A BOOK OF MORMON THAT SAMUEL LEFT THAT BRIGHAM YOUNG WAS CONVERTED. I GUESS THE MAIN LESSON IT TAUGHT ME WAS THAT WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, THOUGH THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND SOME MAY SEEM SMALLER THAN OTHERS. JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AS RECOGNIZED OR MAY SEEM AS IMPORTANT, NO TASK THE LORD GIVES, BIG OR SMALL IS ANY LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER, IF ANYTHING THEY ARE EQUAL!