The Mysteries of Joseph Smith Jr.

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About the Prophet Joseph Smith and His Family

1.      Entrepreneurial Grandfather

Joseph Smith’s grandfather Solomon Mack was an avid entrepreneur who ran a coasting trade between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, taught the art of making saltpeter for gunpowder, carted military bags during the French and Indian War, managed over a thousand acres of land, and owned a schooner (a large sailing ship with several masts).

2.      Meeting His Grandmother

Joseph met his ninety-two-year-old grandmother Mary Duty Smith in Kirtland, Ohio, after she expressed her desire to be baptized. Of her, he said, “She was the most honored woman on Earth.”  Mary told Lucy, “I am going to have your Joseph [Jr.] baptize me, and my Joseph [the patriarch] bless me.” Though she passed away before her wish was fulfilled, the Lord has promised, “All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God.”

3.      The $1,000 Wedding Gift

When Lucy married Joseph Smith Sr. in 1796, she received $1,000 (over $14,000 in today’s time) as a wedding present from two of her brothers, but rather than spending it, she saved the money as a cash reserve for unexpected emergencies in the future. Unfortunately, the emergency came in 1803 when Joseph Smith Sr. was cheated out of his profits from a large investment made in the plant ginseng and had to give up the family farm in addition to Lucy’s wedding present to pay off debt from their store.

4.      Typhoid Fever and Death

The same typhoid fever that killed 6,400 people in the Connecticut Valley and led to little Joseph’s infamous leg surgery also brought his sister Sophronia close to death. Ninety days of illness left the girl limp and motionless, but after offering a final prayer of hope and love, Lucy held the child in her arms and paced the floor until, miraculously, the child began to sob and breathe again.

5.      Juvenile Debate Club

Young Joseph was part of a juvenile debate club in Palmyra that discussed questions of morality, politics, and even the existence of God. In response to the question of a Supreme being, Joseph declared that the magnificent beauty of this created universe proclaims the undeniable existence of a loving Heavenly Father.

6.      Seeking Treasure

In 1825, Joseph and his father went to work for a man named Josiah Stowell who believed he had found a Spanish silver mine in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Jr. had developed a reputation for helping people find lost property and hidden things through the use of a peculiar stone. When Stowell caught news of this, he recruited the Smiths and offered them two-elevenths of the treasure they were to find.

7.      Eloping and Forgiveness

Joseph and Emma originally met when he boarded at the Hales’ home during the earlier treasure expeditions with Stowell. Emma’s father refused to let the two marry, but after they eloped, Joseph and Emma returned to get her things, and Joseph promised that he had quit treasure-seeking and intended to work hard for the family. Isaac Hale was contented and even offered to let the new couple live on the Hale property.

8.      Smitten Thrice Before Reviling

The early saints received much persecution, and in an effort to defend his people, Joseph organized what would become known as Zion’s Camp. However, as the military group was forming, a revelation was received informing the saints that they were to bear even physical persecution. Armed defense was justifiable only after they were smitten three times.

9.      First Woman to Receive the Endowment

Emma received her endowment from the Prophet Joseph Smith in September of 1843, becoming the first woman to receive the ordinance. She was then asked to officiate for other women and did so until just before the saints left Nauvoo.

10.  Presidential Candidacy

After being denied help by both major candidates in the 1844 presidential election, Joseph decided to run for president. Approximately 350 men volunteered to go around the country campaigning for him, and even before that, Joseph wrote, “When I look into the Eastern papers and see how popular I am, I am afraid I shall be president.” He was one of the only two men ever shot running for president, the other being Robert F. Kennedy.

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Sources

Bushman, Richard Lyman., and Jed Woodworth. Joseph Smith: rough stone rolling. New York:

Vintage , 2007. Print.

Lloyd, R. Scott. "Scholar Discusses Joseph Smith's 1844 Presidential Election Campaign."

Church News and Events. N.p., 29 Sept. 2016. Web. 13 July 2017.

Ludlow, Daniel H. Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York, NY: Macmillan Pub. Co., 1999.

Print.

A Brighter Future and the Arts

3 Reasons why you and your kids should be involved with the arts

     The world at present can sometimes make the scripture “men are that they might have joy” seem like a gray area because of the countless trials and empty pleasures we experience, but research has shown that through regular involvement in and development of artistic skills ranging from music to drawing or photography, both children and adults can experience more success and happiness in their lives.  Participation in the arts plants three primary seeds that will lead to a brighter future.

1.      Career success:  At first glance, art and future employment seem to be two highly uncorrelated nouns, but research done by Americans for the Arts found that creativity is one of the top three personality traits sought after by U.S. employers, yet eighty-five percent of employers cannot find the creative types they seek.  These findings are significant because everyone from PBS to the Washington Post agrees that art is extremely important in child development, especially in relation to creativity and innovational skills.  The catch is that one of the other top three traits sought after by employers is expertise in the field or industry of application, so participating in the arts will help you develop essential creativity and innovation skills, but obtaining knowledge in another field is also of vital importance.

2.      Overall well-being:  Part of having joy in this life is finding things that bring us wholesome pleasure and take us out of our daily routine to a place of excitement or delight for even ever so small a moment.  A survey done by Americans for the Arts showed that sixty-three percent of Americans experience pure pleasure when they are involved with art in a given day, and even more than that said the arts help to lift them up beyond everyday experiences.  Very few people can deny the joy they get from creating or even just witnessing beautiful art.  In fact, art is so beneficial to human well-being that it has been used to improve the medical condition of patients as far back as 1948.  National Endowment for the Arts summarizes a few of the different studies done in relation to art and patient improvement.  One such study found that premature infants in an intensive care unit were released an average of three days earlier than others when treated with sung and spoken lullabies.

3.      Impact on others:  Despite the fact that participating in the arts can be extremely beneficial to yourself, picking up an artistic skill such as music, painting or dance and using it to impact the lives of others is no doubt an even more rewarding benefit of participating in the arts.  Art is a special form of communication that uses more of the human senses and reaches individuals on a deeper emotional level than mere speaking and listening.  Almost any person can think of a time when art made their day better whether it be through listening to music, attending a galley or watching a dance competition, and if the opportunity existed, would each of those individuals not love to return the favor to someone else?  Simply put, art is an opportunity to give back, impact lives and change the world.

Written by Abraham Bedard – Director of Marketing at Bedard Fine Art

Works Cited

Lynch, Grace Hwang. "The Importance of Art in Child Development." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, 25 May 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

"Research Reports." Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts, 15 Feb. 2017. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

Strauss, Valerie. "Top 10 skills children learn from the arts." The Washington Post. WP Company, 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

"A Brother's keeper of Zion " Doctrine and Covenants 88:130-133

Map of Scotland

Brother's Keeper of 1856 by artist Michael Bedard

Once arriving in America, only thirteen hundred miles to Zion, and a small bundle of provisions,  James Kirkwood was traveling light  except for a much more valuable treasure, his four year brother Joseph in his arms.
James more than likely may never have read this salutation in the Doctrine and covenants below but it was written in his heart surly before he set foot on american soil.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:130-133


130 And when he cometh into the house of God, for he should be first in the house—behold, this is beautiful, that he may be an example—

131 Let him offer himself in prayer upon his knees before God, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant.

 132 And when any shall come in after him, let the teacher arise, and, with uplifted hands to heaven, yea, even directly, salute his brother or brethren with these words:

 133 Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.

President James E. Faust of the First Presidency described the valor of young pioneer children in the Willie company:

“Thirteen members of the Willie Company who perished from cold, exhaustion, and starvation are buried in a common grave at Rock Creek Hollow. … Two of those buried at Rock Creek Hollow were heroic children of tender years: Bodil [Mortensen], age [eleven], from Denmark, and James Kirkwood, age eleven, from Scotland.“Bodil apparently was assigned to care for some small children as they crossed Rocky Ridge. When they arrived at camp, she must have been sent to gather firewood. She was found frozen to death leaning against the wheel of her handcart, clutching sagebrush.

“Let me tell you of James Kirkwood. James was from Glasgow, Scotland. On the trip west, James was accompanied by his widowed mother and three brothers, one of whom, Thomas, was nineteen and crippled and had to ride in the handcart. James’s primary responsibility on the trek was to care for his little four-year-old brother, Joseph, while his mother and oldest brother, Robert, pulled the cart. As they climbed Rocky Ridge, it was snowing and there was a bitter cold wind blowing. It took the whole company [twenty] hours to travel fifteen miles. When little Joseph became too weary to walk, James, the older brother, had no choice but to carry him. Left behind the main group, James and Joseph made their way slowly to camp. When the two finally arrived at the fireside, James ‘having so faithfully carried out his task, collapsed and died from exposure and over-exertion’” (“A Priceless Heritage,” Ensign, Nov. 1992, 84–85).

Spring Sale April 6-26 2016

Chief Washakie: Great Leader of the Shoshone people painted for Mitch Levitt

Chief Washakie's 2015 © by Michael Bedard
painted for Mitch Levitt  Oil on panel 18 x 24

limited Edition Canvas prints will be available

Close up Chief Washakie © by Michael Bedard

The rustic way I painted Chief Washikie reminded me of the way I painted brother's keeper both in color and blending of the paint. using palette knife and brush. I love his face and turquoise shirt.

The design in the background comes from a Navaho blanket Mitch asked me to mount for him at the same time. The blanket was titled "Storm".

Chief Washakie's legend lives on though well over a hundred years of his death.   Born in the early 1800s a great leader of his people. one of the few Chiefs that received full military honers at his passing. a fort named after him.  the end of his days he fought to protect and preserve as much as possible the rights of his people.

"The white man kills our game, captures our furs, and sometimes feeds his herds upon our meadows. And your great and mighty government-oh sir, I hesitate, for I cannot tell the half! It does not protect our rights…I say again, the government does not keep its word!”.

Shoshone Indians at Ft. Washakie, Wyoming Indian reservation. Chief Washakie (at left) extends his right arm

His prowess in battle, his efforts for peace, and his commitment to his people's welfare made him one of the most respected leaders in Native American history. In 1878 a U.S. army outpost located on the reservation was renamed Fort Washakie, which was the only U.S military outpost to be named after a Native American. 

Washakie was a hide painter. An epic 1880 painted elk hide at the Glenbow Museum is attributed to him. The hide painting portrays the Sun Dance.

Shoshone, Chief Washakie's Buffalo Hunt
Native American Art and Culture College of Visual Arts Dr. Sue short

Shoshone, Chief Washakie's Buffalo Hunt

Fur Trade

Washakie band participated in the fur trade rendezvous (1825–1840), since those rendezvous took place within the Green River, Wind River, and Snake River regions claimed by the horse-owning and buffalo-hunting Shoshone and Bannock bands of eastern Idaho. Late in life, Washakie reported that he and Jim Bridger became fast friends, and indeed, Bridger became Washakie's son-in-law in 1850 when he took Washakie's daughter as his third wife. Bridger, born March 17, 1804, entered Shoshone country in 1824 (Washakie said Bridger was the older of the two). Washakie learned French and some English from trappers and traders. Washakie's close association with the trappers developed into a similar relationship with U.S. officials.

Washakie was a friend of Brigham Young and expressed sadness at the fighting his people had often done with the Utahs. It was not until after 1880, after Young's death, that Washakie became a member of the Church of jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized on 25 September 1880 by Amos R. Wright. About 300 other Shoshone joined the church at this point.

The "Seven Accounts of the First Vision

First Vision painted by Michael Bedard & Seven account of the First Vision by Joseph Smith and others who  new him. poster 18 x 24   $24.95 www.bedardfine art.com

Crop of the seven accounts First Vision of the Restoration poster

Crop  of the Seven accounts First Vision of the Restorationposter

The "Seven Accounts of the First Vision of the Restoration, by Joseph Smith and others who knew him" poster, provides  seven different accounts starting in 1832 and ending in 1844.

1. 1832 account  by Frederick G. Williams & Joseph Smith Jr.
2. 1835 account   "   Warren A. Cowdery.
3. 1838 account   "   Joseph Smith History: Vol. II : 10-20
4. 1842 account   "  Orson Hyde
5. 1842 account   "  Wentworth letter
6. 1843 account   "   Non- Mormon newspaper
7. 1844 account   "  German immigrant, Alexander Neibaur testimony

Each one provides a different paradigm that adds to our understanding of what took place when Joseph, a fourteen year old boy, sought out the Lord in his quest to find out which of all the religious sects was the correct one, if any, of his day. 

Multiple accounts make for a sure foundation of truth. All  court cases prefer  to have more witnesses than one alone. Multiple stories, like witnesses in court, provide root, trunk and branch. Thus we see the whole tree at once. What a great blessing to the sincere truth seeker!

An example of the advantage of multiple accounts can be found  in the four Gospels 0f the New Testament. Each gospel writer told the same story but left out, or added parts, which provided a deeper view of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His mission, and the saving principles and ordinances.

1. Mathew
2. Mark
3. Luke
4. John

In addition, there are the stories of the Tree of Life found in the Book of Mormon. Put them all together and we are able to fathom Lehi's vision of the tree of life, and all its ramifications for those seeking the paths of righteousness or wickedness. 

1. 1 Nephi 8:22-37 Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life.  Book of Mormon
2. 1 Nephi 11: 1-36  Nephi's vision of  the Tree of Life.  Book of Mormon
3. 1 Nephi 15: 21-36 Nephi's interpretation of the Tree of Life to his brothers. Book of Mormon

New painting of Christ in the works commissioned by Mitch Leavitt , " A New heart will I give you "

Ezekiel 36: 26-27

The last days, all the house of Israel will be gathered to their own lands—The Lord will give them a new heart and a new spirit—They will have His gospel law.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

 Mitch requested a 22.5 in. by  22.5 inches  

painting in progress