How Hyrum Got His Name

Most people wonder why it is we would name our child by the name of Hyrum Smith, especially when there is no relation between our Hyrum and the Hyrum Smith were we got the name from. Both my husband and I had just finished reading this particular book before the pregnancy even began. All of our other children are named for family members,
Rachel was named after my great-grandmother Evelyn Rachel Cox Bunker.

Sarah was named after multiple Sarah's on both sides John great-grandmother Sarah Florence Nellie Priday and my great-great-grandmother Sarah Riddle Pyle Cox. There are more than the two, but those are the closest ones.

Karl was named after my grandfather, Karl Theodore Bates at Rachel's insistence. A very funny story for another Day.

By the time January came along, John was talking more and more about this baby's name being Hyrum. I didn't want to have to answer the question: "Oh you're related to the Prophet Joseph Smith's Brother then?" Because in truth we are not related.

I went seeking support for my end to not have him named Hyrum, so I called my Brother Jonathan. He listened to my side of the story and then told this back to me "Jennifer, what an honor it would be to be named after someone like Hyrum Smith. It is a high bar you set for your son, but I believe that he was meant to reach that bar in his lifetime. He will have his own personal struggles and who better than The Hyrum Smith to look upon and tell himself, that if that Hyrum could go through what he did, then I can go through this." How was I to argue over that? His name became Hyrum John Smith.
But Hyrum and his family went through so many trials

HYRUM SMITH
Hyrum was Born February 9, 1800, in Tunbridge, Vermont as the second son of Joseph Smith Sr. & Lucy Mack Smith. Hyrum was the older brother of Joseph Smith Jr., who established the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was the translator of the Book of Mormon. Hyrum was his brothers closest adviser and confidant. Hyrum was a great example of what an older (or any) brother should be like. Hyrum was one of the eight witnesses to examine and testify of the reality of the Golden Plates, the original source of the Book of Mormon. At the age of 30, he signed as one of the six men to sign as charter members when the church was first organized. Hyrum served as a presiding officer in Colesville, New York and was one of the first Latter Day Saint missionaries in the surrounding area.

On 2 November 1826, in Manchester, New York, he married Jerusha Barden (1805-1837). They had six children together. Lovina Smith (1827-1876), Mary Smith (1829-1832), John Smith (1832-1911), Hyrum Smith (1834-1841), Jerusha Smith (1836-1912), and Sarah Smith (1937-1876).

In 1831, as the church headquarters and members moved west, Hyrum and his family relocated to Kirtland, Ohio where he served as a foreman of the quarry providing stone for the Kirtland Temple. Between 1831 and 1833, Hyrum served a proselyting mission in Missouri and Ohio. After relocating to Nauvoo, Illinois, Hyrum was ordained as Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church, a position formerly held his deceased father. Hyrum was also ordained by his brother Joseph as an Apostle replacing Oliver Cowdery as Assistant President of the Church; in this capacity, Hyrum acted as President of the Church in Joseph's absence and was designated to be Joseph's successor if Joseph were killed or incapacitated.

After Jerusha passed away, Hyrum married Mary Fielding Smith (1801-1852) on 24 December 1837 in Kirtland, Ohio. They had two children Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) and Martha Ann Smith (1841-1923). In accordance with the early days of the LDS church, Hyrum married Marcy Fielding Thompson, widow of Robert B. Thompson and sister to Hyrum's wife Mary and Catherine Phillips August 1843.

When warned of possible danger, Joseph urged Hyrum and his family to flee to Cincinnati, Ohio. Hyrum refused and in 1844, traveled with Joseph to Carthage, Illinois where both were charged with riot and treason. Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor, and Willard Richards were held awaiting trial in a jail in Carthage. On June 27, 1844, the building was attacked by a mop of between sixty and two hundred men. While attempting to barricade the door to prevent the mob from entering, Hyrum was shot in the face and exclaimed, "I am a dead man," as he died. Taylor was struck by several bullets but survived with the help of Richards. Joseph was hit by at least two shots, exclaimed "O Lord, My God," and fell through a second-story window to the ground where he was shot a second time.

Hyrum is credited in Church History with being an astute organizer who gave ecclesiastical leadership to the emerging Church. As a person, he was considered a man without guile.

I feel this last statement best describes Hyrum Smith and I hope that my own Hyrum can become a man that honors the name that he holds.