Though extremely prominent in LDS history and a name that everyone within the church knows, stories of exactly how remarkable Lucy Mack Smith was escaped me my entire life.
Lucy Mack Smith was Joseph's first and strongest supporter since the beginning. She not only loved her son but was open to the truth and let the spirit testify to her that what her humble fourteen year old son was telling her really was true.
Joseph, among many others, described her and having a "soul ever filled with benevolence and philanthropy" and "one of the noblest and best of all women".
Her upbringing in a religious, god-fearing household prepared her to receive the restored gospel, and her family's various health and financial problems taught her to trust in the Lord in all her doings. On one specific occasion, Lucy became deathly ill. After an entire night spent in prayer, she promised the Lord that if he would only give her more time on earth she would give all her remaining time to him to do his will. She felt in her heart the same promise her son would later be touched by: "seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. Let your heart be comforted..." she recovered and kept this promise for all her days, always in the service of her fellow man.
Brigham Young is often quoted as wishing to declare the gospel with the voice of a lion, but Lucy Mack Smith had the same sort of passion. She said "if I could make my voice sound as louod as the trumpet of Michael the Archangel I would declare the truth from land to land, and from sea to sea, and the echo should reach to every isle until every member of the family of Adam should be left without excuse." She lived this standard to the best of her ability. At every opportunity she testified to the people around her that her son truly was called of God.
Lucy became a pillar for the church and a leader not just among women but over everyone. People trusted her to get things done. When the saints were moving from New York to Ohio, Lucy was sworn as the leader by a unanimous vote. By her resourcefulness and courage they arrived safely. Once there she again acted as a true leader by organizing the collection of funds to build the temple. It took her only two weeks to gather the funds she needed.
Whenever she wasn't serving physically, she was praying with such faith it seemed God couldn't help but comply. Countless saints credit her with their livelihood and health, saying they only improved by the grace of her prayers and faith.
Though she remained behind in Nauvoo, the saints fondly named her Mother of Israel-the mother of the church in all the trying times they'd faced. It is said that Brigham openly wept when he got word of her passing years later.
Barrett, Ivan J. Heroic Mormon Women. Covenant Communications, 2000.
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