Inspiring missionaries to serve as Samuel Smith did
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PROVO, Utah — Elders M. Russell Ballard and Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Seventy, and President Steven D. Kohlert of the Provo Missionary Training Center joined descendents of Samuel H. Smith in a courtyard at the Missionary Training Center to accept a new bronze statue of Samuel H. Smith on Sunday, Sept. 11.
Members of the Smith Family raised funds to commission this statue in honor of Samuel's contributions as the Church's first full-time missionary.
Samuel H. Smith was the third person to be baptized into the Church in this dispensation. He was one of the original six members when the Church was organized on April 6, 1830. He was privileged to handle the gold plates and was one of the eight witnesses of the Book of Mormon.
Elder Ballard spoke about Samuel Smith's faithfulness and described the circumstances of Samuel's death. When Samuel heard that Joseph and Hyrum were in danger, he rode his horse as fiercely as he could to reach his brothers before they died. This ride is believed to be the cause of the internal bleeding that led to Samuel's death just a few weeks after the Prophet's martyrdom.
Elder Ballard and Elder Scott commented on the significant contribution made by the Smith family and the inspirational value of the statue.
President Kohlert expressed appreciation on behalf of the Missionary Training Center leadership for the generosity of the Smith family.
The site of the statue faces the building named for Samuel H. Smith. The statue commemorates Samuel Smith's missionary efforts, which includes introducing the gospel to such future great leaders as Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball.
Colin Smith, Samuel's great-great-grandson, said Samuel "went about quietly doing great things." He spoke of Samuel's faithfulness to his brothers Joseph and Hyrum, enduring ridicule and persecution.
The Smith family expressed hope that the statue would inspire missionaries during their training in the Provo Missionary Training Center to emulate Samuel's example of service.
