Inspired by an article on the Prophet Joseph Smith she read in a 1960 edition of the Church News, Norma Moyes began a wintertime family tradition that has endured 46 years.

Painting by William Whitaker

A 1960 Church News article about Joseph Smith led to a family's tradition to honor him.

"I was so anxious to learn more about the Prophet, that I decided to have a family birthday party in honor of and to further the study of the Prophet," said Sister Moyes, now a member of the Holladay 25th Ward, Salt Lake Holladay South Stake.

Since the anniversary of Joseph's birth on Dec. 23, 1805, falls so close to Christmas, she decided to combine the celebration with an observance of the Savior's birth.

"So we had a small, 18-inch, white cake with a tiny manger scene on top and 'Happy birthday to Jesus and Joseph,"' she said.

"On the 21st of December, I wrote a small invitation to each member of my family, inviting them to a special birthday party. I told them someone would pick them up and to be ready at 7 p.m."

There were four children in the Stan and Norma Jones family at the time: Janeen, 7; Richard, 6; Jeffrey, 4; and Kevin, 2. Husband Stan later passed away, and Norma subsequently married Russell Moyes.

"I had (Stan) take them around the block a couple of times," she said of the first party. "After a few minutes, they returned home, and I met them at the door with a cake in my hands. The reason I didn't tell them who the surprise party was for is I thought they would either laugh at me or think I had lost my mind."

But her apprehensions were unwarranted.

"The children had a great time," she said, "and one of the children remarked, 'That was the best party we ever had; can we do it again?' And that was how the parties began."

Each year thereafter, the parties have continued, with the traditional cake and a varied program, family members being assigned individually in turn to prepare the program. Over the years, adaptations have been made; when twin girls were born in 1968, "we had two cakes and doubled up on a few things," Sister Moyes said. And as the extended family has grown, the grandchildren have become involved as well."

Sister Moyes' parents, Carl and Josephine Laxman, were invited to all of the parties except for the first one. "They always looked forward to them, and it was always a blessing and a joy to have them," she said. "Dad would pick up some literature or would tell me of someone interesting to invite. Dad's last Joseph Smith party was in 1971. Mother's last party was in 1973. We were grateful for the beautiful memories of these two powerful loved ones, especially at this time of year."

She was present at her father's passing and recalls that he motioned for her to come to his bedside. He told her, "You know, I'm going to see the Prophet, and I will hug him and ask him how he enjoyed his birthday."

Over the years, specially invited guests to the family gathering have included artists such as David Lindsley, Steve Olsen and Dee Jay Bawden, who have had Joseph Smith as a subject in their paintings, and relatives of the Prophet such as Elder Eldred G. Smith, a General Authority emeritus who served as patriarch to the Church, and Smith family friend Buddy Youngren. Lorena Normandeau, great-granddaughter of Joseph Smith, has attended with her daughter Gracia Jones. (They were the first direct-line descendants of the Prophet to join the Church.) All have shared their talents and testimony of Joseph's divine calling.

This year's party is the last Sister Moyes intends to host. She will leave it to posterity to carry on the tradition, confident that they will do so, as will members of her ward who, hearing about the yearly gatherings, have expressed interest in planning Joseph Smith birthday parties of their own.

"To me, these parties have meant so much," she said. "I love the Prophet Joseph with all my heart. He has been and always will be a tremendous factor in my beliefs and in my testimony. He truly has influenced my life for good. Hopefully, he will have blessed the lives of all my children and all my grandchildren."

E-mail to: rscott@desnews.com