I am writing to tell you what it has been like to be raised a descendant of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith.
We
were not allowed to talk to Mormons (or anyone) about our lineage. We
were raised to believe that Mormons would either try to kill us or
recruit us (and as children, we didn't know which would be worse). We
were encouraged to run from anyone with a Book of Mormon. We were sent
to Baptist and Methodist churches and told to stay away from any other
religion.
We were taught that the
"Mormons in Utah" wanted to kill our great-great grandfather (though I
didn't know it then, I now think they were speaking of Joseph Jr. and
Emma's son, Alexander) and we were in danger around "them" (the "Utah
Mormons").
The ironic part is that
when my mother became very ill (when I was about 10 years old) it was a
Mormon family (LDS) that took care of my two sisters, my brother and me
for weeks. When we were welcomed in the LDS Church, we were surprised
(and relieved). Still, we were not encouraged to speak of, or even
really learn about, our lineage.
Our
lineage wasn't even really explained to us. We were only told that we
were great-great-grandchildren of a "Joseph Smith" who was part of the
beginning of the Mormon church. If we asked any more questions than
that we were told to drop the subject because it was dangerous.
As
time went on these messages became even more confusing and conflicting.
When I was in my early 20s, it was an LDS family who saved the lives of
my daughter and me when we were kidnapped by some very bad men.
And it was a Mormon family who rented me my first apartment and made sure I was safe.
And it was a Mormon family whose day care I took my own children to when they were little.
Still,
my fear of talking to Mormons about religion or family lineage
continued until I met Gracia Jones (my second cousin) only about 10
years ago.
Since then I have also
met Michael and Darcy Kennedy and other members of our family who are
Mormons (LDS) and have also met members of our family who are part of
the Community of Christ (formerly known as the Reorganized Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
What
I've found, both in our family and in the Mormons and also the
Community of Christ in general, is a very loving bunch of people.
People who are very family-oriented, very reasonable and very wonderful.
It's been quite an experience learning these truths.
I
wasn't (at the Joseph Smith Jr. Family Organization meeting in Nauvoo
in 2007) when the "healing document" letter of apology from Brigham
Young's family was first read, but I have since read it. Tears sprung
into my eyes and my heart was filled.
I
didn't grow up knowing where the fear of Mormons started. I only know
it was the reality of my childhood — and that fear had something to do,
especially, with the "Mormons of Utah" who were led by a man named
"Brigham Young" (whom I thought was an enemy of my great-great
grandfather).
Things were whispered
but never really explained or defined. They were like shadows in the
corners you are taught to fear but you aren't sure why. And they kept
me from being able to reach out and become a part of the organization
that realistically seemed to be filled with wonderful people with
exceptionally good values and beliefs (and who seemed to keep coming up
as protectors of me and my children rather than enemies).
It
was quite a surprise to me to go to Nauvoo and see the statue of Joseph
Smith Jr. and Brigham Young together looking out over the Mississippi
standing as two friends excited at new prospects. Before that day I did
not know they were friends who adored one another.
I have to admit it was difficult to readjust my old beliefs with the new information, but it was wonderful.
I
cannot tell you how glad it makes me to know that our two families are
working things out and that a light has been shined on the shadows I
grew up learning to fear. I am glad that members of my family are (more
and more) becoming Mormons. More than that, I am glad that my children
will not be raised to fear Mormons, nor will my grandchildren or their
children. This truly is a time of healing and blessings for our whole
family.
Julie A. Weber-Baker lives in Jewell, Kan., and is a fifth-generation descendant of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith.