The Small Plates of Tom: My Ancestors Who Personally Knew Joseph Smith

I have come across a number of my ancestor's memories and descriptions of their personal associations with the Prophet Joseph Smith. I am humbled when I read what they wrote, and it helps strengthen my faith in the divine calling of Joseph Smith -- to be the prophet of the restoration of the gospel and church of Jesus Christ.

My ancestors who personally knew Joseph Smith and wrote of their associations were James Houston, Albert Miner, Tamma Durfee Miner, and Moroni Miner:

James Houston
1817 - 1864

James Houston - Next House Neighbor to Joseph Smith

My third great grandfather James Houston (1817-1864) was from Paisley, Scotland. He recorded in an autobiography[1] when he first heard about Joseph Smith and also some personal experiences with Joseph Smith.

When James was around age 18 (the year 1835 or so), elders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormon") came to Paisley preaching a peculiar message. James didn’t have a chance to listen to the elders properly initially. However, he soon spoke with someone else who had listened to the elders, and that person told James about an angel coming to a Joseph Smith and also what this angel had said.

This conversation had a great impact on James. He recorded that when he heard of Joseph Smith and the angel, “the power followed the word -- and it ran through me from head to foot. I began to stand up for it and was surprised at myself.” James continued to learn more about the church. A book entitled '[A] Voice of Warning' was particularly influential on him. He believed what he had read and heard from the elders, but he did not yet feel ready to get baptized.

James Houston later sailed for America in October 1840 with a small company of church members, even though he himself was not a member. The journey took nine weeks and was described as “pleasant.” James first arrived in New Orleans, Mississippi and then made his way to Springnell, Illinois at the invitation of an Elder Mulliner. Elder Mulliner led the company from Scotland and also had a home in Springnell. There in Springnell in 1841, James Houston was baptized and became a member of the church.

In the spring of 1841, James learned a person was needed to help drive cattle to Nauvoo, Illinois in relation to the construction of the Nauvoo Temple and Nauvoo House the church was involved with. James volunteered and arrived in Nauvoo April 30, 1841. It was there in Nauvoo that James came to meet Joseph Smith personally and lived next to him. James recorded:

“Suffice it to say that I saw the Prophet of the Lord, Joseph Smith. A few days later I took up my abode in the next house to the prophet's. I lived there nine months and I can assure you the Prophet was all he professed to be. I knew he was a true Prophet of God, for I have heard him speak and prophesy as he was led by the Holy Ghost. He was a good and great man.”

Joseph Smith homestead in Nauvoo, Illinois

Joseph Houston (1851–1935), son of James Houston and my second great grandfather, also recounted [2] that James Houston “had many, many talks with Joseph Smith. [James] knew him to be a prophet of God.”

Tamma Durfee Miner
1813 - 1885

Albert and Tamma Miner - Close Associates and Bodyguard (Albert) to Joseph Smith

Albert Miner (1809-1848) is a third great grandfather of mine and Tamma Durfee (1813-1885) a third great grandmother. They had close association with Joseph Smith. A lot of information is provided in biographies[3] [4] [5] about Albert and Tamma, so in some instances I have just copied the information verbatim to provide their background and associations with Joseph Smith.

Albert was born in Jefferson County, New York. His family moved to New London, Ohio when he was 6. At age 22 (and still living in Ohio), Albert met Tamma Durfee. Tamma was interested in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormon"), but she delayed her baptism until after she and Albert were married. They married in August 1831, and Tamma was baptized December 1831. Tamma's parents and most of her siblings had previously been baptized some time before her.

Albert's family was strongly opposed to him joining the church. He told them that “the more they had to say, the sooner he would be baptized.” He ignored the bitterness of his family and was baptized in February 1832. It was so cold they had to cut a hole in the ice on a river in order to baptize him. He would not wait until spring to be baptized.

Around late 1832 or early 1833, Albert, Tamma and the Durfees moved to Kirtland, Ohio, then the headquarters of the church. Albert and Tamma were faithful church workers and were constantly in close communication with the Prophet Joseph Smith. They assisted very materially in building the Kirtland Temple, and attended the dedication ceremony of the temple in 1836 and saw and felt the marvelous [and divine] manifestations that took place.

In the spring of 1834, the Prophet Joseph Smith called for elders to go to Jackson County [Missouri] and redeem Zion. Albert Miner and a certain Dennis Lake decided to draw cuts to see which one of them would go and which one would stay behind in order to take care of both their families. It fell to Albert to stay behind. Dennis Lake went, but he was not strengthened by the experience. When he returned he fell away from the church and sued the Prophet for three months work, or $60. Because of the hatred toward the Prophet, Albert and his brother-in-law, Edmund Durfee Jr., served as bodyguards for Joseph Smith.

Time passed and Albert and Tamma went through many of the hardships and challenges associated with the persecution of Mormons during that era. Tamma recorded in her autobiography[6] about the time when Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum Smith, were martyred and also times when Joseph Smith had preached. She wrote:

"[I] was there in 1844 when Joseph and Hyrum were Martyred. I went and saw them after they were taken to their homes. I had been aquainted with them for 12 years. In May I heard them both preach and talk to the Saints a great many times. I heard Joseph once talk and preach for five hours to a congregation, no one was tired, this was in Kirtland before they built the first temple."

Moroni Miner
1835 - 1935

Moroni Miner - Blessed by Joseph Smith and Lived in Nauvoo with Joseph Smith

Moroni Miner (1835-1935) was a son of Albert and Tamma Miner, so he is a second great grandfather to me. Moroni was born in Kirtland, Ohio. He was blessed as a child by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his mother Tamma wrote[7] that the Prophet said the following:

"That he would be as great as Moroni of old, and people would flee unto him and call him blessed."

Later in life, Moroni recalled[8] when he was nine years old and living in Nauvoo, Illinois at the time Joseph Smith was martyred. Moroni said:

"Nauvoo was a beautiful city -- so clean and thriving. It seemed that all the women sang all the time. The homes were large and well built, the yards and fences and out-buildings well kept. Truly the city of 'brotherly love.'

Though only nine years old when the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred, I can remember the prevailing sadness of that occasion -- the men gathering in groups about the streets, and my mother and the other women weeping.

I can remember the handsome majesty of the two as they visited with us, preached to us and walked among us.

I remember them leading the Nauvoo Legion. I loved to watch it parade and longed for the time when I would be one of them in a shining uniform.

I remember them also, as they lay in their coffins, side by side, so still and lifeless."

Lastly, Moroni wrote[9] of his and his parents' association with Joseph Smith:

"I knew that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. I have seen him in person. He came to our home and visited my parents. My parents were closely associated with the Prophet."