Susa Y. Gates: Mary Fielding Smith

Susa Y. Gates: Mary Fielding Smith

Susa Young Gates' tribute and biographical sketch of Mary Fielding Smith. Next to Lucy Mack Smith, Mary is the greatest woman of modern times—cultured, educated, self-reliant, strong, decisive, etc. Mary's 1837 letter to her sister, Mercy, in Canada: apostasy of Warren Parrish and others; Mary to work for the Dort family; Joseph and Brigham's [sic] escape from a mob through a swamp; the devil rages in Kirtland; accidental death of the wife of Joseph's detractor is a warning to all who oppose the Lord's anointed; better for Mercy to remain in Canada.

The unusually numerous spelling and typographical errors in the article have been corrected. Paragraph breaks have been added.

Susa would not have published an article on Mary Fielding without Joseph F.'s approval. The extravagant style is so similar to his when he spoke of his mother, (¶ Joseph F. Smith Letterbooks), one wonders if he didn't write parts, at least, of the article. On the other hand, it could be that Susa, who practically worshipped him, may have been vying for his approval by pumping up her own rhetorical style.

Note that in two instances Susa changed Joseph's companion in the escape through the swamp from Rigdon [in the original] to Brigham or "Brother Brigham".

	Mothers in Israel. By Susa Young Gates. MARY FIELDING SMITH WIFE OF THE PATRIARCH HYRUM SMITH.		Relief Society Magazine vol. 3 no. 3 (March, 1916), 123–140.
Greatest women of modern times: Lucy Mack Smith, then Mary Fielding	When the roll of the greatest women of modern times is called, we make no doubt that the name of Lucy Mack Smith will head that roll. A second name on that list will be that of Mary Fielding the wife of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith, and the mother of our President Joseph F. Smith. Her greatness, her power, her beauty and her charm have laid hidden in the modest silence and reserve with which she covered all her own acts. But the pages of history will yet record what she was, what she did and why she is entitled to this exalted rank.
Birth and education Cultured and refined Skilled at financial matters Self-reliant	Mary Fielding was born in Honydon, England, July 21, 1801, into the home of a pious, refined, intellectual and educated family. Mary was trained in all the arts of home making. She was given a liberal education for girls in those days, for not only did she receive the usual studies permitted to young ladies of that period, but she added that of music, literature and deportment, for she was a lovely singer, and knew something of that art, as well as cultured and refined in her manners and speech. She inherited a masterly control of financial problems, and early showed the initiative and self-control which later made her so self-reliant and resourceful.
Sweet, decisive, strong	To sweetness of disposition, she added strength of mind and power of instant decision. But over all the strength and firmness of her soul she drew the veil of modest womanhood so closely that only her very own realized how great was her gift, how supreme were her powers.
Joseph and Mercy, then Mary, move to Toronto	Three of the Fielding family—Joseph, Mercy and Mary decided to go out of the old home and try their fortunes in that new and promising land of Upper Canada. Joseph and Mercy came first, and settled in Toronto. No doubt their glowing accounts of conditions in that growing city hastened Mary's coming to join them in their quest for better possibilities and conditions than the [124] old country could afford to aspiring English youth. So Mary came over in 1834.
John Taylor	Here they formed the acquaintance of President John Taylor, who was from England. John Taylor was a finely educated and eloquent Methodist reformer. On reaching Toronto, he gathered around him a sturdy congregation of independent religious worshipers.		The "congregation" was actually a study group under the leadership not of John Taylor, but of
Parley P. Pratt converts the Taylors and the Fieldings	When Parley P. Pratt visited Toronto, in 1837, with his Gospel message, he found a company of intellectual and nobly molded souls who were awaiting that very summons, even if they were unconscious of the fact. There were President John Taylor and his beautiful and highly educated wife, Leonora Cannon Taylor; Joseph, Mercy and Mary Fielding, and Joseph Horne and his sterling wife, Mary Isabella, who was also destined to become one of the great mothers in modern Israel. These were all baptized. Mercy and Mary accompanied their brother Joseph Fielding to Kirtland in 1837, shortly after their baptism.		Parley arrived in Toronto in late April 1836. The Taylors, Fieldings, and others were baptized in May 1836. In May 1837 they moved to Kirtland.
	We copy here a remarkably clear and scholarly letter written by Mary to her sister Mercy who was then in Canada. Mary was living in Kirtland, and was not then married. Her clear-cut sentences reveal a logical mind and an educated pen. The spirit of firm faith and unflinching testimony in this letter is an index to her whole character and after life:
Mary Fielding letter to her sister Mercy	Kirtland, 1837. Mrs. Mercy R. Thompson Care Wm. Lawes, Churchville.		Internal evidence suggests the letter was written about September 1, 1837. Gates has standardized the spelling. A typescript version is in Women's Voices, 62–67. Mercy had married Robert Thompson, also of Toronto, and returned to Upper Canada as missionaries and were staying with old friends, William and Jane Law, who had also been baptized in 1836. [Babbitt] Almon W. Babbitt.
	MY DEAR SISTER:—I have this day received a very short note from you, and am glad to learn by Brother Babbitt that you are well and comfortably situated. He tells me he is expecting soon to return to Canada, so that it is unnecessary for me to say much, as he can inform you of the state of things here verbally better than I can by writing, but still I can hardly refrain from sending a few lines.
Teaching school	I am now teaching school which I took for one month, the time expires tomorrow when I expect again to be at liberty, or without employment, but I feel my mind pretty much at rest on that subject. I have called upon the Lord for direction and trust he will open my way.
Many trials	I hope you will not fail to remember me at the Throne of Grace. I have no doubt but you have many trials, but I am inclined to think you have not quite so much to endure as I have.
Trust the Lord	Be this as it may, the Lord knows what our intentions are, and he will support us and give us grace and strength for the day, if we Continue to put out trust in him and devote ourselves unreservedly to his service.
Devil rages in Kirtland	I do thank my heavenly Father for the comfort and peace of mind I now enjoy in the midst of all the confusion and perplexity and raging of the devil against the work of God in this place, for although there is a great number of faithful, precious souls, yea, the salt of the earth, [125] yet it may be truly called a place where Satan has his seat; he is frequently stirring up some of the people to strife and contention and dissatisfaction with things they do not understand.
Parallels ancient Israel	I often have, of late, been led to look back on the circumstance of Korah and his company when they rose up against Moses and Aaron. If you read 15th chapter of Numbers you will there find the feelings and conduct of many of the people and even the elders of Israel in these days, exactly described; whether the Lord will come out today in a similar way or not, I cannot tell. I sometimes think it may be so, but I pray God to have mercy upon us all and preserve us from the power of the great enemy, who knows he has but a short time to, work in.
Parrish creating trouble Prevail by prayer	We have had a terrible stir with Wm. Parrish the particulars of which I cannot here give you at length. We are not yet able to tell where it will end. I have been made to tremble and quake before the Lord and to call upon him with all my heart almost day and night, as many others have done of late. I believe the voice of prayer has sounded in the House of the Lord some days, from morning till night, and it has been by these means that we have hitherto prevailed, and it is by this means only that I for one expect to prevail.		[Wm. Parrish] Warren Parrish
Perfection through suffering	I feel more and more convinced that it is through suffering that we are to be made perfect, and I have already found it to have the effect of driving me nearer to the Lord and so suffering has become a great blessing to me.
God is gracious	I have sometimes of late been so filled with the love of God, and felt such essence of his favor as has made me rejoice abundantly indeed. My heavenly Father has been very gracious unto me, both temporally and spiritually.
Work for Dort family	Since I commenced this letter, a kind sister has proposed my going to stay for a while with her to take charge of two or three children who have been in my school; they purpose giving something besides my board, and I think this will suit me better than a public school, if it is but little. I expect to go there in a day or two, and hope to be quite comfortable as I know the family to be on the Lord's side. The mother is a cousin of Brother Joseph's, and took care of him when a child. Their name is Dort.		Mary Dort was a niece of Lucy Mack Smith.
Isabella Walton and sister Snider Joseph and Brigham	I felt much pleased to see Sisters Walton and Snider who arrived here on Saturday about noon, having left Brothers Joseph Smith and Brigham about twenty miles from Fairport to evade the mobbers.		Isabella Walton was the first resident of Toronto to become interested in Mormonism. John Snyder and wife were also Canadian converts. [Brigham] Rigdon [Avard] Sampson Avard
Failed to return from Fairport	They were to come home in Dr. Avard's carriage, and expected to arrive about 10 o'clock at night, but to their great disappointment they were prevented in a most grievous manner.
Seized by mob and taken to Painsville Escaped	They had got within four miles of home, after a very fatigueing journey, much pleased with their visit to Canada and greatly anticipating the pleasure of seeing their homes and families, when they were surrounded with a mob and taken back to Painsville and secured, as was supposed, in a tavern where they intended to hold a mock trial, but to the disappointment of the wretches, the housekeeper [126] was a member of the Church, who assisted our beloved brethren in making their escape; but, as "Brother Joseph" says, not by a basket let down through the window, but by the kitchen door. No doubt the hand of the Lord was in it, or it could not have been effected.		[basket] Saul (Paul) evaded his enemies in Damascus when the disciples "let him down by the wall in a basket."(Acts 9:25.
Dark, wet night	The day had been extremely wet and the night was unusually dark and you may try if you can to conceive what the situation was. They hardly knew which way to start as it had by that time got to be about ten o'clock.
Swamp	The first step they took was to find the woods as quickly as possible where they thought they should be safe, but in order to reach there, they had to lie down in a swamp by an old log, just where they happened to be.
Joseph and Brigham pledge to each other	So determinedly were they pursued by their mad enemies in every direction, and sometimes so closely, that "Brother Joseph" was obliged to entreat "Brother Brigham" to breathe more softly if he meant to escape. When they would run or walk they took each other by the hand and covenanted to live and die together.		Italics are Gates'. ["Brother Brigham"] Bro Rigdon
	Owing to the darkness of the night, their pursuers had to carry lighted torches, which was one means of the escape of our beloved sufferers, as they could see them in every direction while they were climbing over fences or traveling through bush or cane fields, until about 12 o'clock.
Return fatigued	After traveling, as they suppose, in this manner five or six miles, they found the road which led homeward and saw no more of their pursuers. After traveling on foot along muddy, slippery roads until near three in the morning, they arrived safely at home about fainting with fatigue.
Joseph spoke in the Temple on Sunday	He, "Brother Joseph," told us, that he knew in his heart when first taken that he would see home before sunrise, and thank God it was so. Notwithstanding all he had to endure, he appeared in the House of the Lord throughout the Sabbath, in excellent spirits, spoke in a very powerful manner, and blessed the congregation in the name of the Lord; and I do assure you the Saints felt the blessing, and left the House rejoicing abundantly, returning their blessing upon him.
Sidney Rigdon injured	Brother Rigdon, through his great weariness, and a small hurt, received from a fall, did not attend the House, but is now well.
	I suppose all these things will only add another gem to their crown.
	I did not think of taking up so much room relating these circumstances, but I have been as brief as possible.
Detractor's wife killed in accident	I must now give you an account of a very affecting event which took place in Kirtland Sunday before last. You will, of course, remember a Wm. Clark, a miller who had been a great opposer of our Church, as he and his wife with some of their children and other friends were returning from the Presbyterian Methodist House, in a very nice carriage. About one minute after they passed the House of the Lord, their horses took fright and started off the side of the hill, and hurt Mrs. C. so seriously as to prove fatal. She was buried on the Wednesday following. She has left six weeping children and a mourning husband. In-[127]deed, on the day preceding the accident she was heard to speak very unfavorably of our Church, but is now gone to prove whether it is the Church of Christ or not. I greatly desire that this visitation may be sanctified to the family.		[Wm. Clark] Wycom? Clark
He had spurned Joseph's warning of God's retribution	I believe it is not quite a year since "Brother Joseph" told Wm. Clark that the curse of God would be upon him for his conduct towards him and the Church. You may remember that our people wished to purchase his place, but he would not sell it on any reasonable terms and therefore kept it, and has been a trouble in the place, but has prospered in business so much as to say he never prospered better, and told a person some time ago that he was ready for another of Joseph Smith's curses. I feel inclined to think he will never be heard to utter such words again.
Warning to all who oppose the Prophet	May the Lord forgive and save Mr. Clark, and all others who raise their hand against the Lord's anointed, for I see more clearly than ever that this is no trifling sin in the sight of God. No; it is as great as it was in any age of the world. I sincerely wish that all the preachers of the Church had a proper sense of their duty and privilege in this respect.
	I expect to hear from you soon and also from England. I hope I shall not be disappointed.
Better remain in Canada High unemployment Our only hope is to be faithful	Tell me if you and Brother Thomas have any idea of coming to Kirtland this fall. If the field of labor remains open there and unless a change should take place in the state of affairs here for the better, I should not advise it, however much I might desire to see you here. Scores of men are out of employ here even in the summer and how it will be in the winter I cannot tell. But I fear for Kirtland. Oh, that we as a people may be faithful, for this is our only hope, and all we have to depend upon.		[Thomas] Thompson (Mercy's husband)
	Give my kind love to Brother Thompson and all other friends, particularly Brother and Sister Laws. I thank them for their kindness to you. I thank Brother Thompson for his last kind letter. I should be pleased with another. I remain,
		Your very affectionate sister, MARY FIELDING.
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