Saturday, January 29, 2022

Joseph Fielding Smith (1902) on God's Providence in the Settlement of the New World and in the Life of Asael Smith

  

In looking over the early history of the United States, one cannot help but see the truthfulness of the words of the Apostle Paul, that “the powers that be ordained of God.” I firmly believe that through the inspiration of the Lord the first settlers of America were moved upon to take up their journey from the old world and make their homes in this land of freedom. (Joseph Fielding Smith, “Asahel Smith of Topsfield, With Some Account of the Smith Family,” The Historical Collections of the Topsfield Historical Society 8 [1902]: [Topsfield, Mass.: Topsfield Historical Society, 1902], 87)

 

During the Revolution he allowed the example of his worthy father and cast his lot on the side of the patriots, serving in the American army during the war. After the death of his father, in 1785, Asael returned to Topsfield again to make his home on the paternal estate. He lived in the old home about one mile north of the town, where a number of his children were born, notably, Joseph, father of the “Mormon” Prophet. It is doubtful if Asael would have again left the place had he not aroused the prejudices of his neighbors. He was a man of very liberal views with thoughts in advance of his time. He was noted for having opinions of his own which he would not yield to bigotry nor opposition. Some of his children were baptized in the Congregational church at Topsfield; but in his own religious views he was somewhat of a Universalist, and held to the truths that in America, all men should have free and equal liberty. It is common reported in the family that he brought the ill-will of his neighbors upon his head because of his too liberal religious views. It is well known that he was open and explicit and always expressed his honest opinions whether they were in accord with prevailing views or not. (Ibid., 89-90)