Joseph’s Priority

Joseph Smith playing with his sons

What phrase did Joseph Smith use to describe his home life?

A)                 “My important work”

B)                 “My work away from work”

C)                 “My quiet time”

D)                 “Time with the family”

Yesterday’s answer:

b.   Because of memories of the turbulent ship journey to America

The following from the life of Joshua Midgley, born October 15, 1832: The family [Midgley] decided to heed the call of the General Authorities to come to America and gather with the Saints in Utah; but the family was poor, and Thomas decided to investigate first and decide the feasibility of so doing. Therefore, on January 10, 1850, Thomas, then fifty-one years old, and Joshua, then seventeen, boarded the sailing ship Argo at Liverpool, bound for America, leaving the rest of the family at home, namely the mother and seven children, four having died in early childhood.

   The voyage of the Argo was stormy and rough and, at times, hazardous. Joshua said that on several occasions the storms were so violent that the decks of the ship would be awash, and it was necessary to strap the passengers who were on deck to the masts and barrels to prevent them being washed overboard. It is said that this experience during the crossings of the Atlantic so frightened Joshua that in later life he would not get into a rowboat at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City and could not be induced to step into water two feet deep, except in a bathtub. But withal, Joshua said that they arrived in New Orleans on March 8, 1850, “in good health and spirits.”

   By the end of March they arrived in St. Louis, where father Thomas became discouraged and returned to England, leaving Joshua alone. He was able to secure employment as an apprenticed painter, thereby learning one of the trades which was to be a principal source of his livelihood when he reached Utah. He also had some experience hanging wall paper and doing plumbing. Not only was he busy with his own work, but he was active in the Church in the St. Louis Fourth Ward. Joshua had practiced on his musical instrument since his early youth, and while in St. Louis he devoted a lot of time to his music, being proficient in playing the cornet, cello, bass violin, and others. He was anxious, however, to go west and join the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley.

Chronicles of Courage, Daughters of Utah Pioneers (Salt Lake City: Lesson Committee, 1993), V4: 302.