EARLY LIFE OF LUCY MACK--HER MARRIAGE WITH JOSEPH SMITH.
I shall now introduce the history of my own life. I was born in the
town of Gilsum, Cheshire county, state of New Hampshire, on the eighth
of July, 1776.
When I arrived at the age of eight years, my mother had a severe fit
of sickness. She was so low that she, as well as her friends, entirely
despaired of her recovery. During this sickness she called her children
around her bed, and, after exhorting them always to remember the
instructions which she had given them--to fear God and walk uprightly
before him, she gave me to my brother Stephen, requesting him to take
care of me, and bring me up as his own child, then bade each of us
farewell.
This my brother promised to do; but, as my mother shortly recovered,
it was not necessary, and I consequently remained at my father's house
until my sister Lovisa was married. Some time after this event I went
to South Hadley, to pay Lovisa, who was living there, a visit.
I returned home to my parents in about six months, and remained with
them in Gilsum until the death of Lovina. Soon after which, my brother
Stephen, who was living at Tunbridge, Vermont, came to my father's on a
visit; and he insisted so earnestly on my accompanying him home, that
my parents consented. The grief occasioned by the death of Lovina was
preying upon my health, and threatened my constitution with serious
injury, and they hoped that to accompany my brother home might serve to
divert my mind and thus prove a benefit to me. For I was pensive and
melancholy, and often in my reflections I thought that life was not
worth possessing.
In the midst of this anxiety of mind, I determined to obtain that which
I had heard spoken so much of from the pulpit--a change of heart.
To accomplish this, I spent much of my time reading the Bible, and
praying; but notwithstanding my great anxiety to experience a change of
heart, another matter would always interpose in all my meditations--if
I remain a member of no church, all religious people will say I am of
the world; and if I join some one of the different denominations, all
the rest will say I am in error. No church will admit that I am right,
except the one with which I am associated. This makes them witnesses
against each other; and how can I decide in such a case as this, seeing
they are all unlike the Church of Christ, as it existed in former days!
While I remained at Tunbridge, I became acquainted with a young man by
the name of Joseph Smith, to whom I was subsequently married.
I continued with my brother one year, then went home. I was at home
but a short time, when my brother came after me again, and insisted so
hard upon my returning with him, that I concluded to do so. And this
time I remained with him until I was married, which took place the next
January.