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| - Lucy Mack was born on July 8, 1775, in Gilsum, New Hampshire, the youngest of eight children born to Solomon Mack and Lydia Gates Mack. Lucy Mack's family was religious and even evangelical. Her older brother Jason eventually formed his own religious community, and her two sisters both had spiritual experiences giving them confirmation that their sins were forgiven and that they should call others to repentance. Lucy's father, after a bout of serious illness, experienced his own profound religious conversion, while her mother was ever a spiritual and moral leader in their home. [1] Lucy Mack was born into a changing social atmosphere. Mothers had gained more importance in the home for rearing and training their children, and watching over their intellectual, moral, and religious developmen
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| - Lucy Mack was born on July 8, 1775, in Gilsum, New Hampshire, the youngest of eight children born to Solomon Mack and Lydia Gates Mack. Lucy Mack's family was religious and even evangelical. Her older brother Jason eventually formed his own religious community, and her two sisters both had spiritual experiences giving them confirmation that their sins were forgiven and that they should call others to repentance. Lucy's father, after a bout of serious illness, experienced his own profound religious conversion, while her mother was ever a spiritual and moral leader in their home. [1] Lucy Mack was born into a changing social atmosphere. Mothers had gained more importance in the home for rearing and training their children, and watching over their intellectual, moral, and religious development. At the same time, the social landscape was becoming more various, so that choices in the home could be more individual in relation to the leaning of the community. Meanwhile, both secular and religious writers were extolling the influence and power of women over the moral direction of society. Lucy married Joseph Smith, Sr. in January of 1796. She brought with her a reasonable dowry provided by her brother Stephen and his business partner, plus the good moral example of her parents, and a solid grounding in religious faith. Her combined strength and spirituality made her perfect to be the matron of the religious movement that would be called Mormonism. Alvin and Hyrum were born into the family, and in 1802, Joseph Smith, Sr. located his family in Tunbridge, Vermont, where he opened a store. A daughter, Sophronia, was born in 1803. After about six years of marriage, Lucy became seriously ill. Death seemed certain. Her sisters had succumbed to the same disease, which the doctors called, "confirmed consumption." Lucy did not feel ready for death and judgment. She recounts: "I knew not the ways of Christ, besides there appeared to be a dark and lonesome chasm between myself and the Saviour, which I dared not attempt to cross" (Proctor, ed., p. 47). Near death, having visions of heaven, Lucy covenanted with God that if He would let her live to serve her husband and children, she would "endeavor to get that religion that would enable me to serve him right, whether it was in the Bible or wherever it might be found, even if it was to be obtained from heaven by prayer and faith" (Proctor, ed., p. 48). She heard the voice of Christ ratifying the covenant and encouraging her to believe in Him. From that moment, she began to recover. When her strength was regained, she began the quest to find religious instruction. Yet, she was disappointed again and again, even when witnessing sermons from pastors noted for their piety. After several years of searching, Lucy thought it might be easier to obtain spiritual peace, if she were baptized. She found a minister willing to baptize her, but into no particular church. She continued this way for over a decade.
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