From the Lives of the Church Presidents

By Hilary Hendricks

Adapted from The Lord Needed a Prophet, by Susan Arrington Madsen

Midnight Adventures of Young Joseph Fielding Smith

Illustrated by Mike Eagle

When Joseph Fielding Smith was ten years old, his mother woke him in the middle of the night.

Mother: Sister Thomas is having her baby, Joseph. I need you to take me to her quickly!

Joseph readied their mare and hitched her to the buggy.

Joseph: Come on, Old Meg.

Joseph: Too many babies are born on cold winter nights, Mother.

Mother: Try to make Old Meg go faster, son!

When they arrived, Joseph waited for hours while his mother helped Sister Thomas.

But when the baby came, the midnight journey and long wait seemed worthwhile.

Mother: Isn’t she beautiful, Joseph?

Sister Thomas: Thank you, Joseph. Thank you for bringing your mother.

Mother: Joseph, I still remember when you were born. I’m so proud of the hard-working boy you’ve become.

Joseph: Thanks, Mother. I’m proud, too … proud that I wasn’t born on a cold winter night!

If you’d like to learn more about President Smith, do the “President Joseph Fielding Smith Crossword” on page 5.