Sister to the Prophet: The Life of Katharine Smith Salisbury

by Kyle R. Walker

Katharine Smith Salisbury was the longest-surviving member of the Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family. Her biography records a life of challenges, including overcoming religious prejudice and ostracism. Three of Katharine’s children die in infancy. the Salisburys were driven from Ohio and Missouri. Her husband only sporadically provided for the family, was outside the faith for a time, and died at age forty-four. After the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum, Katharine remained in Hancock County, Illinois, where the family continued to experience untold hardships due to her connection to the church’s founder. Through all these challenges Katharine remained loyal to her brother Joseph Smith Jr., vouching for his prophetic appointment. She successfully perpetuated her faith in these early Restoration events to her expanding posterity before her death in 1900.

Genres: History, Biography

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2024

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She is one of a small cluster of first-generation female members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for whom a full-length biography can be written. One researcher has estimated that in the archives of the church, men’s diaries and histories outnumber women’s ten to one, making it difficult to document women’s lives and experience… the cultural assumption that their words—like their duties—were essentially private and therefore beyond the reach of history.”

“Her recitals about the First Vision, Moroni’s visits, her company’s migration to Kirtland, and the hostilities the Saints experienced in Missouri and Nauvoo contain details that are not mentioned in any other source.”

“…she remained loyal to her brother, vouching for his prophetic appointment for the remainder of her life. She successfully perpetuated that belief to her posterity. Her faith in Christ and in her brother’s teachings helped her endure life’s hardships.”

4 1/2 stars

[MaryAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this scholarly approach to the biography of Katharine Smith Salisbury. It gave me a glimpse inside the life of Joseph Smith, Jr’s family. I knew little about his siblings, particularly after Joseph and his brother Hyrum’s martyrdom. Very well researched and documented.