The Irish Mormon prophet
By Michael De Groote
Mormon Times
When people think of St. Patrick's Day and famous Irishmen they probably don't think about Joseph Smith Jr.
But they should.
As reported in the Deseret News and on MormonTimes.com last August, Ugo Perego, director of operations at the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation discovered a rare DNA marker in descendants of Joseph Smith. This marker establishes that the Smith family line came from Ireland.
Genealogists had been able to trace the Smiths to a Robert Smith who arrived in the United States in 1638 from England. Some assumptions were made about where he came from and guesses were made, but no hard evidence existed that enabled reliable tracing to go any further.
Enter DNA.
Perego thought it would be an easy task to match the well-established DNA signature of the Joseph Smith family with other Smiths in England.
It wasn't.
The Smith's DNA was not like any Smith in England that Perego could find.
Perego began DNA detective work -- trying to find a close match. After narrowing his search he discovered that the Smith family DNA matched very closely with the many descendants of "Niall of the Nine Hostages," a fifth-century Irish warlord who was the ancestor of the kings of Ireland up to the 10th century. Joseph Smith's ancestors along his paternal line were not just Irish, but probably related to Irish royalty.
Perego speculated that the Smiths had to be relatively new to England when Robert Smith came to America, otherwise there should have been DNA matches in England. He thinks that Robert's family came from Ireland and changed their last name to fit in and avoid anti-Irish sentiments. They chose the most common of English names.
If the family had not changed their name, it is possible that the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could have been named "Joseph O'Malley" or "Joseph Flannigan."
Perego's study only applies to the Smith line -- the descent from father to son and so forth. Joseph Smith, of course, had many ancestors who were not along the Smith line (his mother for instance).
So how are Joseph's descendants receiving this news?
Michael Kennedy, the President of the Joseph Smith Jr. Family Organization and of the Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society, said that most members of the family probably don't know about the study yet, but they will announce it at the next reunion. "I thought we were Scottish," he said.
E-mail: mdegroote@desnews.com
MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Copyright © 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company
Ann Olsen wrote: That's so interesting! Someday when we meet all of our ancestors it will be a great day of enlightenment! I'm looking forward to it!
Best,
Ann
Myrna wrote: Well, I am looking forward to it but not too SOON! Of course, if they want to appear to me while I am still alive that will be OK. I just am excited about this life still and want to see how it turns out at the end. However, I think that it may be like a soap opera, it has no end, just the next chapter or, in the case of TV, the next episode. M
Ann Olsen wrote: I agree -- I'm not looking forward to it right away because living with our precious families on this beautiful earth, walking the Pathway of Happiness with the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and being led by the prophets of God brings so much joy to our hearts. We live in the best of times for us. Our ward families are loving, kind, and compassionate. I feel the same love and unity whenever I visit my children's wards. There is an increase in spirituality in our ward families.
Unfortunately, -- everyday my heart aches because there are so many sad, disheartening, and horrible decisions being made by our elected leaders. Our tax dollars will now be used throughout the United States, Mexico, and other countries to abort and kill innocent babies! Life support is being withheld from babies who have survived botched abortions. Where is the integrity, character, respect for life of such leaders? Long ago I promised myself that I would never vote for any candidate who was for abortion on demand.
I never thought I would see the day in this great land of liberty when a simple vote by our senators and congressmen or a stroke of a pen would take our freedoms away one by one. Families of faith are being threatened and persecuted. In public schools, our young children and grandchildren are being taught to "embrace diversity, to accept and respect alternative lifestyles" as normal. A governor and an attorney general are urging judges to overturn the vote of the people regarding the Marriage Propositions that were passed. Our senators & congressmen approve bills that they have not even read! Now we and our children and grandchildren are saddled with tremendous debt. Our taxation will most assuredly be greatly increased. And on and on it goes.
However, I know that the work of the Lord is going forth throughout the world. The Savior is our Perfect Example. The prophets of God "waded through their afflictions" yet were true and faithful. A great legacy of faith has been passed to us by our pioneer ancestors. We are being blessed so abundantly day by day. I
I believe we can and will stand immovable in doing the right and good things we know are so important to do. We are gathering our children and grandchildren around us and teaching them not to be afraid. We are working day by day to strengthen our faith, our families, our wards and stakes. I believe we can and will faithfully endure each trial and challenge that comes.
What a great blessing it is to have dear, faithful friends who strengthen us, love us, comfort us, and stand strong with us! We are all in this together! We have the Right plan, the great Plan of Happiness!
Much love to you and yours,
Ann
No comments:
Post a Comment