From Mission to Madness: Last Son of the Mormon Prophet

by Valeen Tippetts Avery

Brilliant and charismatic, David Hyrum Smith was a poet, painter, singer, philosopher, naturalist, and highly effective missionary for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In this richly detailed biography, Valeen Tippetts Avery chronicles the life of the last son of Joseph Smith and his first wife, Emma. Avery draws on a large body of correspondence for details of David's life and on his poetry to reveal his personality and emotional struggles. She tells of his mental deterioration, starting with a probable breakdown early in 1870 and ending with his death in 1904 in the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane in Elgin, where he had been confined for twenty-seven years.

"This is an astonishing accomplishment which not only tells the reader about a neglected historical figure, but about myriad neglected dimensions of both Mormon history and the history of religion in general."
-- Jan Shipps, author of Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition

"This will stand alone as a biography of David H. Smith. . . . But it is also an insightful look at the times and environment from which the Smith family, and its ideas, emerged."
-- Paul M. Edwards, author of Our Legacy of Faith: A Brief History of the Reorganized Church
 

Genres: History, Biography, Lds, Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction

392 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Stephanie Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated this look into the psyche of the son of the prophet Joseph Smith. To understand the brain of David Hyrum is to gain insight into the brain of his father.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the RLDS (Now Community of Christ) gift shop in Nauvoo, IL. I was interested for 2 reasons. The first being my love for early LDS history and my admiration for both Joseph and Emma Smith. The second reason is that Valeen Tippetts Avery is my cousin and I had read her book on Emma Smith.

This book is a fascinating look at Emma's and her son's lives after the death of Joseph Smith, especially focusing on her youngest son, whom she was pregnant with at the death of Joseph Smith. I learned a great deal about Emma and her children and how she managed to raise them after such great tragedy. I gave my personal copy away so I'm going to have to get myself another copy just to have it on hand as a reference.

[Christopher Angulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been interested in the life of Emma Smith and her sons and this book filled in a lot of blanks for me. I thought the author tried to present her subject matter fairly, allowing the reader to decide what to think of the "Josephites" and "Brighamites." David Hyrum Smith, Joseph and Emma's son, is a tragic figure -- a young man torn between loyalty to his family and his search for truth.

[Kevin Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

From 4/29/2012:

I read this biography of David Hyrum Smith maybe a few months ago. It is missing important details one would want for definite diagnosis, but it probably has all the biographical information that is available. A must read for LDS psychiatrists.

[Kelly Mayfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting info on the origin of the RLDS and Emma.

[Robyn91856 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Joseph Smith's sons and what happened to their family after the Saints went west. Very interesting read, shows the beginning of the Reorganized church.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remembered hearing about this book, so I picked it up. It had a lot of historical information about David Hyrum Smith--and I really didn't know much about him. He had a sad life.

[Emily]

@Davis.

[Barefoot Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt embarrassed for not knowing much of the history of the family that started mormonism, but reading this book erased such feelings. Truly a tragic fall David Smith took.