The Church

Public is invited as the Joseph Smith Sr. Family Celebrates the 200^th anniversary of the 1^st Miracle of the Restoration

The Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association invites the public to join with them August 3^rd, 2013 for Joseph’s Miracle Run, a 5K Run to be held August 3^rd, 2013 at This is the Place Heritage Park.

“We are very excited about this run,” said Frances Orton, president of the family organization. “We are celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the surgery that saved seven year old Joseph’s leg, and possibly his life. This surgery might be considered the first miracle of the Restoration,” Frances explained. “As a result of a typhoid epidemic Joseph was afflicted in his left leg with osteomyelitis, an infection in the bone. In that day amputation was the answer. Instead, Dr. Nathan Smith, head of Dartmouth’s Medical School, five miles from the Smith’s New Hampshire home, used an experimental technique he had developed to extract the diseased bone. The timing of that illness and access to Dr. Smith and his procedure was truly providential. We are eager to share the anniversary of this remarkable history with others. ”

This event will be the beginning of several significant Church and Smith family anniversaries. Others will center on the First Vision through the organization of the Church. “We want all these commemorations to be available to the public. We hope this first event will be fun, informational, and inclusive,” Frances said. “Joseph couldn’t have done what he did without his friends. Joseph would want the public to be invited, and we want the public to be a part of what we do.”

As part of this opening 5K Run, the organization is seeking to raise enough funds to provide a “Gift of Gratitude” to assist an aspiring medical student at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine in Joseph’s name.

“It is our objective is to publish Joseph’s name for good.” Frances commented. “We have had considerable contact with the school already. They have been incorporating our articles and history into theirs. They have shared their information on Dr. Nathan Smith with us. This has helped develop a positive understanding of the Church and of Joseph’s role. We hope it will extend into the Dartmouth community and beyond.”

Frances encourages the community to “Come celebrate with Joseph Smith Sr. Family: run, volunteer, sponsor, cheer!”

For details on the race, and also a link to the June Ensign article on Joseph’s Boyhood Surgery, please visit:   www.JosephsMiracleRun.com