Richard E. Turley Jr. and Brittany A. Chapman - Seek by Deseret Book

Catherine Clark Smith Harrison (1813–1903) 17
Life Experiences
Catherine Clark Smith Harrison did not leave a written account
of her experiences, nor did she record the thoughts that preceded her
actions. A few things that have been passed down to family members—an
old almanac with notations in the margins, brief stories,
and a statement expressing her belief—provide clues to the facts of
her life and illuminate elements of her faith.
When Catherine and her husband, Robert Smith, left their
homeland of Scotland, it seems they had no other family in America.
In two years’ time, she experienced the sorrow of losing an infant
son, the joy of having a new one, and the uncertainty of not knowing
what lay ahead. 3
When Catherine attended her first meeting with missionaries
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she commented
to her friend, “I know all this to be true!” 4 That defining moment
became the standard reference point in her life. From then on, a
thread of faith influenced the decisions she made throughout her
extraordinary experiences.
The few recorded facts about Catherine’s early life suggest she
was prepared for receiving the gospel message. Catherine reported
her experience with the missionaries to Robert, and they began attending
meetings together. Robert and Catherine were living in eastern
Pennsylvania, and it was there they were baptized in December
1843. They remained in Pennsylvania because they did not have the
money to join the main body of Saints in Nauvoo. When their third
son was born in 1845, they named him Hyrum Joseph in honor of
3. “Robert Smith,” Family Group Record, NewFamilySearch, The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed February 5, 2011, http://new
. familysearch .org.
4. Ila Rowley, “A Brief Sketch of the Life of Catherine Clark Smith Harrison,”
Typescript, p. 1, copy in private possession.