Lucy Mack Smith's Final Years in Nauvoo: Grief, Legacy, and Division

Explore the challenging period Lucy Mack Smith navigated in Nauvoo after the deaths of her sons, her efforts to preserve family history, and her decision to remain in Illinois.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 2, 2026

Branched from Lucy Mack Smith's Autobiography

Quick take

After Joseph and Hyrum's murders, Lucy Mack Smith remained in Nauvoo, facing profound grief and financial strain.
She dedicated her final years to completing and preserving her family history, 'Biographical Sketches.'
Her relationship with Brigham Young and the Twelve was complex, marked by respect but also differing paths for the church's future.
She chose to stay in Nauvoo due to age, health, and a deep connection to her family's graves, living with Emma Smith.

Lucy Mack Smith, the steadfast mother of Joseph Smith Jr., spent her final years in Nauvoo, Illinois, navigating profound personal grief, financial hardship, and the complex leadership transition within the Latter-day Saint movement after the murders of her sons Joseph and Hyrum in June 1844. This period, from 1844 until her death in 1856, was marked by her resilience in the face of immense loss and her dedication to preserving her family's story.

The Weight of Loss and a Divided Community

After the assassinations of Joseph and Hyrum, Lucy was left to mourn the loss of her husband and eight of her eleven children. This devastating blow occurred at a time when the Latter-day Saint community itself was reeling, facing external persecution and internal divisions over who should lead the church. Lucy, already in her late sixties, grappled with this immense personal and communal upheaval.

While she initially supported the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, led by Brigham Young, her relationship with the new leadership became nuanced. They respected her as the Prophet's mother, but practical matters and differing perspectives on the church's future, particularly the planned exodus west, created a subtle distance. Lucy chose not to follow the main body of the Saints when they began their migration to the Great Basin.

Preserving a Sacred Family Legacy

A primary focus for Lucy during her Nauvoo years was the completion and preservation of her historical narrative, "Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations." This ambitious work, which she had been compiling for years, became her enduring testament to her family's experiences and the foundational events of the Latter-day Saint movement. She viewed it as a sacred duty to ensure their story, particularly Joseph's, was told from her unique perspective.

She faced significant challenges in getting her manuscript published. Some church leaders, including Brigham Young, expressed concerns about its accuracy, potential for misuse by critics, or its timing during a period of intense turmoil and reorganization. Despite these obstacles, Lucy persisted, seeing the book as a vital part of her contribution to the legacy of her sons.

Remaining in Nauvoo

Lucy's decision to stay in Nauvoo, rather than join the westward exodus, was deeply personal. Advanced age and declining health made the arduous journey impractical. More profoundly, she felt an unbreakable bond to the graves of her husband, Joseph Sr., and her sons Joseph and Hyrum, all buried in Nauvoo. She chose to live with her daughter-in-law Emma Smith and her grandchildren, providing a measure of continuity and familial support in a town rapidly emptying of its Latter-day Saint population. Her presence offered a vital link to the church's founding generation, even as its future unfolded hundreds of miles away.

Lucy Mack Smith's final years in Nauvoo are crucial for understanding the profound personal cost of the Latter-day Saint movement's early history and the complex transition of its leadership. Her unwavering dedication to preserving her family's narrative offers a unique, firsthand perspective on the founding family's experiences. Her resilience in the face of profound loss and her choice to remain anchored to the memory of her loved ones in Nauvoo serve as a testament to her enduring faith and maternal devotion, providing invaluable insight into a turbulent and defining period.

Why did Lucy Mack Smith stay in Nauvoo when most Saints left?

Lucy chose to remain in Nauvoo primarily due to her advanced age, declining health, and a strong emotional attachment to the graves of her husband and sons, Joseph and Hyrum. She also lived with her daughter-in-law Emma Smith and her grandchildren, providing a stable family presence amidst the upheaval.

What was her relationship with Brigham Young like during this time?

Her relationship with Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve was complex. While they held her in high esteem as the Prophet's mother, there were subtle differences in perspective, particularly regarding her autobiography's publication and the church's future direction. She did not follow them west, but mutual respect generally prevailed.

What was the significance of her autobiography during her Nauvoo years?

Completing and preserving her "Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith" became a central mission for Lucy. It was her way of honoring her family's sacrifices and ensuring their story, especially Joseph's, was told from her perspective, despite challenges and concerns from some church leaders about its content or timing.

How did she support herself in Nauvoo after the exodus?

Lucy lived with her daughter-in-law Emma Smith and Emma's children in Nauvoo. While specific financial details are sparse, she relied on the support of her family and possibly some limited assistance from church members or others who remained in the area.