‘One Spring Morn’ Honours the Life of Joseph Smith and His Family 

Melbourne musician and composer, Scott Hamilton, gathered with local talent on Saturday, 25 May, to bring to life his new musical, “One Spring Morn”, honouring the prophet Joseph Smith and his family. 

In 1820 in upstate New York, 14-year-old Joseph Smith had questions about religion and sought answers by praying in a grove of trees near his family’s farm. Unexpectedly receiving “The First Vision”, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph and called him by name. Joseph was eventually led to translate The Book of Mormon and through the Priesthood of God, restore The Church of Jesus Christ to the earth in its fullness.

Scott said, “I feel that the Lord really blessed me in this process. Joseph Smith was told that his name would be held for good and evil throughout the world.” Many have never heard of the first prophet of the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

One of these was Andrea, a friend of the Church, who attended with a member. Andrea said, “It’s the first time I’ve heard the Joseph Smith story. Scott did a wonderful job presenting it simply in a way I could understand.” 

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Full-time missionary, Elder Jed Bullock, who played young Joseph Smith, said of his experience, “I did a lot of preparing for this role, studying about Joseph Smith, his life, and the things he went through. Just today, my companion and I were knocking on doors and had several unkind responses. I felt a small token of what Joseph went through. It’s a great honor to help people feel the truthfulness of his testimony. I know that he saw what he saw, and I owe my whole life to what he did.”  

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Renee Mohring, who played Joseph’s mother, said, “I’ve been reading up on Lucy Mack Smith. It was very common for her to go out into the woods to pray. I thought it was beautiful that Joseph learned from her example about communing with God in nature.”  

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Featured in the concert reading of “One Spring Morn” were Mr. Hamilton’s first and second place “Praiseworthy Award” songs of Latter-Day Saints in Publishing, Media and the Arts (LDSPMA), October 2023.  

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Claire Dubery sang the first-place award “I See the Christ” as portrayed by a Nephite woman from the Book of Mormon who was present at Christ’s visit to the Americas after his resurrection. Claire thought deeply about what it would have been like to have actually been there to see the Savior in person, —"the stunning, breathtaking realization that I actually get to see the Christ in my lifetime.”  

Another audience member commented in the question/answer session afterward, “I felt the Spirit so strongly when Claire sang, “I See the Christ”.  

The second-place award, “Bring on Tomorrow”, sung by local actress, Chloe Terry, portrayed the grief of Joseph’s wife, Emma Smith, after Joseph’s death.  

Pania Pickford, keyboard accompanist, said, “The music was beautiful and carried the message and spirit of the Restoration in a way that only music can. I felt especially connected to and grateful for Emma for the important role she played in supporting Joseph and for her faith in times of trial.”  

Harp and flute accompanist, Amy Martin, who previously questioned her testimony of the prophet, said, “I believe in Joseph Smith because I know the Book of Mormon is true, but this performance has helped me feel like I know of him more as a person. Scott has a way of honing-in on the history of the song. The music makes you feel it.”