The Daily Universe celebrates 50 years
This story originally appeared in the Daily Universe on Oct. 28, 1975
By Brad Remington
Universe Staff Writer
When Michael A. Kennedy was ordained an elder in the LDS Church on April 21, 1974, it fulfilled a prophecy.
Kennedy, a BYU student, is the third-great-grandson of President Joseph Smith and a convert to the Church. He is the first direct descendent of the President Joseph Smith to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood.
“When I was ordained an Elder, I was told that I had fulfilled a prophecy returning the priesthood to President Joseph Smith’s line,” Kennedy said.
He said he was told that this referred to a prophecy made public by Elder George Q. Cannon on Nov. 16, 1884.
Elder Cannon prophesied, “So sure will someone of Joseph Smith’s prosperity rise up and be numbered with this church and bear the everlasting priesthood that President Joseph Smith held. It may be delayed in the wise providence of our God.”
Michael Kennedy is related to President Jospeh Smith through his father’s lineage. Michaels’s father, Roger Allan Kennedy, discovered this shortly after he returned from the Korean War, remarked Kennedy.
When his father joined the Army, he was enlisted as Roger Allan Butler. However, the Army checked up on him and discovered that his last name was really Kennedy.
Copyright Brigham Young University 22 Nov 2005
