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SALT LAKE CITY — Shadrach Roundy was a loyal friend of Joseph Smith.
As an early convert of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Roundy witnessed many of the events that affected the Saints from New York to Illinois and never wavered in his faith or desire to protect the prophet, as well as his successor, Brigham Young.
One family account indicates Roundy accompanied Joseph Smith to Monmouth, Illinois, for a trial.
On another occasion, the Prophet was warned of trouble coming his way. He asked Roundy and another man to stand guard at his gate in Nauvoo. While on duty, Roundy used a hickory cane and calm reasoning to dissuade a large group of men from forcing their way into the Smith home, according to Roundy's life history in Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia.
"His love for the prophet was so great that he would have given his own life freely in defense of his beloved friend and brother," the narrative reads.
Thanks to family stories and histories like these passed down over generations, Roundy is one of many early Latter-day Saint men whose descendants proudly proclaim was a bodyguard for Joseph Smith.
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