The 200th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith, founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, evoked memories of a similar celebration held in December 1905 on the occasion of the centennial observance.

In his remarks from the Sharon, Vt., site of a visitor complex memorializing the birth, President Gordon B. Hinckley told Friday how the 38-foot marble monument that now commemorates the legacy of Joseph Smith came to be dedicated. The text of his comments follows:

"A century ago, President (Joseph F.) Smith dedicated the monument which marks the Prophet's birthplace. Today while the sun was shining, we walked about this magnificent polished granite shaft, thinking not only of the man it memorializes, but also of the providence of the Lord in bringing it into place. I wish to take a few minutes to tell you about it. It is a miraculous story all by itself.

"Junius F. Wells is responsible for its presence. He was the son of Daniel H. Wells, who was associated with the prophet in Nauvoo, and who served for twenty years as a counselor to President Brigham Young. In 1905, Junius Wells suggested to the First Presidency that the church acquire the old Solomon Mack farm which straddled the line that separates South Royalton and Sharon, Vermont. He further suggested that a fitting monument be erected here.

"The Presidency accepted his suggestion and authorized him to proceed. He came here and was able to check the titles to the old Mack holdings and was able to acquire the property. This spot where we stand is known as Dairy Hill.

"Brother Wells then set out of find a suitable piece of granite. Where cold there be a large enough piece from which could be shaped a dressed pillar thirty-eight-and-a-half-feet tall, one foot for each year of the prophet's life? He searched through the quarries of Vermont and finally found a suitable piece in the quarry in Barre. The rough stone was laboriously taken from the quarry to the mill where it was shaped and polished. More stone was required to provide a suitable base.

"Eventually, the granite was ready, but there remained the almost insurmountable task of moving it, first by rail and then by wagon to the place where it was to be erected.

"A bridge over the White River had to be greatly strengthened. A special wagon was found with steel tires twenty inches wide and axles eight inches thick. Twenty-two horses were required to haul this load of some forty tons from the railroad terminal up the hill. Slowly, day after day, the great ponderous load was moved. It was now the middle of December, and the monument was to be in place and ready for dedication on December 23.

"It was necessary to cross through a meadow, and there a swamp lay directly where the wagon had to go. Rocks were dumped into the swamp. They sank out of sight. Hardwood planking was tried, but that did not help. The onlookers asked Brother Wells what he was going to do. He said, 'going to pray.'