The Boy Who Wouldn’t Give Up

by Anna Galeniece

Twelve-year-old Uriah Smith sat on the edge of his family’s kitchen table trying to stay calm even though his heart thudded as a hammer. Dr. Twitchell stood nearby with a sharp tool. Uriah knew what was coming—his infected leg, the one that had ached since he was four, would finally have to be taken off. There was no anesthesia, no way to sleep through it.

But Uriah lifted his chin. “Let’s begin,” he said. And with a bravery that surprised even the adults in the room, he endured the 20-minute surgery without a scream. When it was over, he was pale and trembling, but alive and stronger in spirit than ever.

About the same time, he was also tested in another way. Like many Millerite (a term for those who believed what preacher William Miller taught about Jesus’ return) families, the Smiths had believed that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844. When nothing happened, the family felt confused and heartbroken. For a time, Uriah set aside thoughts of religion. He didn’t feel angry—just empty. So he poured his energy into learning.

With crutches tucked beneath his arms and determination in his heart, Uriah enrolled at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. The other boys were surprised at how quickly he mastered his lessons. Uriah wanted to become a teacher, and by the time he graduated in 1851, that dream seemed well within reach. But life had yet another unexpected turn waiting for him.

In 1852, Uriah’s older sister, Annie, invited him to attend a meeting. “Come hear Adventist speakers,” she urged. Uriah hesitated because he didn’t want to reopen the wounds of disappointment. Still, out of respect for Annie, he went with her. And that single meeting changed everything.

As he listened to James and Ellen White speak, something stirred inside him. This was a warmth he hadn’t felt since before 1844. Their words made sense of the past and sparked hope for the future. Uriah joyfully joined the Sabbatarian Adventists in December 1852.

Soon after, he accepted another invitation from Annie to help at the church’s publishing house. What began as simple work turned into a lifelong calling. Uriah became the editor of the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald magazine (now known as Adventist Review) and served in that role for nearly 50 years. He wrote articles, answered questions, encouraged believers, and helped unite Adventists scattered across the country. His leadership shaped the early Seventh-day Adventist Church in ways few others did.

But Uriah wasn’t only a writer. His curious mind buzzed with ideas. Inspired by his own amputation, he invented an artificial leg with flexible joints. He also created improved school desks and many other inventions. Each of them showed his desire to make life a little better for others.

Uriah Smith had once been the boy on the kitchen table, fighting pain with courage. But he grew into a man who proved that faith, once renewed, could light the world.