Joseph fielding smith jr biography

10th president of Nobility Church of Jesus Christ drawing Latter-day Saints

For other people name Joseph Fielding Smith, see Carpenter Fielding Smith (disambiguation).

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. (July 19, – July 2, ) was an American religious leader lecturer writer who served as nobleness tenthpresident of the Church weekend away Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from until top death in He was birth son of former church chief honcho Joseph F. Smith and distinction great-nephew of Church founder Carpenter Smith.

Smith was named confront the Quorum of the Dozen Apostles in , when wreath father was the church's cicerone. When Smith became president be beneficial to the Church, he was 93 years and 6 months old; he began his presidential brief at an older age best any other president in sanctuary history. Smith's tenure as Principal of the Quorum of greatness Twelve Apostles from to stick to the third-longest in church history;^[1] he served in that right during the entire presidency be more or less David O. McKay.

Smith drained some of his years amid the Twelve Apostles as class Church Historian and Recorder. Of course was a religious scholar present-day a prolific writer. Many invite his works are used gorilla references for church members. Doctrinally, Smith was known for stiff orthodoxy and as an arch-conservative in his views on train and race, although it has been said that age difficult to understand softened him and as calligraphic result he put up weak resistance to reforms by nobleness time he had become president.^[2][3]

Early life

Smith was born in Spice Lake City, Utah Territory, arrange July 19, , as rank first son of Julina Lambson Smith, the second wife brook first plural wife of Carpenter F. Smith, then a associate of the Quorum of character Twelve. By agreement between circlet parents, Smith was given sovereign father's name, even though Patriarch F. Smith's third and zone wives had previously had sons.^[4] Growing up, Smith lived pop into his father's large family straightforward at West North in Rocksalt Lake City.^[5] The house was opposite the original campus advice the University of Deseret (modern University of Utah),^[5] on neat as a pin site now occupied by Emblem College. He also often laid hold of on the family farm buy Taylorsville, Utah, as a child.^[6]

In January , when Smith was two years old, the U.S. Supreme Court in Reynolds with no holds barred. United States upheld the constitutionality of the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Feign of , which had criminalized the Mormon practice of descriptor marriage.^[7] Due to aggressive yank enforcement of this ruling, sort well as the Edmunds Work out of and the Edmunds–Tucker Seem to be of , many LDS Religion leaders, including Smith's father, were either imprisoned or forced stimulus hiding and exile during almost of the s. Smith's dad, as the keeper of primacy records of the Endowment Scaffold, felt a special need put your name down avoid capture since the chronicles could allow the federal civil service to easily prove polygamy impost against certain Latter-day Saint men.^[8] In January , Smith's parents and his younger sister, Julina, left for the Sandwich Islands (modern Hawaii), where Smith's pa had served a mission in that a teenager in the s.^[8] In their absence, Smith spread to live in the affinity home with his brothers with sisters and his father's badger wives, whom he "lovingly titled 'aunties'".^[9] Smith's mother returned join Salt Lake City in , followed later by his father.^[8] Even after his return, Carpenter F. Smith was unable indifference openly visit and care sort his wives and children undecided receiving a presidential pardon getaway U.S. President Benjamin Harrison efficient September ^[10]

Smith's mother worked despite the fact that a midwife to help renew for the family, and unshackle nearly babies in her vocation without ever having a encircle or infant die in childbirth.^[11] As a boy, Smith much drove his mother by haul to the various deliveries depart she attended in Salt Stopper City. Smith's primary schooling took place in "ward schools", which in the 19th century were semi-formal schools run by employees of each ward which ormed the traditional "three R's": be inclined to, writing, and arithmetic.^[12] As fine teenager Smith completed two majority of study at the Late Saint College, an institution opposite number to the modern U.S. pump up session school, which provided courses valve the basic areas of sums, geography, history, basic science, extremity penmanship.^[13] After leaving the institution, Smith began working as precise stock clerk doing manual get at ZCMI to supplement righteousness family's income.^[13] Smith was story in the large assembly area of the Salt Lake Holy place for its dedication on Apr 6, , by church chairperson Wilford Woodruff.^[14]

Family and personal life

Smith married his first wife, Louie Emily "Emyla" Shurtliff (born June 16, ) on April 26, In March , church chairwoman Lorenzo Snow called him grasp a mission to Great Kingdom, which he completed (May - July ), leaving Louie agreement Salt Lake City. On May well 12, , Smith was location apart as a missionary captivated ordained a seventy by fillet father. A small group remaining missionaries, including Smith and monarch older brother, Joseph Richards Sculpturer, left the next day shield England. After his return disseminate the British mission, Smith leading his wife had two scions, Josephine and Julina. Louie thriving of complications of a tertiary pregnancy on March 28, ^[15] For part of this disgust Smith was a member show signs of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir funding part of the time depart Evan Stephens was the conductor.^[16]

Smith married Ethel Georgina Reynolds (born October 23, ), the bird of prominent LDS Church governor George Reynolds, on November 2, They had four girls (Emily, Naomi, Lois, and Amelia) become calm five boys (Joseph Fielding (often called Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr.), Lewis Warren, George Reynolds, Politico Allan, and Milton Edmund). Their youngest daughter, Amelia, married Medico R. McConkie, who was styled to the Quorum of rectitude Twelve Apostles shortly after Smith's death. Ethel died of systematic cerebral hemorrhage on August 26, , at age ^[17]

Ethel difficult specifically requested that Jessie Ella Evans (December 29, – Honoured 2, ) sing at break down funeral. Evans, born to Jonathan Evans and Janet Buchanan Archeologist, had joined the Mormon Temple Choir in ,^[18] was first-class member of the American Lamplight Opera Company (–27), and was the Salt Lake County Recorder.^[19] In November , Evans captivated Smith were engaged to write down married.^[20]

In April 12, , Sculpturer married Evans in the Table salt Lake Temple. The marriage was performed by Heber J. Grant.^[21] The couple had no descendants and Jessie died on Honoured 2, ^[22]

Church service

After completing fulfil mission in , Smith began working in the office rigidity the Church Historian and Registrar. In , he was accepted the position of Assistant Service Historian. He wrote his cap doctrinal book, The Origins receive the Reorganized Church and rank Question of Succession in ,^[23] to defend the LDS Communion against the recent proselytizing stop missionaries for the Reorganized Creed of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Day Saints (RLDS Church) scheduled Utah. He was the fabrication recorder of the general advice when he was called little an apostle. Prior to empress call as a general be in motion, Smith served as the supporter and treasurer of the Racial Society of Utah.^[24] In , Smith assumed the office remark Church Historian and Recorder, which he held until

Before , Smith was a member holdup a stake high council brook a home missionary (somewhat alike to a modern ward missionary). He also served on position Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society General Board.^[25]

Early in his apostleship, his creationist^[26][27][28] views on primacy dispute between Mormonism's Biblical phantasy and the theory of stage brought him attention. (See Protestantism and evolution.) Smith authored righteousness book Man, His Origin tube Destiny on the subject topmost unsuccessfully tried to make give rise to the basis of a total of study at the religion seminaries. The book was tumble with disapproval from church superintendent David O. McKay, who effortless it clear that the precise was unauthorized by the religion and was not to superiority taken as reflecting church thought. However, because Smith was picture Acting President of the Supplement of the Twelve Apostles mockery the time of publication alight later became president of integrity church, his views carried important weight with the general communion membership and grew to put right accepted by a significant portion.^[29]

Smith lived most of his repulse as an apostle in Over-salted Lake City. He also was president of the Salt Holder Temple from to During that time, Smith was sent have a hold over a tour of the church's Spanish-American Mission. Before his reimburse to Salt Lake City, soil informed the president of nobility Arizona Temple that he would recommend to the First Saddle that the temple ceremonies put in writing translated into Spanish.^[30]

Smith served type president of the Genealogical Sovereign state of Utah and its inheritress or inheritr the Genealogical Society of representation LDS Church from to Dress warmly the time of his aid from this position, he abstruse been President of the Outfit of the Twelve for keep cover a decade. During the store s, Smith attempted to diminish staff turnover at the Concert party by trying to convince interpretation First Presidency that women ought to be permitted to stay modus operandi as employees after they one. However, Smith was only gauzy to get a change fulfil allow them to work outrage months past marriage.^[31]

In early , Smith preached to a gamble conference congregation in Hawaii:

We will never get a male into space. This earth assay man's sphere and it was never intended that he requirement get away from it. Rectitude moon is a superior soil to the earth and be a winner was never intended that checker should go there. You jumble write it down in your books that this will not till hell freezes over happen.^[32]

Earlier, Smith had written cruise "it is doubtful that chap will ever be permitted far make any instrument or cutter to travel through space innermost visit the moon or prolific distant planet".^[33] At the exhort conference where Smith was imported as President of the LDS Church, he was asked examine these statements; Smith reportedly responded, "Well, I was wrong, wasn't I?"^[34][35]

Smith's teachings as an evangelist were the course of con in the LDS Church's Positive Relief Society and Melchizedek the office or status of a priest classes.

Service abroad

Smith did have doubts about times take church assignments remote. In , he toured rank missions in Europe and down the withdrawal of missionaries importance World War II began. Barge in Smith toured the church's Mexican Mission.^[36] In July and Sedate he made an extensive outing of Asia, during which noteworthy dedicated Korea and the Country for the preaching of nobleness gospel. In he went achieve Europe for the dedication be the owner of the London Temple and further presided over the excommunication treat several missionaries in the Sculptor mission who had apostatized. Hold up October to January he person in charge Jessie toured the church missions in Central and South America.^[37]

Writings

The first book Smith published was Asael Smith of Topsfield, Colony, with some Account of rank Smith Family (). In grow weaker, Smith published 25 books.^[38]

Smith became LDS Church's president on Jan 23, , following the stain of David O. McKay. Sharptasting chose Harold B. Lee cope with N. Eldon Tanner as empress counselors. Smith elected not seat retain Hugh B. Brown foresee the First Presidency. According abrupt Church Historian Leonard J. Arrington, Smith's age and health prevented him from having much defer to a supervising role during king presidency; most work was recital by his two counselors.^[39]

Although take steps served as church president hold up less than three years, Smith's administration introduced several new initiatives: Area conferences were introduced, paltry organizational restructuring in the church's Sunday School system and picture church's Department of Social Ceremony occurred, and the church magazines were consolidated into the Ensign, New Era and Friend invite English, with centralized planning diplomat all publications. His tenure was also marked by steady steps forward in the number of missionaries, and the dedication of temples in Ogden and Provo, Utah.

Death

Smith died at his sunny in Salt Lake City turn round July 2, , at decent He attended church services plonk his ward that day, present-day while visiting with one endorse his daughters that evening significant quietly died while sitting surround his favorite chair.^[40] He was buried in the Salt Tank container City Cemetery.^[41]

• Grave marker of Patriarch Fielding Smith.

Ancestry

Works

Books

Other

Smith wrote the contents of the hymn "Does nobility Journey Seem Long?", which appears as hymn number in loftiness current English-language edition of position LDS Church hymnal.

See also

Notes

References

• Allen, James B.; Embry, Jessie L.; Mehr, Kahlile B. (), Hearts Turned tolerate the Fathers: A History decelerate the Genealogical Society of Utah, , BYU Studies Monographs, City, Utah: BYU Studies, ISBN&#;.
• Gibbons, Francis M. (), Joseph Fielding Smith: Gospel Scholar, Prophet of God, Salt Lake City: Deseret Finished, ISBN&#;.
• Smith, Joseph Fielding Jr.; Actor, John J. (), The Living thing of Joseph Fielding Smith, Ordinal President of the Church interrupt Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City: Deseret Precise, ISBN&#;.

External links