Joseph Fielding Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joseph Fielding Smith |
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| 10th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| January 23, 1970 – July 2, 1972 | |
| Predecessor | David O. McKay |
| Successor | Harold B. Lee |
| Counselor in the First Presidency | |
| October 29, 1965 – January 18, 1970 | |
| Called by | David O. McKay |
| End reason | Dissolution of First Presidency upon the death of David O. McKay |
| President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 9, 1951 – January 23, 1970 | |
| Predecessor | David O. McKay |
| Successor | Harold B. Lee |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| August 8, 1950 – April 4, 1951 | |
| Reason | David O. McKay was serving as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to George Albert Smith |
| End reason | Became President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 7, 1910 – January 23, 1970 | |
| Called by | Joseph F. Smith |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| April 7, 1910 – July 2, 1972 | |
| Called by | Joseph F. Smith |
| Reason | Death of John R. Winder; John Henry Smith added to First Presidency |
| Reorganization at end of term |
Bruce R. McConkie ordained |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. July 19, 1876 Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 1972 (aged 95) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W |
| Spouse(s) |
Louie Emily Shurtliff
(m. 1898; died 1908)Ethel Georgina Reynolds
(m. 1908; died 1937)Jessie Ella Evans
(m. 1938; died 1971) |
| Children | 11 |
| Parents | Joseph F. Smith Julina Lambson Smith |
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Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. (born July 19, 1876 – died July 2, 1972) was an American religious leader. He was the tenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served from 1970 until his death in 1972. He was the son of a former church president, Joseph F. Smith. He was also the great-nephew of Church founder Joseph Smith.
Smith became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1910. His father was the church's president at that time. When Smith became president of the Church, he was 93 years old. This made him the oldest person to start as president in church history. He served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1951 to 1970. This was the third-longest term in church history. He held this role during the entire presidency of David O. McKay.
Smith also worked as the Church Historian and Recorder. He was a religious scholar and wrote many books. His writings are often used by church members for study. Smith was known for his strong traditional views. He held firm beliefs about subjects like evolution and race. However, some say he became more open to new ideas as he got older.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Joseph Fielding Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, on July 19, 1876. He was the first son of Julina Lambson Smith. She was one of his father's wives. His father, Joseph F. Smith, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Joseph Fielding Smith was named after his father.
He grew up in his father's large family home in Salt Lake City. He also often worked on the family farm in Taylorsville, Utah. When Joseph was two, new laws made the practice of plural marriage illegal. Many church leaders, including his father, had to hide or leave the country.
In 1885, his parents went to Hawaii for a time. Joseph stayed home with his brothers, sisters, and his father's other wives. He called these women "aunties." His mother returned in 1887, and his father later came back. His father could not openly visit his family until 1891. This was when he received a special permission from U.S. President Benjamin Harrison.
Smith's mother worked as a midwife, helping to deliver babies. She delivered nearly 1000 babies safely. As a boy, Joseph often drove his mother by wagon to these deliveries. He went to "ward schools" for his early education. These were local schools run by church members. They taught reading, writing, and math. As a teenager, he studied at the Latter-day Saint College. This school was like a modern high school. After college, he worked at ZCMI, a large store, to help his family. He was present when the Salt Lake Temple was dedicated on April 6, 1893.
Family Life and Marriages
Smith married his first wife, Louie Emily Shurtliff, on April 26, 1898. In 1899, he was called to serve a mission in Great Britain. He left Louie in Salt Lake City and served until 1901. After his mission, they had two daughters, Josephine and Julina. Louie passed away in 1908 due to problems with a third pregnancy. For a time, Smith was also a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
On November 2, 1908, Smith married Ethel Georgina Reynolds. She was the daughter of a well-known church leader, George Reynolds. They had nine children together: four girls and five boys. Their youngest daughter, Amelia, married Bruce R. McConkie. He later became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Ethel died in 1937 at age 47.
Ethel had asked that Jessie Ella Evans sing at her funeral. Jessie was a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In 1937, Joseph and Jessie became engaged. They married on April 12, 1938, in the Salt Lake Temple. This marriage was performed by Heber J. Grant. Joseph and Jessie did not have children together. Jessie passed away in 1971.
Church Service and Leadership
After his mission in 1901, Smith started working in the office of the Church Historian and Recorder. In 1906, he became the Assistant Church Historian. He wrote his first book about church teachings in 1909. This book defended the LDS Church against other groups. In 1921, Smith became the Church Historian and Recorder. He held this important position until 1970.
Before becoming an apostle, Smith served in local church leadership roles. He was also a home missionary, similar to a modern ward missionary. He also served on the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association General Board.
Early in his time as an apostle, Smith's views on creationism and theory of evolution gained attention. He wrote a book called Man, His Origin and Destiny on the topic. Church president David O. McKay did not approve of the book. He made it clear that the book was not official church doctrine. However, because Smith was a senior leader, his views were important to many church members.
Smith lived most of his time as an apostle in Salt Lake City. He also served as president of the Salt Lake Temple from 1945 to 1949. During this time, he visited the church's Spanish-American Mission. He suggested that temple ceremonies be translated into Spanish.
He also served as president of the Genealogical Society of Utah from 1934 to 1961. This society helps people find their family history. He tried to allow married women to continue working there. However, he could only get a change to let them work for six months after marriage.
In 1961, Smith spoke at a church meeting in Hawaii. He said that humans would never travel to space or the moon. When he became church president in 1970, he was asked about these statements. He reportedly replied, "Well, I was wrong, wasn't I?" This showed his willingness to admit when his personal views were incorrect.
His teachings as an apostle were studied in church classes in 2014.
Service Around the World
Smith traveled for church assignments at times. In 1939, he visited missions in Europe. He helped missionaries leave as World War II began. In 1950, he visited the church's Mexican Mission. In 1955, he toured Asia. During this trip, he dedicated Korea and the Philippines for missionary work. In 1957, he went to Europe for the dedication of the London Temple. From 1960 to 1961, he and his wife Jessie toured church missions in Central and South America.
Writings and Publications
Joseph Fielding Smith published his first book in 1902. It was called Asael Smith of Topsfield, Massachusetts, with some Account of the Smith Family. In total, Smith wrote and published 25 books.
He also wrote the words for the hymn "Does the Journey Seem Long?". This hymn is number 127 in the current English-language edition of the LDS Church hymnal.
Church President
Joseph Fielding Smith became the LDS Church's president on January 23, 1970. This happened after the death of David O. McKay. He chose Harold B. Lee and N. Eldon Tanner as his counselors.
Even though he was president for less than three years, his time brought new changes. He started "Area conferences" for church members. There were also big changes in the church's Sunday School system. The church magazines were combined into Ensign, New Era, and Friend. His time as president also saw a steady increase in the number of missionaries. New temples were dedicated in Ogden and Provo, Utah.
Death
Joseph Fielding Smith passed away at his home in Salt Lake City on July 2, 1972. He was 95 years old. He had attended church services earlier that day. That evening, he quietly died while sitting in his favorite chair, visiting with one of his daughters. He was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Images for kids
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Grave marker of Joseph Fielding Smith.
See also
In Spanish: Joseph Fielding Smith para niños
- Mormon views on evolution
