John Smith (1832-1911)
Encyclopedia
John Smith was the fifth Presiding Patriarch
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His father was Hyrum Smith
, the older brother of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism
.
John was born in Kirtland
, Ohio
to Hyrum Smith and his first wife, Jerusha Barden Smith, during the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement
. He was among the first generation of children raised in the church. The office of Presiding Patriarch was initially created to honor Joseph Smith, Sr.
, the father of the religion's founder. Before his death in 1840, Joseph Smith, Sr. declared that the position should pass by Lineal Succession
to his eldest son, Hyrum. Hyrum Smith at this time was one of the most influential members of the church and was widely seen as the most likely successor to its leadership should he outlive his brother. However, in 1844, both Hyrum and Joseph Smith were assassinated by a mob in Carthage
, Illinois
.
This event left the church leaderless. By consensus, it was expected that the title of Presiding Patriarch would pass to Hyrum Smith's eldest son, John. However, because John Smith was only 11 years of age at the time of his father's death, the position was instead claimed by a younger brother of Joseph Smith, Jr., William Smith
, and later by the younger brother of Joseph, Sr., John Smith
, who was known to the church as "Uncle John". Meanwhile, Hyrum's son John Smith traveled with the family of Heber C. Kimball
to Winter Quarters
, Nebraska
. In 1848, John Smith, along with Kimball, reached Salt Lake City
, Utah
to join Brigham Young
, who had assumed leadership of the largest Latter Day Saint faction, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In February, 1855, the younger John Smith succeeded his great uncle, "Uncle John" Smith as Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church, following the latter's death. He became the longest-serving Presiding Patriarch, remaining in that position for fifty-six years, until his death in from pneumonia
in 1911 in Salt Lake City. Among his accomplishments during this time were a mission to Scandinavia
, begun in 1862. Following his death, he was succeeded by his grandson, Hyrum G. Smith
. Smith was buried in Salt Lake City.
Presiding Patriarch (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Presiding Patriarch is a church-wide leadership office within the priesthood...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His father was Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith was an American religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement. He was the older brother of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr....
, the older brother of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
.
John was born in Kirtland
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
to Hyrum Smith and his first wife, Jerusha Barden Smith, during the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
. He was among the first generation of children raised in the church. The office of Presiding Patriarch was initially created to honor Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr. was the father of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Sr. was also one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, which Mormons believe was translated by Joseph Jr. from the Golden Plates. In 1833 Joseph Sr...
, the father of the religion's founder. Before his death in 1840, Joseph Smith, Sr. declared that the position should pass by Lineal Succession
Lineal succession (Mormonism)
Lineal succession was a doctrine, largely abandoned in many denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, whereby certain key church positions are held by right of inheritance. Most frequently the offices connected with lineal succession are those of the President of the Church and the Presiding...
to his eldest son, Hyrum. Hyrum Smith at this time was one of the most influential members of the church and was widely seen as the most likely successor to its leadership should he outlive his brother. However, in 1844, both Hyrum and Joseph Smith were assassinated by a mob in Carthage
Carthage, Illinois
Carthage is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,725 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hancock County. Carthage is most famous for being the site of the murder of Joseph Smith in 1844.- History :...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
This event left the church leaderless. By consensus, it was expected that the title of Presiding Patriarch would pass to Hyrum Smith's eldest son, John. However, because John Smith was only 11 years of age at the time of his father's death, the position was instead claimed by a younger brother of Joseph Smith, Jr., William Smith
William Smith (Mormonism)
William Smith was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Smith was the eighth child of Joseph Smith, Sr...
, and later by the younger brother of Joseph, Sr., John Smith
John Smith (1781-1854)
John Smith , known as Uncle John, was an early leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, who was known to the church as "Uncle John". Meanwhile, Hyrum's son John Smith traveled with the family of Heber C. Kimball
Heber C. Kimball
Heber Chase Kimball was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement. He served as one of the original twelve apostles in the early Latter Day Saint church, and as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his...
to Winter Quarters
Winter Quarters, Nebraska
Winter Quarters was an encampment formed by approximately 2,500 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they waited during the winter of 1846–47 for better conditions for their trek westward. It followed a preliminary tent settlement some 3½ miles west at Cutler's Park. The...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. In 1848, John Smith, along with Kimball, reached Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to join Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, who had assumed leadership of the largest Latter Day Saint faction, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In February, 1855, the younger John Smith succeeded his great uncle, "Uncle John" Smith as Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church, following the latter's death. He became the longest-serving Presiding Patriarch, remaining in that position for fifty-six years, until his death in from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in 1911 in Salt Lake City. Among his accomplishments during this time were a mission to Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, begun in 1862. Following his death, he was succeeded by his grandson, Hyrum G. Smith
Hyrum G. Smith
Hyrum Gibbs Smith was Presiding Patriarch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1912 until his death.- Biography :...
. Smith was buried in Salt Lake City.
Wives and Children
John Smith was involved in plural marriage and had two wives.- Helen Marie Fisher (20 September 1835 PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
- 3 September 1907 UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
). Married on 25 November 1853.- Elizabeth Maria Smith (8 October 1854-8 April 1891)
- Hyrum Fisher Smith (10 January 1856-9 March 1923)
- Lucy Smith (11 July 1858-10 September 1938)
- Don Carlos Smith (7 June 1861-17 February 1937)
- Joseph Girdlestone Smith (6 November 1866-20 December 1937)
- Alvin Fisher Smith (13 October 1867-31 March 1955)
- Evaline Smith (13 October 1867-4 November 1878)
- John David Smith (1 May 1870-16 September 1878)
- Hellen Jerusha Smith (26 October 1872-30 July 1881)
- Nancy Melissa Lemon (6 Sept 1833 IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
-29 March 1915). Married on 18 February 1857.- John Lemmon Smith (16 March 1858-1 May 1867)