Joseph Fielding Smith
Son of Hyrum Smith
Information regarding Joseph Fielding Smith, son of Hyrum Smith
- Apostle number: 34
- Quorum of the Twelve number: 27
- Date of birth: November 13, 1838
- Place of birth: Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri
- Date of apostolic ordination: July 1, 1866
- Age when ordained apostle: 27 years 7 months
- End of apostolic service: November 19, 1918
- Total apostolic years: 52 years 4 months
- Date called into the Quorum of the Twelve: July 1, 1866
- Tenure in the Quorum of the Twelve: 15 years 11 months
- Date called as President of the Church: October 17, 1901
- Age when called as President of the Church: 62 years 11 months
- Tenure as President of the Church: 17 years 1 month
- Date of death: November 19, 1918
- Age at death: 80 years 0 months
- Place of death: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah
- Remarks: President Smith was the son of Hyrum Smith and nephew of Joseph Smith. In 1900 the First Presidency, consisting of Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith, changed the policy of presidential succession. President Smith dealt with many significant challenges during his tenure as president of the Church, and he was mercilessly lampooned by the editors of the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper for years. He endured this abuse with a Christ-like attitude. No public funeral was held for President Smith due to the world-wide Spanish influenza epidemic which was raging at the time of his death.
- Memorable quote: “Men and women who humbly plod along, doing their duty, who help look after the poor; and who honor the holy Priesthood, who do not run into excesses, who are prayerful in their families, and who acknowledge the Lord in their hearts, they will build up a foundation that the gates of hell cannot prevail against.”
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