George Albert Smith, 8th President of the Church of Jesus Christ — NZHM
District meeting presentation — Hawera district
District meeting presentation in the Hawera District, Hawera, New Zealand
George Albert Smith – The 8th President of the Church (1870 to 1951)
Hawera District Meeting — October 13, 2015
Elder Taylor
1/ Scripture joke: Why would Nephi have been an orthopedic surgeon’s “dream” patient? See 1 Nephi 19:20 ______________________________________________________________________________________
2/ Church history quiz: What is the greatest length of time that has elapsed between the births of two future apostles in this dispensation? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3/ Engravo: an uncorrected engravo in the Book of Mormon? See Ether 14:10
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4/ An engravo in the Doctrine and Covenants? Surely not! See D&C 10:37!
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George Albert Smith
- His father, John Henry Smith, was in the 1st Presidency at the time of his call. His grandfather, George A. Smith, had served in the 1st Presidency as well. He worried that his call to the Twelve would be viewed not as a call by revelation, but by relation.
- He married the granddaughter of Wilford Woodruff, Lucy Emily Woodruff.
- He died on his 81st birthday, April 4, 1951. This was general conference weekend. The conference was extended one day, and a session was held that combined the funeral service for President Smith and the solemn assembly for the sustaining of David O. McKay as the 9th President of the Church.
- A box of splintered wood ________________________________________________
- A precious Navajo blanket _______________________________________________
- Ice-cold lemonade _____________________________________________________
- An overcoat on a wintry day ______________________________________________
- His newspaper boy _____________________________________________________
The Creed of George Albert Smith
** When he was 34 years old, George Albert Smith made a list of resolutions that he called his “personal creed”. They were 11 ideals that he committed to live by:
- I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor. Jesus was accused of being a “friend to publicans and sinners” — what a compliment!
- I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed. “Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, strengthen the feeble knees”.
- I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind. “..then if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men..”
- I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life. “…cry nothing but repentance unto this generation.”
- I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right. “..you can choose captivity and death or liberty and eternal life…”
- I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy. “..in the world but not of the world..”
- I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends. “.. he that would be first in the Kingdom, let him be last..”
- I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend. “..peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you..”
- I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father. “Be thou humble, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers.”
- I would not be an enemy to any living soul. “..smite thee on one cheek, turn to him the other also.”
- Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..”
QUIZ ANSWER: The greatest length of time that has elapsed between the births of two future apostles in this dispensation is 7 years and 3 months. This was the length of time between the births of Elder Henry B. Eyring (May 31, 1933) and Elder Quentin L. Cook (September 8,1940). The second greatest length of time was 6 years and 6 months, between the births of Elder D. Todd Christofferson (January 24, 1945) and Elder Neil L. Andersen (August 9, 1951).
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