Facts about President Joseph F. Smith, 6th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
How blessed we are to be led by inspired prophets in these latter-days. Though we mourn the passing of one of our beloved leaders, our sorrow is tempered by the assurance that we will be guided by yet another of the Lord’s chosen leaders. It is reassuring to know that our leaders are men of sound judgment, great spiritual insight, and that they have presided in the leading councils of our church for many years. Such has definitely been the case with all of our prophets through the history of the Church. We love and sustain these great leaders, having watched their remarkable service to the church, to its members, and to the Lord for many years.
Following are some interesting facts and insights into the leadership and experience of President Joseph F. Smith, as presented by Trent Toone.
Joseph F. Smith, the sixth president of the Church, was the last to have personally known his uncle, the Prophet Joseph Smith. At age 5, his father, Hyrum Smith, kissed him farewell before departing with his uncle Joseph to Carthage, where they were martyred in 1844. Joseph F. Smith was born on November 13, 1838, in Far West, Missouri. At age 7, he assisted his mother, Mary Fielding Smith, in crossing the plains by driving an ox team from Montrose, Iowa, to Winter Quarter, Nebraska, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving just before he turned 10. In 1852, less than four years later, his mother passed away, leaving him and his siblings orphaned. He served a mission to the Hawaiian Islands at 15, beginning a life of Church service. On July 1, 1866, at age 27, Elder Smith was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by Brigham Young. He later served as a counselor in the First Presidency to Presidents Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow before becoming President of the Church in 1901. During President Smith’s administration, home teaching was emphasized, and significant advancements occurred in the Relief Society, Sunday School, youth and Primary organizations. President Smith enhanced appreciation of early Church history by developing Church historic sites in New York, Missouri, and Illinois. He established the first visitor’s center on Temple Square. During his lifetime, he lost his father, his mother, one brother, two sisters, two wives, and 13 children. He prayed for greater understanding about death but initially received no answer. On October 3, 1918, he received a revelation later called the Vision of the Redemption of the Dead, canonized as Doctrine and Covenants Section 138. He died on November 19, 1918, at the age of 80.
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