Facts about President Joseph Fielding Smith
How blessed we are to be led by inspired prophets in these latter-days. We mourned 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 from Prophet Joseph Smith to our current inspired leader. 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 Fielding Smtih, as presented by Trent Toone.
Joseph Fielding Smith often said the words, “true and faithful”. They were words that also described his life of Church service. The son of President Joseph F. Smith and grandson of Hyrum Smith was born July 19, 1876 in Salt Lake City. Raised on a farm in Taylorsville, Utah, and later working at Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution, he learned how to work at a young age. At age 17, he attended the first dedicatory session of the Salt Lake Temple. Less than a year after marrying Louie Shurtliff in the Salt Lake Temple, Joseph was called on a two-year mission to England. On April 7, 1901, Elder Smith became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at the age of 25 years. During the first 8 years, he served unofficially as a secretary and scribe for his father, the President of the Church. With his wife’s 1908 death, he married Ethel Reynolds. After her passing in 1937, he married Jessie Evans. Elder Smith served as the assistant Church historian for 15 years, then as the Church Historian from 1921 to 1970. He also served as president of the Salt Lake Temple, president of the Utah Genealogical and Historical Society, and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Church Board of Education. While serving abroad, Elder Smith supervised the evacuation of 697 American missionaries from Europe prior to World War II and dedicated four countries in the Far East for missionary work. In 1965, he was called as a First Presidency counselor to President David O. McKay. President Smith became the 10th President of the Church on January 23, 1970, at the age of 93. As a prolific writer, he published several books and articles to educate members on the history and doctrine of the Church. After 3 years as President, he passed away in his home on July 2, 1972.
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