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Joseph F. Smith

Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr.

13 November 1838—19 November 1918

Emmeline B. Wells

Born 13 Nov. 1838 at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri.1 Son of Hyrum Smith and Mary Fielding.2 Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving 23 Sept. 1848.3 Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber C. Kimball, 1850.4 Served a mission to the Sandwich Islands, Sept. 1854–Oct. 1857.5 Served in the Utah territorial militia, 1858.6 Married Levira Annette Clark Smith, 5 Apr. 1859.7 Served a mission to England, Apr. 1860–Sept. 1863.8 Served a second mission to the Sandwich Islands, Mar.–Dec. 1864.9 Worked in the Church Historian’s Office, 1865.10 Acted as secretary to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 1866.11 Served in the Utah territorial legislature, 1865–1874, 1880–1883.12 Participated in plural marriage.13 Separated from Levira Annette Clark Smith, before 1868.14 Ordained an apostle and appointed as a counselor to the First Presidency, 1 July 1866.15 Served on the city council in Provo, Utah Co., Utah Territory, 1868.16 Served as the president of the European mission, Nov. 1873–1875.17 Served a mission in Great Britain, May–Sept. 1877.18 Served as clerk in the Endowment House, 1877–1890.19 Served a mission to the eastern U.S., Sept. 1878.20  Served as second counselor to Church president John Taylor, 10 Oct. 1880–25 July 1887.21 Discussed supporting women’s suffrage with EBW, 4 Apr. 1895.22 Served as second counselor to Church president Wilford Woodruff,  7 Apr. 1889–13 Sept. 1898.23 Served as second counselor to Church president Lorenzo Snow, 13 Sept. 1898–6 Oct. 1901.24 Appointed as first counselor to Church president Lorenzo Snow, 6 Oct. 1901.25 Spoke to members of the National Woman’s Press Club, 13 May 1894.26 Set EBW apart for various activities pertaining to the women’s movement.27 Participated in social activities with EBW.28 Set apart as president of the Church, 17 Oct. 1901.29 Set EBW apart as general Relief Society secretary, 22 Jan. 1902.30 Died 19 Nov. 1918 in Salt Lake City.31

The First Fifty Years of Relief Society

32 Born at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri; son of Mary Fielding and Hyrum Smith. 33 Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley, 1848. 34 Baptized, 1852. 35 Served a mission to the Sandwich Islands, 1854–1857. 36 Married Levira A. C. Smith, April 4, 1859; participated in plural marriage. 37 Served missions to England, 1860–1863, and Hawaii, 1864; served as president of the European mission, 1874–1875, 1877. 38 Worked in the Church Historian’s Office. 39 Ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and appointed counselor to the First Presidency, 1866; served with three successive presidents of the church. 40 Served as the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1901–1918. 41 Died at Salt Lake City. 42 (See Document 3.30, 4.3, 4.11, 4.28)

Footnotes

  1. 1 “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. A-A1, 20 Feb. 1851–24 Apr. 1854, p. 78, line 15, Joseph Fielding Smith, 24 Apr. 1854, microfilm 1255545, DGS 7455862 (restricted access), FHL. Hawaii Honolulu Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1850–1978, vol. 1, 1850–1853, part 1, 1850, p. 7, LR 3695 2, box 1, folder 1, image 178/269, CHL. “Family Tree, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 23 Sept. 2019), Joseph Fielding Smith (KWCW-8ZJ). 

  2. 2 Hawaii Honolulu Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1850–1978, vol. 1, 1850–1853, part 1, 1850, p. 7, LR 3695 2, box 1, folder 1, image 178/269, CHL. Missionary Department, Missionary Registers, 1860–1959, vol. A, 25 Apr. 1860–27 Apr. 1894, p. 1, CR 301 22, box 1, folder 1, image 6/160, CHL.

  3. 3  Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 154. “Joseph Fielding Smith,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/pioneers/3178/joseph-fielding-smith, accessed 23 Sept. 2019).

  4. 4 Joseph F. Smith and John Andreas Widtsoe, eds., Gospel Doctrine (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1919), 247. Hawaii Honolulu Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1850–1978, vol. 1, 1850–1853, part 1, 1850, p. 7, LR 3695 2, box 1, folder 1, image 178/269, CHL. “Joseph Fielding Smith,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/?lang=eng, accessed 23 Sept. 2019).  

  5. 5 Hawaii Honolulu Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1850–1978, vol. 1, 1850–1853, part 1, 1850, p. 7, LR 3695 2, box 1, folder 1, image 178/269, CHL. 

  6. 6 Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 193. Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism (New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 1350. 

  7. 7 “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. C, 19 Jan. 1856–22 Jan. 1861, pp. 334–335, line 2239, Joseph Fielding Smith and Levira Annette Smith, 5 Apr. 1859, microfilm 1149514, DGS 7226455 (restricted access), FHL. “Married,” Deseret News, 6 Apr. 1859, 40. Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 196. 

  8. 8 “Joseph Fielding Smith,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/?lang=eng, accessed 23 Sept. 2019).  

  9. 9 “Joseph Fielding Smith,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/?lang=eng, accessed 23 Sept. 2019).  

  10. 10  Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 225. 

  11. 11 Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 225–226. 

  12. 12 “Joseph F. Smith,” Territory of Utah Legislative Assembly Rosters, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service (https://www.archives.utah.gov/research/guides/legassembly11-20.htm#sixteenth, https://www.archives.utah.gov/research/guides/legassembly21-31.htm, accessed 25 Sept. 2019). Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 229.

  13. 13  Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 226. “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. D, 22 Nov. 1861–22 Dec. 1866, p. 607, line 8605, Joseph Fielding Smith and Julina Lambson, 5 May 1866, microfilm 1149514, DGS 7226455 (restricted access), FHL. “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. E, 1 Jan. 1867–16 Aug. 1869, p. 118, line 10814, Joseph Fielding Smith and Sarah Ellen Richards, 1 Mar. 1868, microfilm 1149515, DGS 7226456 (restricted access), FHL. “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. G, 3 Oct. 1870–30 Oct. 1871, p. 183, line 20113, Joseph Fielding Smith and Edna Lambson, 1 Jan. 1871, microfilm 1149516, DGS 7226457 (restricted access), FHL. “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. M, 5 Nov. 1883–22 Sept. 1889, p. 7, line 8, Joseph Fielding Smith and Alice Ann Kimball, 6 Dec. 1883, microfilm 183402, DGS 5270325 (restricted access), FHL. 

  14. 14  Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 231.

  15. 15  Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 226–227. Joseph F. Smith and John Andreas Widtsoe, eds., Gospel Doctrine (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1919), 647.  

  16. 16  Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 230. Edward H. Anderson, “Lives of Our Leaders: The Apostles,” Juvenile Instructor, 1 Feb. 1900, 70.

  17. 17 “Joseph Fielding Smith,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/?lang=eng, accessed 23 Sept. 2019). 

  18. 18 “Joseph Fielding Smith,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/?lang=eng, accessed 23 Sept. 2019). 

  19. 19  Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969), 225. 

  20. 20 “Joseph Fielding Smith,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/?lang=eng, accessed 23 Sept. 2019). 

  21. 21  Gerry Avant, ed., “Joseph Fielding Smith,” 2006 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City: Deseret Morning News, 2006), 53. “Fiftieth Semi-Annual Conference,” Salt Lake Daily Herald, 12 Oct. 1880, 3.

  22. 22 EBW, Diary, 4 Apr. 1895.

  23. 23  Gerry Avant, ed., “Joseph Fielding Smith,” 2006 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City: Deseret Morning News, 2006), 53. “Adjourned Fifty-Ninth Conference Closed Scenes on Sunday,” Salt Lake Herald, 9 Apr. 1889, 2. “The First Presidency,” Salt Lake Herald, 14 Sept. 1898, 8.

  24. 24 Gerry Avant, ed., “Joseph Fielding Smith,” 2006 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City: Deseret Morning News, 2006), 53. “The First Presidency,” Salt Lake Herald, 14 Sept. 1898, 8.

  25. 25  “Rudger Clawson in First Presidency,” Salt Lake Herald, 7 Oct. 1901, 1. “Official Announcement,” Deseret Evening News, 17 Oct. 1901, 1. Gerry Avant, ed., “Joseph Fielding Smith,” 2006 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City: Deseret Morning News, 2006), 53.

  26. 26 EBW, Diary, 13 May 1894.

  27. 27 EBW, Diary, 25 Jan. 1895; 23 Jan. 1897; 9 Nov. 1900; 21 Feb. 1901; 19 Mar. 1903.

  28. 28 EBW, Diary, 25 Oct. 1895; 15 June 1897; 10 Feb. 1903; 1 Aug. 1904.

  29. 29  “Official Announcement,” Deseret Evening News, 17 Oct. 1901, 1. Gerry Avant, ed., “Joseph Fielding Smith,” 2006 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City: Deseret Morning News, 2006), 53. 

  30. 30 EBW, Diary, 22 Jan. 1902.

  31. 31 “Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records, 1849–1949,” no. 0-2050 (1918), Joseph Fielding Smith; Salt Lake County Management and Archives, Salt Lake City. “President Joseph F. Smith Is Dead,” Ogden (UT) Standard, 19 Nov. 1918, 1. 

  32. 32 “Utah Death Certificate Index, 1904–1961,” database and images, Utah State Archives (http://archives.utah.gov, accessed Jan. 2015); from Utah Department of Health, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, series 81448, file no. 2159/330 (1918), Joseph Fielding Smith.

  33. 33 Utah death certificate, file no. 2159/330. Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith: Sixth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ([Salt Lake City]: Deseret News Press, 1938), 487.

  34. 34 “Joseph Fielding Smith,” Church History Biographical Database, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, available at https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/chd/landing, accessed Jan. 2015).

  35. 35 Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1998), viii–xxv.

  36. 36 Ibid.

  37. 37 Smith, comp., Life of Joseph F. Smith, 487–490.

  38. 38 Joseph F. Smith, viii–xxv.

  39. 39 Ibid.

  40. 40 Ibid.

  41. 41 Ibid.

  42. 42 Utah death certificate, file no. 2159/330. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed Jan. 6, 2016), Joseph Fielding Smith KWCW-8ZJ.