Joseph Fielding Smith

Joseph Fielding Smith (born July 19, 1876 in Salt Lake City , Utah , † July 2, 1972 ) was the 10th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .

Life

Smith was the son of Joseph F. Smith and his wife Julina Lambson. He grew up in a polygamous family. He married Louie E. Shurtliff on April 26, 1898 and was immediately called to serve as a missionary to England. After Joseph's return in 1901, the couple had two children. Louie died in 1908 and Joseph married Ethel G. Reynolds, with whom he had nine children. She died in 1937, and Joseph married Jessie Ella Evans on April 12, 1937 (she died in 1971). After his mission, Joseph Fielding Smith was hired by the Church in 1901 as a historian and recorder. In 1910 his father Joseph F. Smith called him to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In 1939 Smith toured the missions in Europe and oversaw the withdrawal of the missionaries just before the outbreak of war. As an Apostle and President of the Salt Lake Temple , he proposed that the temple ceremony be translated into Spanish shortly after World War II . For many decades, Smith was President of the Utah Genealogical Society

His presidency

Following the death of David O. McKay , Joseph Fielding Smith was ordained and ordained as President of the Church on January 23, 1970, at the age of 93. During his presidency, the first area conferences were held to reflect the growth of the Church in areas outside of Utah. Under his direction, the Church's English-language magazines were standardized and in future there were also Ensign (general church magazine), New Era (for young people) and Friend (for children) under coordinated editing.

Remarks

1. ↑ Deseret News, Church Almanac 1997-98, p. 41

predecessor	Office	successor
David O. McKay	President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1970–1972	Harold B. Lee