George Albert Smith (Church President)
George Albert Smith (born April 4, 1870 in Salt Lake City , Utah, † April 4, 1951 ) was the 8th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
Life
George Albert Smith was the son of Apostles John Henry Smith and Sarah Farr. He grew up in a polygamous family with 19 siblings. It was named after his grandfather, who was also an apostle. Smith graduated from the University of Utah , then called the University of Deseret . When he was taking measurements for the railroad as a young man, the glaring sunlight caused lasting damage to his eyes.
He married Lucy Emily Woodruff, a granddaughter of Wilford Woodruff , on May 25, 1892 . The couple were immediately called to serve in the Southern Mission for two years. They later had three children. From 1903 onwards, Smith suffered from an autoimmune disease that kept him debilitating. In the same year he was called to be an apostle. From 1920 to 1923 he served as President of the European Mission and visited Germany in this capacity.
Smith was very patriotic and was involved in the Republican Party and several patriotic associations. The Boy Scouts of America awarded him the Silver Buffalo in 1934 for his services to scouting . Another concern of his was genealogy.
His presidency
Following the death of Heber J. Grant , George Albert Smith was ordained and ordained President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 21, 1945. The end of the Second World War fell during his presidency. He tried to reorganize the church in broken Europe, to bring the scattered members together and to help the needy population, not only the members, with relief supplies. He sent Apostle Ezra Taft Benson to Europe to organize help.
Smith was the first President of the Church to visit Mexico. He dedicated the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple in 1943 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Francis M. Gibbons: George Albert Smith: Kind and Caring Christian: Prophet of God.
- ↑ Deseret News , Church Almanac 1997–1998. P. 41
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Heber J. Grant |
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1945–1951 |
David O. McKay |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Smith, George Albert |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | 8. President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 4, 1870 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Salt Lake City , Utah |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 4, 1951 |
| Place of death | Salt Lake City , Utah |