Israel A. Smith

Israel A. Smith

Israel Alexander Smith (born February 2, 1876 in Plano , Illinois , † June 14, 1958 ) was the fourth son of Joseph Smith III and a grandson of Joseph Smith . Israel A. Smith succeeded his brother Frederick M. Smith as President of the Communion of Christ . He was ordained as president on April 9, 1946.

life and career

Smith was the third son and fourth child of Joseph Smith III and his second wife, Bertha Madison. In 1881 he moved to Lamoni with his family . There was a colony of Mormons from the fellowship of Christ. He attended Graceland University from 1898 to 1900. He then received a BA in law from Lincoln-Jefferson University in Hammond . From 1911 to 1913 he was a member of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives from Iowa .

His brother Frederick became President of the Church in 1914. Smith became a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric in 1920. In 1922, many believed his brother would call him to the First Presidency of the Church when a seat became vacant. But Frederick chose Floyd M. McDowell instead. Frederick also wanted control of the entire Church. However, Israel was against it, as this would not conform to their father's teaching. As a result, Israel was discharged from office in the Church in 1925.

Meanwhile, tension arose in the Church over Frederick's leadership style. Many members, such as Otto Fetting , left the church and joined the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) . Israel served as general secretary of the Church from 1929 to 1940, and in 1940 he was ultimately called as the first counselor to the First Presidency. Frederick also selected Israel as his successor at this time. In 1946, after Frederick's death, Israel became President of the Church.

After the end of World War II, the Church grew abroad. In 1950, Smith visited members in the Pacific: Hawaii , Australia , New Zealand, and Tahiti . In 1952 he visited the members in Europe .

Smith died in a car accident on June 14, 1958. After his death, the First Presidency continued to function with two counselors, W. Wallace Smith and F. Henry Edwards . At a world conference, W. Wallace Smith was appointed as his successor.

credentials

• Norma Derry Hiles, Gentle Monarch: The Presidency of Israel A. Smith , Herald House: 1991.
• Richard P. Howard, The Church Through the Years, Herald House: 1992.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Israel Smith ( Memento of the original from May 27, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.