Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith | |
---|---|
Patriarch Emeritus / Emeritus General Authority | |
October 6, 1979 | – April 4, 2013|
Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
Patriarch to the Church | |
April 10, 1947 | – October 6, 1979|
Called by | George Albert Smith |
End reason | Granted general authority emeritus status |
Personal details | |
Born | Eldred Gee Smith January 9, 1907 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′38″N 111°51′29″W / 40.7772°N 111.858°W |
Alma mater | University of Utah |
Spouse(s) | Jeanne Ness (until her death) Hortense Child (1977–2012) |
Children | 5 |
Eldred Gee Smith (January 9, 1907 – April 4, 2013) was the
Early life and education
Smith's father was
LDS Church service
At the time of Smith's birth, a new presiding patriarch was usually chosen based on the principle of
Eldred Smith was selected as the next presiding patriarch in 1947, marking the return of the office to the line of eldest sons descending from Hyrum Smith.
Smith regularly spoke in the church's general conferences, but was only rarely assigned to visit local stakes of the church.
In 1979, Smith was released from active duties and designated patriarch emeritus. The published reason for the change as noted in the church's Ensign magazine: "Because of the large increase in the number of stake patriarchs and the availability of patriarchal service throughout the world, we now designate Elder Eldred G. Smith as a Patriarch Emeritus, which means that he is honorably relieved of all duties and responsibilities pertaining to the office of Patriarch to the Church."[9] As evident in the video archive of the conference and as noted in other sources, the exact wording in the conference itself was that Smith was "honorably relieved—not released—of all duties and responsibilities..."[8][10] After his release Smith often spoke at firesides, where he displayed artifacts from Joseph and Hyrum Smith's lives.[4]
Smith was considered an
On January 9, 2007, Smith celebrated his 100th birthday. He was the second general authority in the history of the church to reach the age of 100, the first being Joseph Anderson, who died in 1992 at the age of 102.
The LDS Church has not stated directly whether it will appoint a new presiding patriarch, but after Smith's death an official magazine of the church, Liahona, described him as "the last person to hold the position."[16] Similarly, an official Church News article published shortly after Smith's death described him as the "Final Church Patriarch," as well as "the seventh and final Patriarch to the Church"[17] (phrasing which is also notable since Smith was generally considered the eighth man to officially hold the office).[8] He was survived by, among others, his eldest son, Eldred Gary Smith, who would possibly have inherited the patriarchal office had it not been discontinued, and who co-wrote a scholarly history of the office of presiding patriarch.[1][8]
Personal
Smith was born in Lehi, Utah. He and his wife, Jeanne Ness, were the parents of five children. After his wife's death, Smith married the widow Hortense Hogan Child in 1977.
Smith died at his home in
See also
- Patriarchal Priesthood
Notes
- ^ a b "Eldred Smith Obituary". Legacy.com. Deseret News. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ Marriage certificate for Max H. Jensen and Daisy L. Brackett on 15 Jan 1943 citing him as Bishop that solemnised their wedding.
- ISBN 978-0-87747-369-5
- ^ Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- ^ Not to be confused with Joseph Fielding Smith, church apostle and later president of the LDS Church.
- ^ "Patriarch to the Church: Released from Duties", Improvement Era 49 (Nov. 1946), 685, 708.
- ISBN 978-0-252-06958-1) p. 370.
- ^ ISBN 0252021630.
- Tanner, N. Eldon (November 1979), "The Sustaining of Church Officers", Ensign: 18
- ^ a b c "The Sustaining of Church Officers". ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ "The Sustaining of Church Officers". ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ "The Sustaining of Church Officers". ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ "The Sustaining of Church Officers". ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ April 2013 General Conference, Priesthood Session. ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Event occurs at 1:20. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ Weaver, Sarah Jane. "Elder Eldred G. Smith Dies at Age 106". ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ a b Sarah Jean Weaver, "Elder Eldred G. Smith Dies at Age 106", Liahona, May 2013.
- ^ Avant, Gerry. "President Monson Honors Final Church Patriarch at Funeral". ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ Stagg, Jennifer (January 9, 2013), Oldest living Utah man celebrates 106 years, KSL
References
- Bates, Irene M.; Smith, E. Gary (2003) [1996]. Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch. Urbana, Illinois: OCLC 53077386. Archived from the originalon 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
- Salt Lake Tribune