Joseph Fielding Smith (patriarch)
Joseph Fielding Smith | |
---|---|
Patriarch to the Church | |
September 17, 1942 | (aged 43) – October 6, 1946 (aged 47)|
Called by | Heber J. Grant |
End reason | Released for reasons of "ill health" amid accusations of homosexual affairs |
Personal details | |
Born | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | January 30, 1899
Died | August 29, 1964 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | (aged 65)
Joseph Fielding Smith (January 30, 1899 – August 29, 1964) was patriarch to the church and a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1942 until 1946.
Early life and family
Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of LDS Church apostle Hyrum M. Smith and Ida Elizabeth Bowman. He went to school at the University of Utah, where he majored in Theater. In 1929, he married Ruth Pingree.[1] Together they had seven children, Ruth, Ida, R.P. "Joe", Denis, Lynne, Hyrum, and Pauline.[2]
Patriarch to the church
At the time of his calling to the patriarchate, Smith was a member of the church's Mutual Improvement Association General Board, head of the Speech Department at the University of Utah (though he did not hold a Ph.D.), and president of the National Speech Association.[3] His calling as patriarch to the church filled a vacancy that had lasted just over ten years, and his selection for the office has been seen by some as a departure from the expected line of patriarchal succession from father to his eldest son in good standing with the church.[3] Some sources suggest this move came during a time when some members of the church's First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were attempting to move away from the rule of primogeniture in selecting the presiding patriarch, giving church leaders the ability to pass over unsuitable candidates who would otherwise inherit the office somewhat automatically.[3] Smith's official title was "Patriarch to the Church," in place of the previous style of "Patriarch over the Church" or "Presiding Patriarch," a change which was also accompanied by a reduction in the scope of the duties of the office; Smith was not permitted to ordain or formally supervise local stake patriarchs.[3]
Homosexual affairs
At the age of 43, Smith was ordained a
After release
After being released, Smith took his family to
Smith died and was buried in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Smith's grandson Jefferson Smith served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2008 to 2012.
Smith shares a name with his grandfather,
See also
- Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Lineal succession (Latter Day Saints)
- Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)
- Patriarchal blessing
- Patriarchal Priesthood
References
- ^ Family: Joseph Fielding Smith/Ruth Pingree. OurFamilyHistories.org
- ^ Lynne Esther Smith Partridge,[dead link] Cody Enterprise (Cody, Wyoming)
- ^ OCLC 53077386.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-252-06958-1.
- Journal of Mormon History, 38 (1), Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press
- ^ "Patriarch to the Church: Released from Duties", Improvement Era 49 (November 1946) pp. 685, 708.
- ^ Salinas, Hugo. "Queer Mormons of the 19th Century". affirmation.org. Affirmation. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ "Book on LDS Patriarchal Blessings Published". signaturebooks.com. Signature Books Publishing. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ Gibson, Doug. "Remember that Gay Mormon Patriarch?". realclearreligion.org. Real Clear Religion. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ISBN 978-1409278856. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ Lore, Lambda (September 1, 2011). "The birth of Mormon homophobia". Q Salt Lake Magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ISBN 9781467125857.
- FARMS Review of Books, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 141–263, archived from the originalon July 19, 2011, retrieved February 18, 2011