George Woolley Smith

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George Woolley Smith (1897—1995) was the tenth president of the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ and revered as a prophet by most of its members.

Contents 1 Background 2 Church leadership 2.1 Teachings 2.2 Church growth 3 Death and succession 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Background

George W. Smith was born in Lexington, Nebraska to Owen Spencer Smith and his first wife. The family had previously settled in the outskirts of Winter Quarters, Nebraska while Brigham Young and other Latter-day Saints made the trek to Utah. After guiding Saints safely through Winter Quarters, Brigham Young appointed Owen to preside as a bishop over the Lexington area. Owen conferred all priesthood keys that had been given to him by John Peter Smith (a member of the Council of Fifty) to George on June 22, 1921 separating the Smith clan from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Owen died a few years later.^[1][2]

[edit] Church leadership

As leader of the ULDC, he moved his family from Nebraska to join others in Colorado City, Arizona or the Short Creek Community. Shortly after the 1945 raid where 15 men in leadership of the community were arrested,^[3] George moved himself and some family back to Nebraska as well as northern Utah, and a few to California. For the most part, however, most of his family stayed in the Shortcreek area until Charles Zitting died. He then moved the remainder who were still in and around Shortcreek back to Nebraska claiming to have seen a vision of a future false prophet.^[4] This is regarded by many members as the alleged prophet Warren Jeffs of the now Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

[edit] Teachings

The following is an example of Smith's teaching regarding the description of polygamy and exaltation found in Doctrine and Covenants 132.

“The first goes clear back to the instruction to Noah after the flood (Gen. 9:14). The second is much more in depth to require its full understanding. As we understand, our Heavenly Father, Michael, was an exalted being of another planet. A promise was made to him by his Heavenly Father. Thus, the practice of polygamy was required for Michael's exaltation as we read in the third reason. Thus, it was given before the foundation of this world.

“The third is indisputable. One only needs to look to other verses in Doctrine and Covenants 132. Even D&C 131:1-4 reiterates this celestial principle. In D&C 132:34-35, we read about the polygamous marriage concerning Abraham. If we look a few verses later, we see a commonality between Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [...] that they entered into exaltation (D&C 132:37), and furthermore, held plural wives.

“The forth is logical. As we begin to follow the laws and blessings of our Lord (D&C 132:66), we glorify God in the process, who we become like. I lay this simple example before you,

“Have any of you had children or younger siblings? If you have, you will realize that at some point, they will try to mimic or copy you. This is done out of the deepest intention of admiration. While many of you may have not liked it, our Heavenly Father looks on it with an infinite love and acceptance. He wants us to be like him and to mimic him so that others may come to understand his loving nature.”

– George Woolley Smith, Lessons For the United Latter-day Church by Steven H. Tucker, Pgs. 19-20

[edit] Church growth

After moving away from Short Creek, Smith separated his family in three distinct areas. He claimed that he was acting under revelation and the will of God. The three areas are considered colonies and continue to grow.^[5]

Of George's 12 spouses, two of them moved to California. One in Fresno and the other in Santa Barbara, California, while four other wives moved to Evanston, Wyoming.

Northern Utah managed to attract five of his other wives and is by far the most prosperous of the colonies. One moved to Layton, one to Hooper, one to Syracuse, and two to Ogden, Utah. In 2005, Layton Utah was made official headquarters by Heber G. Smith, George's succeeding son, after most of the members in Nebraska either moved away or abandoned the practice of polygamy.^[6]

[edit] Death and succession

George Woolley Smith died in 1995 in his home in Nebraska in the presence of his legal wife leaving his son and publicly announced successor, Heber G. Smith to preside over the United Latter-day Church, along with 12 wives, 57 children, and over 100 grandchildren to survive him.^[2]

[edit] See also

• Law of placing

[edit] References

Preceded by none	President of the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ 1921-1995	Succeeded by Heber Gerald Smith
Preceded by John Hinck	Chairman of the Uniformed Latter-day Commission 1985-1995	Succeeded by Heber Gerald Smith

v • d • e Leaders in the Mormon fundamentalist movement Recognized Mormon leaders1 Joseph Smith, Jr. • Brigham Young • John Taylor Disputed Mormon leaders2 Wilford Woodruff • Lorenzo Snow • Joseph F. Smith Early Mormon fundamentalist leaders John W. Woolley • Lorin C. Woolley • J. Leslie Broadbent • John Y. Barlow • Joseph White Musser • Charles Zitting Leaders of the FLDS Church Leroy S. Johnson • Rulon Jeffs • Warren Jeffs Leaders of the AUB Rulon C. Allred • Owen A. Allred • J. LaMoine Jenson Leaders of the Kingston Clan Charles W. Kingston • Elden Kingston • John Ortell Kingston • Paul Elden Kingston Leaders of the ULDC George Woolley Smith • Heber Gerald Smith • Steven H. Tucker Independents and other leaders Joel LeBaron • Ervil LeBaron • Alex Joseph • Tom Green • James D. Harmston • John W. Bryant Notes 1. Mormon leaders prior to the start of the fundamentalist movement and recognized by most fundamentalists as legitimate church leaders. 2. Mormon leaders that made changes to church policies on plural marriage. Fundamentalists hold a variety of views about each of these leaders, varying from the view that all were legitimate leaders to the view that all were illegitimate.