John Smith (nephew of Joseph Smith, Jr.)
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John Smith (22 September 1832 – 6 November 1911), was the fifth Presiding Patriarch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His father was Hyrum Smith, the older brother of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism.
John was born in Kirtland, Ohio to Hyrum Smith and his first wife, Jerusha Barden Smith. This was during the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement, and he was among the first generation of children raised in the church. The office of Presiding Patriarch was initially created to honor Joseph Smith, Sr., the father of the religion's founder. Before his death in 1840, Joseph Smith, Sr. declared that the position should pass by Lineal Succession to his eldest son, Hyrum. Hyrum Smith at this time was one of the most influential members of the church and was widely seen as the most likely successor to its leadership should he outlive his brother. However, in 1844, both Hyrum and Joseph Smith were assassinated by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.
This event left the church leaderless. By consensus, it was expected that the title of Presiding Patriarch would pass to Hyrum Smith's eldest son, John. However, because John Smith was only 11 years of age at the time of his father's death, the position was instead claimed by two younger brothers of Joseph Smith, Sr.: first by William Smith and later by another John Smith, who was known to the church as "Uncle John". Meanwhile, Hyrum's son John Smith traveled with the family of Heber C. Kimball to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. In 1848, John Smith, along with Kimball, reached Salt Lake City, Utah to join Brigham Young, who had assumed leadership of the largest Latter Day Saint faction, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In February, 1855, the younger John Smith succeeded his great uncle, "Uncle John" Smith as Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church, following the latter's death. He became the longest-serving Presiding Patriarch, remaining in that position for fifty-six years, until his death in 1911. Among his accomplishments during this time were a mission to Scandinavia, begun in 1862. Following his death, he was succeeded by his grandson, Hyrum G. Smith. Smith died at and was buried in Salt Lake City.
[edit] References
- Irene M. Bates and E. Gary Smith, Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch, Urbana, Illinois, 1996.
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