Joseph Fielding Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Wikipedia Biographical Summary

"...Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. (19 July 1876 – 2 July 1972) was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church. His grandfather was Hyrum Smith, brother of LDS Church founder Joseph Smith, Jr., who was Joseph Fielding's great-uncle..."

"...Joseph Fielding Smith was born the son of Joseph F. Smith, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, and Julina Lambson. His mother was a midwife. As a boy he often helped his mother by driving her carriage to the various deliveries that she attended in Salt Lake City..."

"...Smith married his first wife, Louie Emily "Emyla" Shurtliff (born 16 June 1876) on April 26, 1898. In March 1899, Smith was called on a mission to Great Britain by Lorenzo Snow, the President of the Church..."

"...After his return from the British mission in July 1901, Smith and his wife Louise had two daughters, Josephine and Julina. Louise Shirtliff Smith died of complications of a third pregnancy on March 28, 1908..."

"...Smith married Ethel Georgina Reynolds (born 23 October 1889), the daughter of prominent LDS Church leader George Reynolds, on November 2 1908. They had four girls (Emily, Naomi, Lois, Amelia) and five boys, Joseph Fielding (most often called Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr.), Lewis Warren, George Reynolds, Douglas Allan and Milton Edmund. Their youngest daughter Amelia married Bruce R. McConkie; McConkie became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shortly after Smith's death. Ethel Reynolds Smith died of a cerebral hemorrhage on 26 August 1937, at age 47..."

"...Ethel had specifically requested that Jessie Ella Evans (December 29, 1902-1971) sing at her funeral. Evans, born to Jonathan Evans and his wife the former Janet Buchanan, joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 1918[3], was a member of the American Light Opera Company (1923-1927) and the Salt Lake County Recorder.[4] In November Evans and Smith got engaged..."

"...In April 1938, Smith married Evans in the Salt Lake Temple. The marriage was performed by Heber J. Grant. The couple had no children, although Milton was only eleven when Joseph and Jessie married and George and Douglas were still under the age of 18. Smith's third wife died on 2 August 1971..."

"...After completing his mission in 1901, Smith began working in the office of the Church Historian and Recorder..."

"...He was the acting recorder of the general conference in 1910 when he was called as an apostle. Prior to his call as a general authority Smith served as the secretary and treasurer of the Genealogical Society of Utah..."

"...Smith became President of the Church on January 23, 1970, following the death of President David O. McKay..."

"...Smith died at Salt Lake City at age 95. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery..."

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Joseph Fielding Smith', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 October 2011, 16:01 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseph_Fielding_Smith&oldid=454888587> [accessed 21 November 2011]