Smith, John, 1832-1911
Dates
- Existence: 1832 - 1911
Biography
John Smith (1832-1911) was the son of Hyrum and Jerusha Barden Smith, a missionary to Denmark, and a Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church.
John Smith, son of Hyrum and Jerusha Barden Smith, was born September 22, 1832, in Kirtland, Ohio. His mother died when he was five, while his father was in Missouri. Three months later, on 24 December 1837, his father married Mary Fielding. In June 1844, John's father, Hyrum Smith, was murdered. Nineteen months later, the exodus from Nauvoo began. In February 1847, John joined Heber C. Kimball's family on their westward journey. On the westward journey, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, John assisted Col. Thomas L. Kane, who was extremely ill. He helped his family travel to Winter Quarters after arriving there himself. He and his family remained there for the winter. On his sixteenth birthday, September 22, 1848, John Smith drove five wagons into the Salt Lake Valley. In 1853, his stepmother, Mary Fielding Smith, died, leaving John to support a family of eight. He was married on December 25, 1853, to Hellen Maria Fisher, and the couple had nine children. In 1855 he was sustained as the sixth Presiding Patriarch of the Church, replacing his deceased grand-uncle. In 1862, John was called to set aside his duties as Patriarch and go to Scandinavia as a missionary. He served there until 1864. John, was strongly supported in his position as Patriarch by his half brother, Joseph F. Smith. When Joseph F. Smith became President of the Church in 1901, he requested that "strictly in accordance with the pattern the Lord has established," John, as Patriarch, should do the ordaining. As Patriarch of the Church, John pronounced over 20,000 blessings. He died at his residence in Salt Lake on November 6, 1911.
Citation:
Biographical information for John Smith was taken from the collection itself; from articles found in Andrew Jenson, L.D.S. Biographical Encyclopedia. 4 volumes (Salt Lake City UT: Deseret News Press, 1901-39) [Vol. 1, pp. 52-3;183-6 and Vol. 3, p. 780]; and from Irene May Bates, "Transformation of charisma in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: a history of the office of Presiding Patriarch, 1833-1979," (Ph.D. dissertation, UCLA, 1991), pp. 212-38.Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
Miles Anderson papers
This collection contains 2 diaries covering briefly related experiences and financial dealings of Anderson during the period of 1842-1856, from Nauvoo to the Utah Territory. Also includes patriarchal blessings given by Hyrum Smith and John Smith, as well as other documents and correspondence. Two diaries, family correspondence, patriarchal blessings, family land deeds, Nauvoo Legion Certificate, and War of 1812 pension certificate.
John Smith mission papers, 1862-1864
Contains papers related to Smith's mission to Denmark for the LDS Church from 1862-1864. Includes four diaries, three of which are originals and one of which is a photocopy and transcription. Also includes his mission blessing, papers related to daily mission activities, a provision list for Danish Saints on the "Monarch of the Seas," a record of priesthood ordinations, a Danish grammar book, and letters to his wife, Hellen, and children. Dated 1862-1864.
John Smith papers
Collection contains papers related to Smith's mission to Denmark, life in Utah with family, and his position as Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church. Includes diaries, letters, articles containing references to John, his personal patriarchal blessing, sheep accounts, family history notes, and copies of patriarchal blessings pronounced by himself. Dated 1848-1962.
Filtered By
- Subject: Diaries X
Additional filters:
- Type
- Collection 2
- Archival Object 1
- Subject
- California 1
- Certificates 1
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1
- Church records and registers 1
- Deeds 1
- Georgia 1
- Home and Family 1
- Illinois -- History -- 19th century 1
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- Denmark -- History 1
- Latter Day Saint missionaries -- Denmark -- History -- 19th century 1
- Missions and Missionaries 1
- Missouri -- History -- 19th century 1
- Nauvoo (Ill.) 1
- Patriarchal blessings (Latter Day Saint churches) -- History 1
- San Francisco (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century 1
- Social Life and Customs 1
- Tennessee 1
- Utah 1
- Utah -- History -- 19th century 1
- Wyoming -- History -- 19th century 1 + ∧ less