Smith, George Albert, 1817-1875
Dates
- Existence: 1817 - 1875
Biographical History
George Albert Smith (1817-1875) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and was the First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
George Albert Smith was born June 26, 1817 to John Smith and Clarissa Lyman in Potsdam, New York. He was raised a Congregationalist, but failed to believe in the sect. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 10, 1832 by Joseph Wakefield. In May 1833, he and his parents moved with the Saints to Kirtland, Ohio. A year later, Smith, at just 16 years old, accompanied a group of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a 2000-mile march to Missouri and back to Ohio. This trip, known as Zion's Camp, was intended to bring aid to suffering members of the Church in Missouri. During the summers of 1835 and 1837, Smith served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern United States, while going to school during the winters of those same years.
George Albert Smith was ordained an Apostle on April 26, 1839 at Far West, Missouri by Heber C. Kimball. After his cousin, Joseph Smith Jr.'s, death, George Albert Smith traveled with many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Salt Lake Valley. After arriving in Utah, Smith led a company establish a colony. They arrived at Centre Creek, 265 miles from Salt Lake City, on January 13, 1851. Under direction from the General Assembly of the State of Deseret, the group organized the political entity of Iron County and elected Smith as chief justice. Smith taught school during the first winter, and later served as a member of Utah's territorial legislature. In 1868, Smith was called as the First Counelor in the First Presidency under Brigham Young. The city of St. George, Utah, is named after him because of his colonizing efforts in Southern Utah. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the territorial militia and was elected territorial senator. George Albert Smith died September 1, 1875 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Citation:
His The rise, progress, and travels of the Church of Jesus Christ ... 1873.Pusey, M. J. Builders of the kingdom, George A. Smith, John Henry Smith, George Albert Smith, 1981: t.p. (George A. Smith)
UPB files, Sept. 26, 2016 (George Albert Smith)
Wikipedia, via WWW, Sept. 26, 2016 (b. June 26, 1817, Potsdam, NY; parents: John Smith, Clarissa Lyman; Congregationalist; moved to Kirtland, Ohio, 1833; Zion's Camp exp. 1834; miss. U.S. 1835-1837; edu. 1835-1837; apostle, 1839; move to S.L. Valley; Centre Creek, 1851; Iron County, c. justice; teacher, legislature; First Counselor, 1868; St. George name; Leiutenant General terr. militia; terr. senator; d. Sept. 1, 1875, SLC, UT)
Grampa Bill's General Authority Pages, via WWW, Sept. 26, 2016 (bapt. Sept. 10, 1832, by Joseph Wakefield)
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
John L. Smith personal and family papers, 1792-1950
Contains priesthood blessing transcripts, legal documents, articles, letters, and other Smith family papers, dated 1792 to 1950.
George Albert Smith diary and correspondence
Photocopies of a typescript of a diary by Smith with miscellaneous correspondence. Also included are an autobiography and a diary by Lucy Meserve Smith, a wife of George A. Smith, and the autobiography of another of Smith's wives, Hannah Mariah L. Smith. Writings of George A. Smith's granddaughter, Zora Smith Jarvis, are also included in the collection.
George Albert Smith minutes
Handwritten and signed minutes dated 24 June 1849. The document is of a meeting of the Company of "Saints" en-route to Salt Lake City, and discusses company appointments.
John L. Smith papers
Ammon M. Tenney papers
Photocopy of typescript. Includes a number of letters written to Tenney by such people as Brigham Young (1801-1877), Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898), and John W. Young (1844-1924) concerning the purchase of land at St. Johns, Arizona, for Mormon settlement, missionary work among the Indians, and obtaining work for Mormon settlers by bidding on raliroad contracts. Some of Tenney's replies are also included. Folder also includes typescript copy of Tenney's journal for 1875-1876.