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Smith, John, 1832-1911

 Person

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 4 Collections and/or Records:

Miles Anderson papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2061
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1799-1877

Photographs of John Smith and Gee families

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 3919
Scope and Contents This collection comes from the personal collection of Gilbert Isom, whose mother was Cleone Smith Isom, daughter of Hyrum Gibbs Smith. It includes photographs of each Presiding Patriarchs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including John Smith and Eldred Gee Smith, and various other members of the Smith family. Also included are photographs of Cleone Smith Isom's mother Martha Electa Gee Smith and other Gee family members. Notable items include pictures of John Smith and...
Dates: approximately 1880-1990

Pinegar family patriarchal blessings

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230332006]
Identifier: MSS SC 3232
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of microfilmed copies of the original materials. The collection consists of patriarchal blessings given to members of the Pinegar family. The partriarchs giving the blessings are John Smith (2), William Grotegut (1), and Hyrum G. Smith (2). Also included are Pinegar and Palmer family genealogies.

Dates: 1867-1944

John Smith patriarchal blessings

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230317155]
Identifier: MSS SC 1895
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of three handwritten items. The documents are two copies of the same patriarchal blessing given to Charles Hawkins on 12 Aug. 1888 and a copy of a patriarchal blessing given to Susan Sophia Hawkins on 2 Aug. 1888. The blessings assure Charles and Susan Hawkins that they are noble spirits who will be able to go to heaven.

Dates: 1888 August

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  • Subject: Home and Family X

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Letters 3
Utah 2
California 1
Certificates 1
Deeds 1