Skip to main content

Smith, George Albert, 1817-1875

 Person

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 1 Collection or Record:

James G. Bleak diaries and letters

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1691
Scope and Contents Photocopies of handwritten diaries and correspondence. Bleak's diaries cover the years 1864, 1869-1895 with a gap for parts of 1885 and for 1886. Bleak writes about his daily activities in St. George and in Santa Clara, Utah, about his activities while serving on the Southern Indian Mission, about his callings for the Mormon Church, and about his relationships with various leaders of the Mormon Church including Brigham Young (1801-1877), Jacob Hamblin (1819-1886), Erastus Snow (1818-1886),...
Dates: 1829-1918