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 37 Collections and/or Records:
History of George Albert Smith in Zion's Camp photocopy
Handwritten account of Smith's experiences while a member of Zion's Camp, including an encounter with spies.
John L. Smith journals, 1846-1895
Includes journals and photocopies of journals created by John L. Smith, from 1846 to 1895. Journals discuss early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, personal history, and the missionary service of John L. Smith in Switzerland, Italy, and England. Also includes letters and photocopies of letters.
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.
Life sketch of George Wardle
Typewritten biography of George Wardle (1820-1901) by his granddaughter. The item includes information on George Albert Smith.
Monument dedication
Typewritten transcript of services conducted at the dedication of a cemetery monument in Salt Lake City, Utah, erected to the memory of John Smith, George A. Smith and John Henry Smith. Joseph F. Smith was a speaker at the services.
Record of the President John Rigg's prayer circle
Photocopy of a handwritten and bound volume recording the minutes of a Mormon prayer circle. The group was established 13 July 1857 in Provo, Utah, at the request of George Albert Smith.
Salisbury family correspondence, 1850-1979
Series contains correspondence of the Salisbury family, dating from 1850 to 1979. Includes correspondence from Katharine Smith Salisbury, Don Carlos Salisbury and family, George Albert Smith and family, and others. Don Carlos Salisbury includes 32 letters about his service during the Civul War.
Augusta Bowen Cleveland Smith papers
Handwritten correspondence, patriarchal blessings, poems, songs, and miscellaneous items. The bulk of the collection are letters between Smith and family members. The materials relate to family matters. Also included are letters from the Mormon apostle, George Albert Smith, to John L.Smith that deal with George's Mormon Church-related activities.
Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith autobiography
Photocopy of a 260-page handwritten autobiography. Smith includes copies of correspondence and patriarchal blessings in her account. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1837, lived with the Mormons in Missouri and Illinois, married George Albert Smith in 1841, allowed him to take additional wives, came to Utah in 1849, and served as president of the Relief Society.
George A. Smith letter
Photocopied holograph letter from George A. Smith, writing from the historian’s office in Salt Lake, to his cousin, Silas S. Smith.