Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. (July 19, 1876 – July 2, 1972) was an American religious leader and writer who served as the tenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1970 until his death in 1972. He was the son of former church president Joseph F. Smith and the great-nephew of Church founder Joseph Smith.
| Joseph Fielding Smith | |
|---|---|
| 10th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| January 23, 1970 – July 2, 1972 | |
| Predecessor | David O. McKay |
| Successor | Harold B. Lee |
| Counselor in the First Presidency | |
| October 29, 1965 – January 18, 1970 | |
| Called by | David O. McKay |
| End reason | Dissolution of First Presidency upon the death of David O. McKay |
| President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 9, 1951 – January 23, 1970 | |
| Predecessor | David O. McKay |
| Successor | Harold B. Lee |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| August 8, 1950 – April 4, 1951 | |
| Reason | David O. McKay was serving as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to George Albert Smith |
| End reason | Became President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 7, 1910 – January 23, 1970 | |
| Called by | Joseph F. Smith |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| April 7, 1910 – July 2, 1972 | |
| Called by | Joseph F. Smith |
| Reason | Death of John R. Winder; John Henry Smith added to First Presidency |
| Reorganization at end of term | Bruce R. McConkie ordained |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. July 19, 1876 Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 1972 (aged 95) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W |
| Spouse(s) | Louie Emily Shurtliff
(m. 1898; died 1908)Ethel Georgina Reynolds
(m. 1908; died 1937)Jessie Ella Evans
(m. 1938; died 1971) |
| Children | 11 |
| Parents | Joseph F. Smith Julina Lambson Smith |
| Signature | |
Smith was named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1910, when his father was the church's president. When Smith became president of the Church, he was 93 years and 6 months old; he began his presidential term at an older age than any other president in church history. Smith's tenure as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1951 to 1970 is the third-longest in church history; he served in that capacity during the entire presidency of David O. McKay.
Smith spent some of his years among the Twelve Apostles as the Church Historian and Recorder. He was a religious scholar and a prolific writer. Many of his works are used as references for church members. Doctrinally, Smith was known for rigid orthodoxy and as an arch-conservative in his views on evolution and race, although it has been said that age had softened him and as a result he put up less resistance to reforms by the time he had become president.