David A. Smith
Born: 24 May 1879
Called as Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric: 4 December 1907
Called as First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric: 18 July 1918
Honorably Released: 6 April 1938
Died: 6 April 1952
Called as Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric: 4 December 1907
Called as First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric: 18 July 1918
Honorably Released: 6 April 1938
Died: 6 April 1952
Biographical Articles
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 3
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Instructor, August 1937, Bishop David A. Smith
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Instructor, August 1937, Bishop David A. Smith
Jenson, Andrew. "Smith, David A." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 3. pg. 775-776.
SMITH, David Asael, first counselor in the presiding bishopric of the Church, was born May 24, 1879, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of President Joseph F. Smith and Julina Lambson. He was baptized May 24, 1887, on his eighth birthday, and as a boy and youth he held successively the three grades of the lesser Priesthood, Deacon, Teacher and Priest. In the first and second quorums named he acted as second counselor to the president. Later, when he was ordained an Elder he was chosen as second counselor to the president of the sixth quorum of Elders, and still later he acted as second counselor in the presidency of the Liberty Stake Y. M. M. I. A. While residing in the Salt Lake Stake, before the division into four Stakes, in 1904, Elder Smith was a member of the Stake Sunday School Board. For five years he was before the public in an official capacity, two years as chief clerk and two years as chief deputy in the county clerk's office in Salt Lake City. In 1900 (January 24th) David A. Smith married Emily Jenkins (daughter of the late Bishop Thomas Jenkins and Mahala Elmer), who was born Nov. 17, 1878. This marriage has been blessed with nine children, namely, David Jenkins, Mahala, Asael Jenkins, Alfred Jenkins, Edward Jenkins, Robert Jenkins, Elmer Jenkins, Hyrum Jenkins, and Louise. When Charles W. Nibley, in December, 1907, was chosen as presiding Bishop of the Church, David A. Smith was chosen as his second counselor, being ordained under the hands of the First Presidency, Pres. Anthon H. Lund being mouth. After the death of Orrin P. Miller, Brother Smith was set apart to the position of first counselor, which position he still holds. For a number of years he had charge of the L. D. S. Hospital, and is now supervising trustee and vice president of the board of trustees. He is associated with many important business enterprises in Salt Lake City and elsewhere.
SMITH, David Asael, first counselor in the presiding bishopric of the Church, was born May 24, 1879, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of President Joseph F. Smith and Julina Lambson. He was baptized May 24, 1887, on his eighth birthday, and as a boy and youth he held successively the three grades of the lesser Priesthood, Deacon, Teacher and Priest. In the first and second quorums named he acted as second counselor to the president. Later, when he was ordained an Elder he was chosen as second counselor to the president of the sixth quorum of Elders, and still later he acted as second counselor in the presidency of the Liberty Stake Y. M. M. I. A. While residing in the Salt Lake Stake, before the division into four Stakes, in 1904, Elder Smith was a member of the Stake Sunday School Board. For five years he was before the public in an official capacity, two years as chief clerk and two years as chief deputy in the county clerk's office in Salt Lake City. In 1900 (January 24th) David A. Smith married Emily Jenkins (daughter of the late Bishop Thomas Jenkins and Mahala Elmer), who was born Nov. 17, 1878. This marriage has been blessed with nine children, namely, David Jenkins, Mahala, Asael Jenkins, Alfred Jenkins, Edward Jenkins, Robert Jenkins, Elmer Jenkins, Hyrum Jenkins, and Louise. When Charles W. Nibley, in December, 1907, was chosen as presiding Bishop of the Church, David A. Smith was chosen as his second counselor, being ordained under the hands of the First Presidency, Pres. Anthon H. Lund being mouth. After the death of Orrin P. Miller, Brother Smith was set apart to the position of first counselor, which position he still holds. For a number of years he had charge of the L. D. S. Hospital, and is now supervising trustee and vice president of the board of trustees. He is associated with many important business enterprises in Salt Lake City and elsewhere.
Jenson, Andrew. "Smith, David A." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 4. pg. 224-225.
SMITH, David Asael, a member of the general board of the Deseret Sunday School Union, was born May 24, 1879, in Salt Lake City, Utah, a son of President Joseph F. Smith and Julina Lambson. He was baptized May 24, 1887, served as an officer in Deacons and Teachers quorums, also in the Sixth quorum of Elders of the Salt Lake Stake, and in each of the quorums from Deacon to High Priest. During 1900 and 1901 he was a member of the Salt Lake Stake Sunday School Board, and when the Granite Stake was organized he was sustained as a stake supervisor of Religion Class work and later became a member of the newly organized Liberty Stake and was sustained and served as a counselor in the superintendency of the Stake Y. M. M. I. A., also as a member of the Stake Sunday School Board. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dr. W. H. Groves L. D. S. Hospital since 1908, and for several years was its superintendent. He is now vice president of that institution. He has served as president of the Tabernacle Choir since 1908 and as one of the Presiding Bishopric since December, 1907. (See also Bio. Ency. Vol. 3, p. 775.)
SMITH, David Asael, a member of the general board of the Deseret Sunday School Union, was born May 24, 1879, in Salt Lake City, Utah, a son of President Joseph F. Smith and Julina Lambson. He was baptized May 24, 1887, served as an officer in Deacons and Teachers quorums, also in the Sixth quorum of Elders of the Salt Lake Stake, and in each of the quorums from Deacon to High Priest. During 1900 and 1901 he was a member of the Salt Lake Stake Sunday School Board, and when the Granite Stake was organized he was sustained as a stake supervisor of Religion Class work and later became a member of the newly organized Liberty Stake and was sustained and served as a counselor in the superintendency of the Stake Y. M. M. I. A., also as a member of the Stake Sunday School Board. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dr. W. H. Groves L. D. S. Hospital since 1908, and for several years was its superintendent. He is now vice president of that institution. He has served as president of the Tabernacle Choir since 1908 and as one of the Presiding Bishopric since December, 1907. (See also Bio. Ency. Vol. 3, p. 775.)
"Bishop David A. Smith." Instructor. August 1937. pg. 335.
BISHOP DAVID A. SMITH
"What is the most interesting thing you have done?" the writer asked Bishop David A. Smith, whose photograph adorns the front cover of The Instructor this month. And without a moment's hesitation he answered, "Sending my boys on missions!"
Bishop Smith has seven sons. Of these, six have been on missions, and one is now in the field. When this one returns, the record will stand: Two to Germany, two to Holland, two to Hawaii, and one to Great Britain. Each of these will have served his full time there—that is, the time between his arrival at mission headquarters and his official release. It is equivalent to a single individual spending seventeen years on one mission.
To do all this has cost money. Bishop Smith has expended exactly seven thousand one hundred and forty dollars in actual cash. If these young men had remained at home instead of going on missions, and if, further, they had been earning sixty dollars a month, which is not at all improbable, the amount they would have earned, together with what their father would have saved, reaches the total of close to twenty thousand dollars.
But the Bishop considers the amount well spent. The family ties have been cemented, for one thing, more firmly than could have been the case otherwise. Then all the boys have had the benefit of travel, of contact with other peoples, and six of them have learned a foreign language. Moreover, they have all devoted themselves for at least two years in unselfish service, which is the most effective way to happiness. In addition, thousands of men and women have been privileged through them to hear the message of Mormonism. No one can tell exactly how much good has thus been done to those who have listened to this message, but the work of these seven must have left seeds of truth in many a heart, which, in time, may bear fruit.
That is Bishop Smith's family contribution to the Cause. But, as the Bishop remarked, this contribution is thoroughly typical in our Church. In every town and city in Mormondom are families who have made similar contributions, smaller or larger. The descendants of the late President Joseph F. Smith, father of Bishop Smith, have contributed the equivalent of one hundred and nineteen years to missionary work, at a cost in money, on the basis already suggested, of more than one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars.
My experience has shown that tobacco slows up the reflexes of the athletes, lowers their morale, and does nothing constructive. —Knute Rockne.
BISHOP DAVID A. SMITH
"What is the most interesting thing you have done?" the writer asked Bishop David A. Smith, whose photograph adorns the front cover of The Instructor this month. And without a moment's hesitation he answered, "Sending my boys on missions!"
Bishop Smith has seven sons. Of these, six have been on missions, and one is now in the field. When this one returns, the record will stand: Two to Germany, two to Holland, two to Hawaii, and one to Great Britain. Each of these will have served his full time there—that is, the time between his arrival at mission headquarters and his official release. It is equivalent to a single individual spending seventeen years on one mission.
To do all this has cost money. Bishop Smith has expended exactly seven thousand one hundred and forty dollars in actual cash. If these young men had remained at home instead of going on missions, and if, further, they had been earning sixty dollars a month, which is not at all improbable, the amount they would have earned, together with what their father would have saved, reaches the total of close to twenty thousand dollars.
But the Bishop considers the amount well spent. The family ties have been cemented, for one thing, more firmly than could have been the case otherwise. Then all the boys have had the benefit of travel, of contact with other peoples, and six of them have learned a foreign language. Moreover, they have all devoted themselves for at least two years in unselfish service, which is the most effective way to happiness. In addition, thousands of men and women have been privileged through them to hear the message of Mormonism. No one can tell exactly how much good has thus been done to those who have listened to this message, but the work of these seven must have left seeds of truth in many a heart, which, in time, may bear fruit.
That is Bishop Smith's family contribution to the Cause. But, as the Bishop remarked, this contribution is thoroughly typical in our Church. In every town and city in Mormondom are families who have made similar contributions, smaller or larger. The descendants of the late President Joseph F. Smith, father of Bishop Smith, have contributed the equivalent of one hundred and nineteen years to missionary work, at a cost in money, on the basis already suggested, of more than one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars.
My experience has shown that tobacco slows up the reflexes of the athletes, lowers their morale, and does nothing constructive. —Knute Rockne.