Eldred G. Smith
Born: 9 January 1907
Called as Presiding Patriarch: 10 April 1947
Became Emeritus General Authority: 6 October 1979
Died: 4 April 2013
Called as Presiding Patriarch: 10 April 1947
Became Emeritus General Authority: 6 October 1979
Died: 4 April 2013
Talks on Church WebsiteApr 1971 - All May Share in Adam's Blessing
Oct 1971 - Decisions Apr 1972 - Peace Oct 1972 - Why Do Latter-day Saints Build Temples? Oct 1973 - Opposition in Order to Strengthen Us Apr 1974 - Three Days in the Tomb Oct 1974 - Do Not Procrastinate! Oct 1975 - Family Research Apr 1976 - Who Is Jesus? Apr 1978 - Decision Image source: Improvement Era, November 1967
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Image source: Wikipedia, public domain
Image source: Instructor, June 1947
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Biographical Articles
Improvement Era, May 1947, Eldred G. Smith, Patriarch to the Church
Relief Society Magazine, May 1947, Elder Eldred G. Smith Named Patriarch to the Church
Instructor, June 1947, Patriarch Eldred G. Smith
Improvement Era, November 1967, Eldred G. Smith Patriarch to the Church
Ensign, May 2013, Elder Eldred G. Smith Dies at Age 106
Relief Society Magazine, May 1947, Elder Eldred G. Smith Named Patriarch to the Church
Instructor, June 1947, Patriarch Eldred G. Smith
Improvement Era, November 1967, Eldred G. Smith Patriarch to the Church
Ensign, May 2013, Elder Eldred G. Smith Dies at Age 106
"Eldred G. Smith, Patriarch to the Church." Improvement Era. May 1947. pg. 275, 280.
ELDRED G. SMITH Patriarch to the Church Eldred G. Smith was sustained as Patriarch to the Church on April 6, 1947, at the closing session of the annual general conference. Eldred G. Smith, the seventh patriarch to be sustained in this calling, is the eldest son of the late Hyrum G. Smith, fifth Patriarch to the Church, and Martha Gee Smith. He is the great-grandson of John Smith, the fourth Patriarch; the great-great-grandson of Hyrum Smith, the second Patriarch; and the great-great-great-grandson of Joseph Smith, Sr., the first Patriarch of this dispensation. Patriarch Eldred G. Smith was born at Lehi, Utah, January 9, 1907. He received his education in the Salt Lake City public schools, the old Latter-day Saint high school in Salt Lake City, and at the University of Utah. His Church activity began early when he was called to leadership in many of his priesthood quorums and ward auxiliary organizations. He filled a mission in Europe from 1926 to 1929, being called to the Swiss-German mission. He became second counselor in the bishopric of the Salt Lake City Twentieth Ward, and later a member of the Ensign Stake high council. When his ward was divided several years ago, he was sustained as the first bishop of the North Twentieth Ward. More recently he served as a branch president in the East Central States Mission, where he made his home while working as an engineer at the war-created Manhattan project at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He returned to his home in Salt Lake City a few weeks ago. Patriarch Smith married Jeanne Ness on August 17, 1932, in the Salt Lake Temple. They have four children: Miriam, 11; Eldred Gary and Audrey Gay, 9 ( twins ) ; and Gordon Raynor Smith, 5. (For an article pertaining to the history, duties, and purpose of the office of the Patriarch in this last dispensation, see article by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of the Twelve and Church Historian, beginning on page 694 of the November 1942 issue of The Improvement Era.) |
Courtesy, "The Deseret News"
Elder Eldred G. Smith, Patriarch to the Church (left) and Jeanne Ness Smith (seated), with Gordon Raynor on her lap. Back: Miriam, and Eldred Gary and Audrey Gay, twins. |
Cannon, Edwin Q. "Elder Eldred G. Smith Named Patriarch to the Church." Relief Society Magazine. May 1947. pg. 304-305.
Elder Eldred G. Smith Named Patriarch to the Church Elder Edwin Q. Cannon President, Ensign Stake BECAUSE of my privilege of close association with Eldred G. Smith, I take pleasure in setting forth the knowledge and impressions I have concerning him. My first observance of him was when he took up his residence in the Twentieth Ward in which I resided, in November 1936. I was especially attracted to him because of the great faith I had in his father, Hyrum G. Smith, as the Church Patriarch. I had received from him a patriarchal blessing from which I had derived much comfort, Page 304 guidance, and assurance. When, later, I became bishop, I chose him as one of my counselors. This place he occupied from May 1938 until March 1940, when he was taken into the Ensign Stake High Council. When the ward was divided in March 1941, he was chosen bishop of the North Twentieth Ward. While occupying these positions he was faithful, unassuming, humble, and an indefatigable worker. In addition to his heavy Church obligations, he and Sister Smith had real responsibilities at home, as twins were born during that time and, with a family of very young children, there was much to think about and things were not easy. He remodeled his home, including papering and painting, doing most of the work himself. The only time he had for this was during the night hours. I realized he had really too much to do and at times I felt concerned over his ability to keep up the strenuous life, even though he met it cheerfully and gratefully. Never did he utter a word of complaint. In January 1944 he took a defense position at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, necessitating his resigning as bishop. He was reluctant to do this, but it was wartime. On his way to his destination he stopped at Louisville, Kentucky, to see Brother Graham Doxey, President of the East Central States Mission, with the idea in mind of offering his service, in any way possible in that mission. Because of the secret nature of the work being done at Oak Ridge, he was unable to get permission to hold gatherings in halls provided for such purposes, so he invited the members of the Church to his home, where they held services, using boxes as chairs and table. These gatherings continued until thirty-five children and sixty-five adults were in attendance. Then President Doxey visited Oak Ridge and formed a branch, making Elder Smith branch president. Later, permission was obtained to use the project school building. Many activities were engaged in, such as excursions to other branches in the vicinity, and an outstanding work was accomplished in behalf of the Church. Brother Smith took great pleasure in all of this. Between 1926 and 1929 he fulfilled a mission in Germany for the Church. In August 1932 he married Jeanne Ness who has stood faithfully by him and their lovely family. They have four children, Miriam, twins- Gary and Gay, and Gordon. Besides his devotion to his own family, he has always been affectionately devoted to his widowed mother, Martha G. Smith. |
THE ELDRED G. SMITH FAMILY
Seated, left to right: Elder Eldred G. Smith; Gordon Raynor; Jeanne Ness Smith. Standing, left to right: Audrey Gay; Miriam; Eldred Gary. |
Lund, A. William. "Patriarch Eldred G. Smith." Instructor. June 1947. pg. 252-253.
Patriarch Eldred G. Smith A. WILLIAM LUND AT the session of General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held April 6, 1947, the Church sustained Eldred Gee Smith as Patriarch to the Church. This young man is the son of the late Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith and Martha Gee. He is a third great-grandson of Joseph Smith, Sr., the first Patriarch to the Church. Patriarch Smith was born Jan. 9, 1907, at Lehi, Utah. He was reared in Salt Lake City, attending the public schools here, graduating from the L.D.S. High School and attending the University of Utah. He served in the Swiss-German Mission from 1926 to 1929. He was married to Jeanne Ness on August 17, 1932, in the Salt Lake Temple, and they are the parents of four children: Meriam, 11; Eldred Gerry and Audrey Gay, twins, 9, and Gordon Raynor Smith, 5. After serving in many priesthood quorums and auxiliaries he became second counselor in the bishopric of the Twentieth Ward and later was chosen bishop of the new North Twentieth Ward. He served as a member of the Ensign Stake high council for three years prior to becoming a bishop. During the war he left Salt Lake for Oak Ridge, Tenn., where he was an engineer in the Manhattan atomic bomb project. He served as president of the L.D.S. branch while stationed there. He has but recently returned to Salt Lake City. The Patriarch to the Church has the right to bless any worthy member of the Church. A Stake Patriarch has authority to bless only those within the stake in which he is set apart to act. As a patriarch is a High Priest he may act in other duties in the Church if called by proper authority. Because of his special calling and ordination a patriarch may bestow blessings upon the members of the Church and through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost make promises unto them for their comfort in their hours of trial and sorrow and to strengthen their faith in the promises God has given to those who are faithful. Inasmuch as the Lord has told us that every blessing is based upon obedience, those receiving patriarchal blessings must keep the commandments of the Lord in order that their blessing may be fulfilled. Also a patriarch has the right, through inspiration, to declare the lineage of the one being blessed. The giving of and the receiving of a patriarchal blessing is a very holy ordinance. Therefore, it is very necessary that not only the patriarch but also the person to be blessed should seek the Lord in humble and earnest prayer .so that the Holy Spirit may direct the promises and blessings that are to be given. |
"Eldred G. Smith Patriarch to the Church." Improvement Era. November 1967. pg. 42.
ELDRED G. SMITH Patriarch to the Church The office of Patriarch to the Church is a holy calling. It is a hereditary calling, given on personal worthiness to the man receiving it through inspiration of the President of the Church. Eldred G. Smith is the seventh Patriarch to the Church in this dispensation. Daily he cares for spiritual needs of the saints, giving to many their patriarchal blessings, great personal pronouncements that can, if the recipient is humble and worthy, chart the way to possible achievements in a fruitful lifetime. Elder Smith was born January 9, 1907, at Lehi, Utah, a son of Hyrum G. and Martha Gee Smith. When he was five years of age, his father was sustained as Presiding Patriarch to the Church, and the family moved to Salt Lake City. Young Eldred was educated in the public schools and attended LDS High School and the University of Utah, where he studied engineering. In 1926 he received a call to serve in the Swiss-German Mission, and upon his release in 1929, he served a stake mission in the Liberty Stake in Salt Lake City. Elder Smith married Jeanne Ness August 17, 1932, in the Salt Lake Temple, and they became parents of two sons and three daughters. Devoted to serving the Lord in whatever capacity he was called. Elder Smith became a member of the Ensign Stake YMMIA board in November 1936, and on May 5, 1938, he was sustained as second counselor in the 20th Ward bishopric in Salt Lake City. He later served on the Ensign Stake high council. When the North 20th Ward was created in 1941, he became its first bishop. In January 1944 he accepted a war-time position with the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, atomic energy project. On his way there, he stopped at the mission headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, where he offered his services to the Church. When he arrived at Oak Ridge, he found that because of the secret nature of the atomic project, he could not gain permission for the saints to hold Church gatherings in military halls. So he invited Church members to his home for services, where they used boxes for table and chairs. The gatherings grow until eventually 35 children and 65 adults were attending. The Oak Ridge Branch was then formed, with Elder Smith as branch president. After World War II he returned to Salt Lake City. On April 6, 1947, at the general conference of the Church he was sustained as Patriarch to the Church. Since then he has given literally thousands of blessings. He spends many hours each day at his desk in the Church Administration Building counseling members who come from all parts of the Church. |