G. Carlos Smith
Born: 23 August 1910
Called as Second Assistant Superintendent in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1958
Released: 1961
Called as Superintendent in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1962
Released: 1969
Died: 29 March 1987
Called as Second Assistant Superintendent in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1958
Released: 1961
Called as Superintendent in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1962
Released: 1969
Died: 29 March 1987
Biographical Articles
Improvement Era, July 1958, New YMMIA Superintendency Looks Ahead
Improvement Era, September 1961, G. Carlos Smith Leaves YMMIA Post to Head Mission
Improvement Era, December 1969, The New YMMIA Superintendency
Improvement Era, September 1961, G. Carlos Smith Leaves YMMIA Post to Head Mission
Improvement Era, December 1969, The New YMMIA Superintendency
Zobell, Albert L., Jr. "New YMMIA Superintendency Looks Ahead." Improvement Era, July 1958: pg. 522-523.
New YMMIA Superintendency Looks Ahead by Albert L. Zobell, Jr. Research Editor The new general superintendency of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association—Superintendent Joseph T. Bentley, who was announced at the April general conference, and his assistant superintendents, Elders Alvin R. Dyer and G. Carlos Smith, Jr., announced several weeks later, bring to their new responsibility training and wisdom gained by long activity in the Church. Superintendent Bentley is an assistant to the president of Brigham Young University, having recently been released as president of the Northern Mexican Mission. First Assistant Superintendent Dyer is serving as president of the Central States Mission and is expected to be released of that responsibility this summer. Second Assistant Superintendent Smith has been serving as president of the Holladay Stake. Joseph Taylor Bentley was born March 6, 1906, in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, the son of Joseph C. and Maud Taylor Bentley. His father, a merchant, was robbed many times by Mexican revolutionists of that day and time, and he was once held captive by the famous rebel, Pancho Villa. Superintendent Bentley attended grade school in Mexico, and as a young lad had many exciting and faith-promoting experiences during the revolutions. In 1924 he came to Provo, and in 1928 was graduated by BYU in accounting and business administration, having worked his way through college. After his marriage to Kathleen Bench on June 14, 1928, he and his bride journeyed to New York City, where he obtained employment and entered Columbia University on a part-time basis. In 1930, he began teaching at the Juarez Academy in Mexico and in 1935 was employed by the American Smelting and Refining Company offices in Chihuahua City. Coming again to Utah in 1940, Superintendent Bentley was principal of the Roosevelt High School. In 1942 he came to the Salt Lake offices of the smelting firm. Becoming a certified public accountant in 1946, he opened his own offices. He joined the BYU accounting department in 1953, and in 1955, became its head. In Church activity he has held most of the offices in the priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations. He was president of the Chihuahua Branch in 1939; a counselor in the Roosevelt (Utah) Stake presidency, 1941-42; a member of the Big Cottonwood (Utah) Stake high council, 1943-46; president of the high priests quorum, Big Cottonwood Stake, 1946-49; president of the American Branch of the Church in Mexico City, 1949; first counselor in the Mexican Mission presidency, 1950-53; a member of the high council, East Sharon (Utah) Stake, 1953-56; second counselor, Brigham Young University Stake, for a short time in 1956, and president of the Northern Mexican Mission from June 1, 1956, until a few months ago. He and Mrs. Bentley are the parents of five children. When he was fifteen (the age of today's Explorers in the MIA), the young man who was to become the general superintendent of the Mutual had a very serious illness. He was taken to El Paso, Texas, where he was examined thoroughly by three physicians. Their verdict: he couldn't possibly live thirty days. But at the end of those thirty days he was well, through the healing power of the priesthood. This is just one of the things that has strengthened the faith of the new leader of one of the Church's youth organizations. Elder Dyer was born January 1, 1904, in Salt Lake City, a son of Alfred Robert and Harriet Walsh Dyer. He filled a mission to the Eastern States in 1922-24, and married May E. Jackson, June 2, 1926. He served as a counselor for eight years in the Fifteenth Ward bishopric; and in the bishopric of the Monument Park Ward for four years, and as bishop of Monument Park Ward for five years. He served as YMMIA superintendent of the Sixteenth Ward and as Sunday School superintendent in Yalecrest Ward. He has served as a member of the high council in Salt Lake and Riverside stakes. While serving as mission president, Elder Dyer has found time to be a member of the Missouri Historical Society and the Jackson County Historical Society. He and Mrs. Dyer are the parents of two children. Elder Smith was born August 23, 1910, in Salt Lake City, a son of George Carlos and Lillian Emery Smith. He was sustained as president of Big Cottonwood Stake in 1949 (the name was changed to Cottonwood Stake in 1950); and as president of Holladay Stake in 1956; previously he had served as a counselor in the Big Cottonwood Stake presidency. He has been a member of the YMMIA superintendency of Holladay Ward and has been a Sunday School teacher. He is an Eagle Scout and a Master M Man. He married LaVon Petersen, March 16, 1933; they are the parents of five children. |
Alvin R. Dyer, 1st assistant general superintendent. He is President of Central States Mission.
G. Carlos Smith, 2nd assistant general superintendent. Elder Smith was formerly President of Holladay (Salt Lake City) Stake.
The new YMMIA superintendency : Joseph T. Bentley,
general superintendent. He is an assistant to the President of Brigham Young University. |
"G. Carlos Smith Leaves YMMIA Post to Head Mission." Improvement Era, September 1961: pg. 646.
G. Carlos Smith leaves YMMIA post to head mission
First Assistant General Superintendent G. Carlos Smith of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, who was released at the afternoon session of June conference, June 9, 1961, was called in May by the First Presidency to preside over the Central States Mission. He succeeds President Samuel R. Carpenter in this capacity. Mission headquarters are at Independence, Missouri.
Elder Smith had served with General Superintendent Joseph T. Bentley in the Mutual for slightly over three years. In May 1958 he had been appointed Second Assistant General Superintendent. That fall, Elder Alvin R. Dyer, who was First Assistant, was called as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve, and on January 19, 1959, Elder Smith was set apart as First Assistant General Superintendent of the MIA. (Elder Dyer, a former president of the Central States Mission, now serves as president of the European Mission.) At that time Elder Marvin J. Ashton was called as second assistant. He now becomes first assistant to Superintendent Bentley.
Elder Smith brought with him to the general superintendency many years of church service experience and now will carry that rich background to his assignment in the mission field. As an MIA executive he has an intimate knowledge of the relationship of the Mutual program to the other programs and activities of the Church. This will enable him to be forceful in presenting the MIA to the priesthood leadership in the Church.
G. Carlos Smith came to the general superintendency of the Mutual as a stake president. He was president of Holladay Stake since its creation in March 1956, before that he served as president of Cottonwood Stake for six years and of Big Cottonwood Stake for one year. One of his neighbors recalls that the stake president took time out from his busy schedule to qualify as an Eagle Scout. He loves young people and their activities. During his high school days and for three years at Utah State University he was active in football, basketball, baseball, and swimming.
He is a spiritual giant and a tenacious individual who believes with all his heart and soul in the programs of the Church and in the counsel of the presiding brethren. He is a great family man.
A native of Salt Lake City, he married LaVon Petersen of Holladay in the Salt Lake Temple, March 16, 1933. They have five children. Their two youngest children, Susan and Nanette, will accompany their parents on this mission assignment.
G. Carlos Smith leaves YMMIA post to head mission
First Assistant General Superintendent G. Carlos Smith of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, who was released at the afternoon session of June conference, June 9, 1961, was called in May by the First Presidency to preside over the Central States Mission. He succeeds President Samuel R. Carpenter in this capacity. Mission headquarters are at Independence, Missouri.
Elder Smith had served with General Superintendent Joseph T. Bentley in the Mutual for slightly over three years. In May 1958 he had been appointed Second Assistant General Superintendent. That fall, Elder Alvin R. Dyer, who was First Assistant, was called as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve, and on January 19, 1959, Elder Smith was set apart as First Assistant General Superintendent of the MIA. (Elder Dyer, a former president of the Central States Mission, now serves as president of the European Mission.) At that time Elder Marvin J. Ashton was called as second assistant. He now becomes first assistant to Superintendent Bentley.
Elder Smith brought with him to the general superintendency many years of church service experience and now will carry that rich background to his assignment in the mission field. As an MIA executive he has an intimate knowledge of the relationship of the Mutual program to the other programs and activities of the Church. This will enable him to be forceful in presenting the MIA to the priesthood leadership in the Church.
G. Carlos Smith came to the general superintendency of the Mutual as a stake president. He was president of Holladay Stake since its creation in March 1956, before that he served as president of Cottonwood Stake for six years and of Big Cottonwood Stake for one year. One of his neighbors recalls that the stake president took time out from his busy schedule to qualify as an Eagle Scout. He loves young people and their activities. During his high school days and for three years at Utah State University he was active in football, basketball, baseball, and swimming.
He is a spiritual giant and a tenacious individual who believes with all his heart and soul in the programs of the Church and in the counsel of the presiding brethren. He is a great family man.
A native of Salt Lake City, he married LaVon Petersen of Holladay in the Salt Lake Temple, March 16, 1933. They have five children. Their two youngest children, Susan and Nanette, will accompany their parents on this mission assignment.
"The New YMMIA Superintendency." Improvement Era, December 1969: pg. 6-8.
New YMMIA Superintendency By Eleanor Knowles Editorial Associate The Prophet Joseph Smith, when asked how he could govern great numbers of the Saints, is reported to have replied, "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." This has long been the philosophy of W. Jay Eldredge, new general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. It is a guiding principle he has used with his own family, in leadership positions in the wards and stakes in which he has resided, as a mission president, and as a Regional Representative of the Council of the Twelve. "I intend to emphasize this same philosophy in the YMMIA also," he said. "We should give youth good background in the principles of the gospel, for nothing is as great a motivating factor as a strong belief in doctrinal principles. Then we should give them a chance to live by and experiment with those principles." Superintendent Eldredge was sustained and set apart as the twelfth general YMMIA superintendent at a meeting of the YMMIA and YWMIA general boards September 17. Sustained as his assistants were George R. Hill III, first assistant superintendent, and George I. Cannon, second assistant. Released were Superintendent G. Carlos Smith, Jr., who had served since October 1962 and has recently been called to preside over the new Southeast Asia Mission; Marvin J. Ashton, first assistant, who was sustained at the October general conference as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve; and Superintendent Hill, second assistant. Superintendent Eldredge, who with his new appointment also becomes general manager of The Improvement Era, was born in Salt Lake City on April 27, 1913. He attended the old LDS University and then the University of Utah before leaving for a mission to Great Britain. When he returned from his mission, he entered business in a school supply company and later established his own retail furniture store. Coming on the heels of his new YMMIA appointment was the grand opening in October of a new branch of his thriving furniture business. With his many business activities, however, he has never neglected his opportunities to serve in the Church nor his family obligations. In his youth he was active in the priesthood and auxiliary programs. ("The MIA programs today are much more intense and structured than they were when I was a youth," he remarked.) When he returned from his mission he served as a ward Sunday School superintendent before being called as ward YMMIA superintendent. One of his assistants in the MIA was Marvin J. Ashton. Other church activities have included 11 years as bishop of the Parleys Ward in Salt Lake City; member of a high council for four years; and president of Parleys Stake six years. From 1965-68 he presided over the Eastern States Mission, during which time he witnessed great growth in the Church in that area, for this was the period immediately after the successful New York World's Fair, at which so many persons were introduced to the gospel and the Church through visits to the Mormon Pavilion. Upon his release as mission president, Superintendent Eldredge was set apart as a Regional Representative of the Twelve, with responsibility for ten stakes at Brigham Young University and one at College of Southern Utah. He was released from this position when the call came to serve in the YMMIA. Family has always ranked first, along with the gospel, in the life of the new general superintendent. He and his wife, the former Marjory Hyde, have five children: Jay, an M.D., who is specializing in pediatric cardiology at the University of Virginia Medical Hospital; Heidi (Mrs. William C. Vriens, Jr.), of Salt Lake City; Sharon (Mrs. Randy Harmson), of Palo Alto, California; and Rosemary and Brent, students at the University of Utah. The Eldredge family has strong roots in MIA. In addition to the children's activities in the auxiliary in their youth, Sister Eldredge is a member of the YWMIA general board and is currently serving as chairman of the Mia Maid committee, while Heidi is a member of the YWMIA Laurel committee. "A family man with a warm interest in youth" is how one of Superintendent Eldredge's daughters describes her father. "He knows how to counsel youth and take them through their problems —how to really reach the spirit of the person." As the children were growing up, Superintendent Eldredge found ways to include them in projects that helped bring them closer together. A woodworking hobbyist, he built a chalet-type cabin for the family at Brighton, in the mountains east of Salt Lake City, with the entire family helping. "Every house—every ward—every stake center he has been associated with has had a new wing or room built on it," his daughter recalls. Now Superintendent Eldredge will be putting his building interests to even greater tasks, as he guides the YMMIA in building new programs and strong leadership, which in turn will help build strong young men who will be the leaders of the Church tomorrow. Supporting, sustaining, and assisting him in this new task are two assistants who between them have many years of MIA leadership experience. Superintendent Hill, who is directing age-group activities of the YMMIA, has long been active in the Scout and Explorer programs. He was serving as chairman of the Explorer committee when he was called as second assistant superintendent in October 1967. His experience in scouting goes beyond the confines of the Church, however, for he has been active on local and national committees of the Boy Scouts of America and has served as chaplain at both national and international Scout jamborees. A graduate of Brigham Young University, he received his Ph.D. from Cornell University, where he taught from 1942-46; he also served as president of the Ithaca (New York) Branch. He is now dean of the College of Mines and Mineral Industries at the University of Utah. In addition to his service on the YMMIA general board, Superintendent Hill has served as bishop of the Holladay Second Ward and the Federal Heights Ward in Salt Lake City. He is married to the former Melba Parker, and they are parents of seven children. Superintendent Cannon has had a great heritage in MIA service, for his mother, Lucy Grant Cannon, was fourth general president of YWMIA. George served on the YMMIA general board 12 years before being called as bishop of the Parleys Sixth Ward in 1963. He was released from that position in 1966 to accept a call to preside over the Central British Mission. As assistant general superintendent, he will be responsible for the activity programs of the YMMIA. Superintendent Cannon, an insurance company executive, is married to the former Isabel Hales, and they have seven children. |
General Superintendent W. Jay Eldredge
George R. Hill III, first assistant superintendent
George I. Cannon, second asst. superintendent
G. Carlos Smith, Jr., Southeast Asia Mission
|