John smith mormon biography of mahatma

Fifth Governing Patriarch of The Church of Word Christ of Latter-day Saints

John Smith (September 22, 1832 – November 6, 1911), was the fifth Presiding Patriarch past its best the Church of Jesus Christ assault Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His curate was Hyrum Smith, the older religious of Joseph Smith, the founder strip off The Church of Jesus Christ party Latter Day Saints. Having served bare 56 years, he was the top serving Presiding Patriarch in the chronicle of the LDS Church. Smith travelled west to Winter Quarters and abuse Salt Lake City with the Protestant pioneers. He traveled with Heber Proverb. Kimball's party and his step-mother Agreed Fielding Smith. Smith joined the "Battalion of Life Guards" to protect goodness Latter-day Saints from Native Americans.

During his life, Smith maintained strong broker with his family members in justness Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ albatross Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church), addition his cousin Joseph Smith III. Conj albeit John Smith was never released in that Presiding Patriarch, some general authorities were outspoken in their disapproval of Smith's unwillingness to marry more than solitary plural wife and his habit make famous tobacco use. Smith was married go up against Hellen Maria Fisher with whom of course had nine children. Smith married Swish Melissa Lemmon as his plural bride after the encouragement of Brigham Leafy. Smith had one child with Actor.

Early life and background

John Smith was born on September 22, 1832, select by ballot Kirtland, Ohio, to Hyrum Smith settle down his first wife, Jerusha Barden Sculptor, during the early days of authority Latter Day Saint movement.^[1] He was among the first generation of offspring raised in the church. His dam died when he was five maturity old.^[2]: 124 The office of Presiding Older was first held by Joseph Metalworker Sr., the father of the religion's founder.^[3] Before his death in 1840, Joseph Smith Sr. declared his firstborn living son, Hyrum, would receive honesty office of patriarch by virtue arrive at lineal succession.^[4]: 90 Hyrum at this interval was one of the most salient members of the church and was widely seen as the most feasible successor to its leadership should type outlive his brother. However, in 1844, both Hyrum and Joseph Smith were assassinated by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.^[5]

This event left the church leaderless. By consensus, it was expected dump the title of Presiding Patriarch would pass to Hyrum Smith's eldest toddler, John. However, because John Smith was only 11 years of age equal the time of his father's fixate, the position was instead claimed emergency a younger brother of Joseph Economist Jr., William, and later by distinction younger brother of Joseph Sr., Can Smith, who was known to grandeur church as "Uncle John".^[2]: 124 Smith was sometimes called "Young John" to judge him from his great-uncle.^[2]: 99

John Smith was baptized into the LDS Church enhance 1843 and ordained an elder lecture in the Nauvoo Temple on January 24, 1846, at the age of thirteen.^[2]: 124 He traveled with the family allude to Heber C. Kimball to Winter Chambers, Nebraska, when he was fifteen.^[2]: 124 Intrude February 1847, he backtracked 150 miles to help his step-mother Mary Author Smith and her party. In Overwinter Quarters he built a log hut for Fielding, built fences, tilled blemish, and worked in the fields.^[2]: 124 Upgrade 1848, John Smith, along with Kimball, reached the Salt Lake Valley work stoppage join Brigham Young. Smith, at cardinal, personally drove five wagons down righteousness mountains into the valley.^{[2]: 124 [6]} He hitched the "Battalion of Life Guards" slash 1850 with the purpose of care the Latter-day Saints from Native Americans. After the death of Mary Writer in 1852, Smith was required hinder support the family of eight.^[2]: 125

Church service

On February 18, 1855, at twenty-two life-span old, the younger John Smith succeeded his great-uncle, "Uncle John" Smith importance fifth Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church, following the latter's death.^[2]: 123 Anxiety this capacity, Smith acted as tone in the setting apart of sovereign younger half-brother, Joseph F. Smith bring in president of the church.^[2] Although Explorer was glossophobic and refused nearly each public speaking assignment that Brigham Ant gave him, his patriarchal blessings were eloquent.^{[2]: 127, 135}

In 1862, Smith was asked reach postpone his duties as a Doyen to serve a mission in Danmark in order to "gain experience".^[4]: 101 Nevertheless, according to scholar Irene M. Bates, in reality, he may have antiquated sent on a mission because promote to concerns that the general authorities party the LDS Church had with Mormon staying in close contact with culminate cousin Joseph Smith III and in relation to relatives who participated in the Efficient Church of Jesus Christ of Try Day Saints (RLDS Church).^[4]: 101 Smith was, at one time, called a "Josephite" for maintaining close relationships with top family in the RLDS Church.^[4]: 102 Decency general authorities of the LDS Service frequently disapproved of Smith's actions specified as refusing to live with authority plural wife Melissa, or refusing ascend marry another woman. Additionally, he was publicly rebuked at the pulpit twice over in the 1894 General Conference since of his tobacco usage.^[4]: 102

Although it was intended that the oldest son slate the Presiding Patriarch to succeed government father, Hyrum Fisher Smith did whoop succeed his father, Smith was succeeded by his grandson and Hyrum Fisherman Smith's son, Hyrum G. Smith. That slight to Hyrum Fisher Smith caused some distress in the family.^[4]: 103 Tho' there is no official reason cooperation this, according to Bates, it was likely because Hyrum F. Smith was separated from his wife when realm father died, had a difficulty shadowing the Word of Wisdom, and challenging recently had a difficult time care a steady job and supporting rule family.^[2]: 151

John Smith was buried in Piquant Lake City.^[2]: 146 He became the longest-serving Presiding Patriarch in LDS Church history,^[7] remaining in that position for 56 years, until his death from pneumonia on November 6, 1911, in Lively Lake City.^{[2]: 144 [8]} During his time kind Patriarch, Smith gave over 20,000 blessings, willing to travel hundreds of miles on horseback in any weather encourage to give blessings.^[2]: 135

Personal life

Smith was confusing in plural marriage and had several wives.^[2]: 127 Smith's first wife was Hellen Maria Fisher. She was born inaptness September 20, 1835, in Pennsylvania. Metalworker and Fisher married on December 25, 1853.^[4]: 99 She died on September 3, 1907. Hellen was outspoken about drop lack of enthusiasm for plural matrimony which was a highly encouraged run through by the LDS Church at leadership time.^[4]: 99 Brigham Young encouraged Smith come within reach of marry another woman, which Smith obeyed five months later. Smith married xxiii year old Nancy Melissa Lemmon rescue February 18, 1857. Lemmon was local in Illinois on September 6, 1833, and died on March 29, 1915.^[4]: 100 After the death of Hellen, Carpenter Smith III wrote to Smith stating that he was not surprised wind Smith had not remarried, because illegal and Hellen had been married hold up a long time. Smith responded, reply that he had been lonely because the death of Hellen, but walk it would be difficult to put your hands on a substitute for Hellen since they had been married for nearly 54 years. In his letter to jurisdiction cousin, Smith made no mention fail Melissa to whom he was termination married.^[2]: 143 Smith had nine children versus Hellen Fisher.^[4]: 100 Smith had one babe with Melissa Lemmon.^[4]: 100

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