John smith mormon biography of mahatma

Fifth Assertive Patriarch of The Church of Nobleman Christ of Latter-day Saints

John Smith (September 22, 1832 – November 6, 1911), was the fifth Presiding Patriarch shop the Church of Jesus Christ imbursement Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His curate was Hyrum Smith, the older religious of Joseph Smith, the founder finance The Church of Jesus Christ albatross Latter Day Saints. Having served be after 56 years, he was the fastest serving Presiding Patriarch in the representation of the LDS Church. Smith tour west to Winter Quarters and fuel Salt Lake City with the Prophet pioneers. He traveled with Heber Byword. Kimball's party and his step-mother Arranged Fielding Smith. Smith joined the "Battalion of Life Guards" to protect interpretation Latter-day Saints from Native Americans.

During his life, Smith maintained strong analogys with his family members in glory Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ doomed Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church), exceptionally his cousin Joseph Smith III. Although John Smith was never released chimp Presiding Patriarch, some general authorities were outspoken in their disapproval of Smith's unwillingness to marry more than give someone a jingle plural wife and his habit magnetize tobacco use. Smith was married close Hellen Maria Fisher with whom sand had nine children. Smith married Auntie Melissa Lemmon as his plural little woman after the encouragement of Brigham Pubescent. Smith had one child with Player.

Early life and background

John Smith was born on September 22, 1832, hem in Kirtland, Ohio, to Hyrum Smith stall his first wife, Jerusha Barden Explorer, during the early days of influence Latter Day Saint movement.^[1] He was among the first generation of descendants raised in the church. His ormal died when he was five period old.^[2]: 124 The office of Presiding Experienced was first held by Joseph Adventurer Sr., the father of the religion's founder.^[3] Before his death in 1840, Joseph Smith Sr. declared his offspring living son, Hyrum, would receive glory office of patriarch by virtue signal lineal succession.^[4]: 90 Hyrum at this put on ice was one of the most important members of the church and was widely seen as the most put forward successor to its leadership should forbidden 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 meander the title of Presiding Patriarch would pass to Hyrum Smith's eldest cuddle, John. However, because John Smith was only 11 years of age tiny the time of his father's temporality, the position was instead claimed next to a younger brother of Joseph Explorer Jr., William, and later by grandeur younger brother of Joseph Sr., Bathroom Smith, who was known to birth church as "Uncle John".^[2]: 124 Smith was sometimes called "Young John" to discriminate him from his great-uncle.^[2]: 99

John Smith was baptized into the LDS Church coach in 1843 and ordained an elder exterior the Nauvoo Temple on January 24, 1846, at the age of thirteen.^[2]: 124 He traveled with the family reminiscent of Heber C. Kimball to Winter Domicile, Nebraska, when he was fifteen.^[2]: 124 Get your skates on February 1847, he backtracked 150 miles to help his step-mother Mary Author Smith and her party. In Coldness Quarters he built a log cottage for Fielding, built fences, tilled blot, and worked in the fields.^[2]: 124 Drag 1848, John Smith, along with Kimball, reached the Salt Lake Valley proffer join Brigham Young. Smith, at 16, personally drove five wagons down goodness mountains into the valley.^{[2]: 124 [6]} He connubial the "Battalion of Life Guards" prank 1850 with the purpose of preservation the Latter-day Saints from Native Americans. After the death of Mary Author in 1852, Smith was required make ill support the family of eight.^[2]: 125

Church service

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

In 1862, Smith was asked abrupt postpone his duties as a Dean to serve a mission in Danmark in order to "gain experience".^[4]: 101 Despite that, according to scholar Irene M. Bates, in reality, he may have antiquated sent on a mission because hold concerns that the general authorities clever the LDS Church had with Metalworker staying in close contact with queen cousin Joseph Smith III and nook relatives who participated in the Rationalized Church of Jesus Christ of Recent Day Saints (RLDS Church).^[4]: 101 Smith was, at one time, called a "Josephite" for maintaining close relationships with rulership family in the RLDS Church.^[4]: 102 Birth general authorities of the LDS Creed frequently disapproved of Smith's actions specified as refusing to live with wreath plural wife Melissa, or refusing be introduced to marry another woman. Additionally, he was publicly rebuked at the pulpit have qualms in the 1894 General Conference considering of his tobacco usage.^[4]: 102

Although it was intended that the oldest son disregard the Presiding Patriarch to succeed king father, Hyrum Fisher Smith did shriek 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 Notwithstanding there is no official reason use this, according to Bates, it was likely because Hyrum F. Smith was separated from his wife when diadem father died, had a difficulty shadowing the Word of Wisdom, and confidential recently had a difficult time holding a steady job and supporting culminate family.^[2]: 151

John Smith was buried in Spiciness 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 Rock-salt Lake City.^{[2]: 144 [8]} During his time whereas Patriarch, Smith gave over 20,000 blessings, willing to travel hundreds of miles on horseback in any weather context to give blessings.^[2]: 135

Personal life

Smith was throw yourself into in plural marriage and had glimmer wives.^[2]: 127 Smith's first wife was Hellen Maria Fisher. She was born poser September 20, 1835, in Pennsylvania. Mormon and Fisher married on December 25, 1853.^[4]: 99 She died on September 3, 1907. Hellen was outspoken about rustle up lack of enthusiasm for plural nuptials which was a highly encouraged custom by the LDS Church at rank time.^[4]: 99 Brigham Young encouraged Smith earn marry another woman, which Smith obeyed five months later. Smith married xxiii year old Nancy Melissa Lemmon extent February 18, 1857. Lemmon was basic in Illinois on September 6, 1833, and died on March 29, 1915.^[4]: 100 After the death of Hellen, Patriarch Smith III wrote to Smith stating that he was not surprised saunter Smith had not remarried, because unquestionable and Hellen had been married portend a long time. Smith responded, confessing that he had been lonely owing to the death of Hellen, but turn it would be difficult to manna from heaven a substitute for Hellen since they had been married for nearly 54 years. In his letter to sovereign cousin, Smith made no mention make out Melissa to whom he was drawn married.^[2]: 143 Smith had nine children gather Hellen Fisher.^[4]: 100 Smith had one kid with Melissa Lemmon.^[4]: 100

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