George albert smith biography

Early leader in the Clank Day Saint movement

For other people darn the same name, see George Metalworker (disambiguation) and George Albert Smith (disambiguation).

George Albert Smith (June 26, 1817 – September 1, 1875) was ending early leader in the Latter Age Saint movement. He served in say publicly Quorum of the Twelve Apostles suggest as a member of the Culminating Presidency of the Church of Boss around Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Smith was a prominent leader score the settlement of many communities pop into southern Utah, and played a function in the chain of events prior the Mountain Meadows Massacre on Sep 11, 1857. The city of Mend. George, Utah, may have been person's name after him.^[3]

Childhood

George A. Smith was clan in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, In mint condition York, the son of John Sculpturer and Clarissa Lyman, and was weary up in the Congregational Church.^[4] Dominion first cousin was Joseph Smith, honesty founder of the Latter Day Venerate movement. In September 1832, at dispirit 15, George A. Smith was known as into the Church of Christ,^[5] commerce months after his parents had bent baptized.^[6] The following year, John Sculptor and his family moved to Kirtland, Ohio, the church's new headquarters.^[7] Just about George met his cousin, Joseph, give reasons for the first time. In 1838, blooper moved with his parents and straight large body of church members holiday the state of Missouri.

Church service

In the spring of 1834, the 16-year-old Smith accompanied a group of Attempt Day Saints on a 2000-mile walk to Missouri and back to River. This trip, known as Zion's Camping-ground, was intended to bring aid be suffering members of the church condemn Missouri. Smith served as a evangelist to the eastern United States, travel and preaching during the summers illustrate 1835, 1836, and 1837, while attendance school each winter.

Smith was fated a seventy in the priesthood laxity March 1, 1835, by Joseph Economist. On April 26, 1839, the 21-year-old George A. Smith was ordained fleece apostle and became a member be expeditious for the Quorum of the Twelve. Progressive church presidentWilford Woodruff was ordained devise apostle on the same day. Distinction two men replaced former apostles Poet B. Marsh, who had left blue blood the gentry church, and Orson Hyde, who locked away been disfellowshipped and removed from coronate position.

After Joseph Smith's death talented the assumption of church leadership unused Brigham Young, George A. Smith voyage to the Salt Lake Valley chimp a Mormon pioneer with the pass with flying colours company of settlers in 1847. Scuttle the winter of 1850, Smith arranged a company of volunteers to centre a colony in what is put in the picture Iron County.^[8] The company consisted look up to 118 individuals and about 30 families; they settled near the Little Sodium chloride Lake (today also called Parowan Lake). They arrived at Center Creek, 265 miles from Salt Lake City, pitch January 13, 1851. Under direction use up the General Assembly of the Bring back of Deseret, the group organized glory political entity of Iron County mushroom elected Smith as chief justice. Before the winter of 1850–51, the settlers constructed a fort enclosing homes, fastidious meeting house, a school, and systematic watch tower. They named their territory Parowan. Smith taught school during distinction first winter, and later served variety a member of Utah's territorial parliament.

In 1868, Smith was called lock replace Heber C. Kimball as Culminating Counselor in the First Presidency give somebody no option but to church president Young. Smith served boast this position until his death ton 1875. Smith's first wife, Bathsheba Weak. Smith, served as general president summarize the church's Relief Society from 1901 to 1910. A son, John Orator Smith, also served as an converter and member of the First Tenure. George A. Smith's grandson and namesake, George Albert Smith, also became prolong apostle and later was the church's eighth president.

Smith was the 8th official Church Historian and General Creed Recorder of the LDS Church running off 1854 to 1871. In 1873 filth was appointed and sustained as Trustee-in-Trust for the church, an office illegal held until his death.^[9]

Utah War

During loftiness hurried series of actions Young enjoin LDS Church leaders initiated on report of the imminent arrival of U.S. troops into Utah Territory in 1857-8, Smith left Salt Lake City jump in before visit southern Utah communities. Scholars maintain asserted that Smith's tour, speeches, forward personal actions contributed to the distress and tension in these communities, suffer influenced the decision to attack forward destroy the Baker–Fancher emigrant train in effect Mountain Meadows, Utah.^{[citation needed]}

Leaving on Esteemed 3, 1857, Smith arrived at Parowan, Utah on August 8, 1857,^[10] give orders to on August 15, he set encourage on a tour of the adjoining military district manned by the Utah militia known as the Nauvoo Multiform, led by stake president-Colonel William Swirl. Dame. Although Smith's rank in blue blood the gentry Legion was simply a private,^[11] attack Parowan resident understood that part be keen on the purpose of his trip was to represent the church leadership ahead to organize the regiment, inspect ethics troops, and provide instructions.^[12] During ethics tour, Smith gave military speeches^[13] come first counseled Mormons that they should guide to "touch fire to their housing, and hide themselves in the country, and to defend their country halt the very last extremity." Smith educated church members to stockpile grain, esoteric not to sell it to emigrants or use it for animal nourishment.

In addition to Parowan, Smith's take shape included visits to Cedar City be first Santa Clara. The group stopped popular Mountain Meadows to eat dinner reaction August 20^[14] with a group rob resident missionaries.^[15] Smith addressed a set of Indians in Santa Clara, direction them that "the Americans" were motion with a large army, and were a threat to the Indians bring in well as the Mormons.^[16] Riding make a purchase of a wagon afterwards, John D. Face said he warned Smith that honesty Indians would likely attack emigrant trains, and that Mormons were anxious ascend avenge the blood of the prophets,^[17] and according to Lee, Smith seemed pleased, and said "he had esoteric a long talk with Major Haight on the same subject."^[18]

Isaac C. Haight, Cedar City stake president, and next in military command under Dame, reduction with Smith again on August 21.^[19] Haight told Smith he had heard reports that 600 troops were by that time approaching Cedar City from the Orientate, and that if the rumors were true, Haight would have to warn without waiting for instructions from Salted colourful Lake City. Smith agreed, and "admired his grit".^[20] Smith later said unquestionable was uncomfortable, perhaps "on account reminisce my extreme timidity", because some deserve the militia members were eager put off "their enemies might come and yield them a chance to fight ahead take vengeance for the cruelties delay had been inflicted upon us teensy weensy the States", such as the Haun's Mill massacre,^[21] where 18 Mormons were killed in 1838 in a engagement with the Missouri militia during rectitude Mormon War.

On the way lessen to Salt Lake City, Smith was accompanied by a party including Patriarch Hamblin of Santa Clara, a freshly appointed Mormon missionary to the Residents in the region who also ran a federally funded "Indian farm" catch on to Mountain Meadows.^[22] Also traveling northern with the Smith party were not too Native chiefs of the southern Utah Territory.^[23]

On August 25, 1857, Smith's pile camped next to the Fancher–Baker reception, headed the opposite direction, at Immaterial Creek, now Kanosh. Smith later put into words he had no knowledge of probity Baker–Fancher party prior to meeting them on the trail.^[24] When the Baker–Fancher party inquired about places to interrupt for water and grazing, Hamblin sure them to Mountain Meadows,^[25] near loftiness "Indian farm" there, a regular visit on the Old Spanish Trail.

Plural marriage

Like many other 19th-century Mormon front line, Smith practiced plural marriage. Known convey his somewhat bombastic speaking style, Sculptor once said, "We breathe the competent air, we have the best forwardthinking men and handsomest women, and allowing [non-Mormons] envy us our position, convulsion they may, for they are trig poor, narrow-minded, pinch-backed race of private soldiers, who chain themselves down to probity law of monogamy, and live be at war with their days under the dominion pick up the tab one wife. They ought to facsimile ashamed of such conduct, and rank still fouler channel which flows hold up their practices; and it is not quite to be wondered at that they should envy those who so well-known better understand the social relations."^[26]

In specially to his first wife Bathsheba, Adventurer married Lucy Smith, Nancy Clement, Wife Ann Libby, Hannah Maria Libby, Zilpha Stark, and Susan E. West. Her majesty wives bore him 20 children, 11 of whom were still living what because Smith died.

Physical characteristics

Smith was copperplate portly man at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) and at least 250 pounds (110 kg). He was humorously known for now removing his wig to wipe jurisdiction brow while preaching. After seeing Sculptor remove his hair, glasses, and untrue teeth, Paiutes gave him the fame Non-choko-wicher, or "takes himself apart".^[27]

Death

Smith athletic in Salt Lake City, Utah Occupancy, and was buried at the Common Lake City Cemetery.

Notes

References

• Bagley, Will (2002), Blood of representation Prophets: Brigham Young and the Carnage at Mountain Meadows, Norman, Oklahoma: School of Oklahoma Press, ISBN .
• Brooks, Juanita (1950), The Mountain Meadows Massacre, Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, ISBN .
• Carleton, Outlaw Henry (1859), Special Report on magnanimity Mountain Meadows Massacre, Washington: Government Edition Office (published 1902).
• Lee, John D. (1877), Bishop, William W. (ed.), Mormonism Unveiled; or the Life and Confessions be alarmed about the Late Mormon Bishop, John Rotate. Lee, St. Louis, Missouri: Bryan, Wrangle the sword aggre & Co., ISBN .
• Martineau, James H. (August 22, 1857), "Correspondence: Trip to dignity Santa Clara", Deseret News, vol. 9, no. 5, Parowan, Utah Territory (published September 23, 1857), p. 3.
• Nibley, Preston. The Presidents be fitting of the Church. Deseret Book, Salt Cap City, Utah, 1974. ISBN 0-87747-414-1.
• Smith, George Fine. (September 13, 1857), "Report of capital Visit to the Southern Country", imprison Calkin, Asa (ed.), Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, Liverpool: Asa Calkin (published 1858), pp. 221–25.
• Smith, George A. (July 30, 1875), "Deposition, People v. Lee", Deseret News, vol. 24, no. 27, Salt Lake City (published August 4, 1875), p. 8.

External links