Lesson Summary: January 5, 2014

Tori G. provided an overview of Joseph Fielding Smith's life from the new Teachings of the Prophets: Joseph Fielding Smith Manual to set the stage for our study of his words this year.

Joseph Fielding Smith was born in Salt Lake City on July 19, 1876.  His father is the Prophet Joseph F. Smith, his grandfather was Hyram Smith and his great-uncle was the Prophet Joseph Smith.

His mother served as the second counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency and was a prolific midwife.

He learned service in family duties.

 

He had a strong love of scripture reading and gospel study.

 “From my earliest recollection,” he later said, “from the time I first could read, I have received more pleasure and greater satisfaction out of the study of the scriptures, and reading of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the work that has been accomplished for the salvation of men, than from anything else in all the world.” - Joseph Fielding Smith

His father served as a righteous example.

 

He married Louie Emily Shurtliff in 1898 and was called on a mission to Great Britain in 1899.

'At the end of his first day of missionary work in England, he wrote in his journal: “This has been a very important day in my short life. I came from my home less than a month ago for the purpose of preaching the gospel of our Lord. … I have been out tracting today and delivered 25 tracts [pamphlets]. It is the first of this kind of work that I ever tried to do and it did not come to me very easy. … I bore my testimony to the world for the first time today, but will be able to do so better. With the help of the Lord I shall do his will as I was called to do.”

'Elder Joseph Fielding Smith was honorably released from his mission on June 20, 1901. In his two years of diligent service, “he did not make one convert, did not have opportunity to perform one baptism, although he did confirm one convert.” However, he and his companions had planted gospel seeds, helping many people find greater peace and understanding, and he had grown personally as a student and teacher of the gospel and as a priesthood leader.' (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, Life and Ministry)

After his mission, he was hired to work in the Church Historian's office.

 

His wife Louie died in 1908 leaving 2 daughters behind.  President Smith then married Ethel Georgina Reynolds, who was a clerk in the Church Historian's office and went on to have 4 more daughters and 5 sons before she passed away in 1937. 

He then married Jessie Ella Evens who was a talented singer in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  She died in 1971 and President Smith died a year later in 1972.