Category Archives: Resources

Hyrum Smith’s Desk

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Dear Family,

The attached photo purports to be a desk belonging to Hyrum Smith. When checking with the LDS Archives, however, they tell me that the provenance on this desk is not strong and that their catalog on this desk reads “Possibly has to do with Hyrum Smith.” I am wondering if we can ask the family if there is anyone who might have information on this desk and its provenance? If so would would they contact the Hyrum Smith Family Association with that information? Thank you for your consideration.

Vivian Adams
Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Association
Educational Outreach

Hyrum Smith Desk

Jerusha Barden Smith Obituary

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(Kirtland, Ohio ; Far West, Mo.) (1837)
Subject: Church periodicals
Publisher: Kirtland, Ohio Far West, Mo. Thomas B. Marsh

Obituary published in the Elders Journal, October 1837 edition, Volume 1, No. 1, Kirtland Ohio, p 16.

OBITUARY
Died, in this place on the 13th Inst, after an illness of about ten days, Mrs. Jerusha T. Smith, the wife of Hyrum Smith. She has left five small children together with numerous relatives to mourn her loss, a loss which is severely felt, by all.
Our Sister was beloved and highly esteemed by every lover of truth and virtue; but she has been taken from us in an untimely, or rather an unexpected hour, as her companion was from home perhaps near one thousand miles at the time of her decease, and was deprived of the privilege of witnessing her exit from a world of sorrow and perplexity, to the paradise of God.
But, Alas! she is gone home! yes, (using her own language to one of her tender offsprings when on her dying bed,) ”Tell your father when he comes that the Lord has taken your mother home, and left you for him to take care of”
She had her senses until the last, and fell asleep, leaving this assurance behind as a reward for leaving all that was dear for the sake of a risen Savior, and enduring in faith on his name to the end, that she should have a part in the first resurrection, and come forth and inherit the mansion that is prepared for the faithful, and receive the welcome plaudit “Come ye blest of my Father inherit that kingdom prepared for you from before the foundation of the world.”

John Smith Bust

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Anyone who is interested in a bust of John Smith, son of Hyrum, please let me know. Dee Jay Bowden is working it and will be finished shortly . They are $40.00. There is no profit involved. I’m really excited about seeing the rough draft any day soon. As you know John was a church Patriarch at one time. My gmail is claudiasanborn7@gmail.com.

Sncerely , Claudia Sanborn

Eldred Gee Smith

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http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=eldred-smith&pid=164056519#fbLoggedOut

Eldred Gee Smith
1907-2013

Eldred Gee Smith, Patriarch Emeritus to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away peacefully in his home on Thursday, April 4 , 2013. At 106, he was the oldest man in Utah.

Alert to the end, he spent the day before his death attending the temple with other General Authorities and handling personal business.

Patriarch Smith was born January 9, 1907, in Lehi, Utah, to Hyrum Gibbs Smith and Martha Electa Gee Smith, the second of eight children. His childhood years were spent in Lehi; in Los Angeles, California, while his father attended USC dental school; and in Salt Lake City, following his father’s call as Patriarch to the Church.

After his father’s untimely death in 1932, Eldred worked at various jobs to support his mother and siblings during the Great Depression, including painting the ceiling of the Tabernacle, delivering ice on his back, and wallpapering for Bennett Paint & Glass.

Eldred married Jeanne Audrey Ness on August 17, 1932 and they had five children. She died in 1977. He married Hortense Hogan Child in May 1978.

During World War II, Eldred worked on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A lifelong engineer, Eldred registered several patents and enjoyed perpetual tinkering, especially on the building and rehabilitating of clocks. His culminating hands-on project was the design and building, with his wife Jeanne, of their home on St. Mary’s Drive.

Prior to his call as a General Authority, Eldred served as a branch president, bishop, and high councilor. Called as Patriarch to the Church in 1947 by President George Albert Smith, he served with nine prophets. He received emeritus status in 1979, but continued to give patriarchal blessings in his office in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building until recently. He gave over 18,000 patriarchal blessings throughout the world during his service as Patriarch.

Patriarch Smith was the oldest living descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr., and of Hyrum Smith, brother to the Prophet Joseph. As the oldest son in a line of oldest sons from Hyrum, he inherited Smith family artifacts dating back to the beginning of LDS Church history. For almost fifty years, he gave fireside talks, many with his second wife, Hortense, using these artifacts to tell stories of the Smith family and the LDS Church beginnings. It is estimated that over 500,000 people heard his presentations over the years.

Eldred has donated many family papers and relics to the LDS Church and BYU library.

Eldred was preceded in death by almost everybody. He stopped reading obituaries ten years ago, as contemporaries’ names were not showing up any more. Among those welcoming him home were his parents; his sisters, Cleone, Helen, Miriam, Verona, and Donna; his brothers, Hyrum and Barden; his first wife, Jeanne; his second wife, Hortense; his daughter Audrey Gay Vance; and two grandsons. Eldred is survived by his daughter Miriam (Ted) Skeen, sons Eldred Gary (Elizabeth) and Gordon Raynor, daughter Sylvia Dawn (Craig) Isom, 22 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren, and 22 great-great grandchildren. Eldred was also a beloved step-father and grandfather to Hortense’s two children, Carol Jane Burdette and T.R. Child, and her eleven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 10, at 11:00 am at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 S. Wasatch Drive. Friends and family may call Tuesday evening, 6-8 pm, at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 S., and at the stake center Wednesday, 9:30-10:40 am. Interment at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Published in Deseret News from April 6 to April 8, 2013

Church patriarch Eldred Smith dies at 106

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http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/63388/Patriarch-Emeritus-Elder-Eldred-G-Smith-dies-at-106.html

Published: Friday, April 5, 2013

Elder Eldred G. Smith, who served as Patriarch to the Church from 1947 to 1979, died Thursday evening, April 4, at his home. He was 106.

Believed to be the oldest man in Utah, Elder Smith lived longer than any former General Authority.

“The Church lost a valued friend and respected leader with the passing of Patriarch Eldred G. Smith,” said the Church in a statement issued Friday morning. “He was a man who lived a Christ-centered life as he faithfully served as Patriarch to the Church. We pray for the Lord’s blessing to be upon his family at this tender time.”

President Thomas S. Monson visited Elder Smith on his birthday on Jan. 9. “Eldred Smith is my good friend,” said President Monson. “We have traveled many miles together. I love and respect this man.”

Elder Smith is the last person to have held the position of Patriarch to the Church. The office originated in 1833 with the calling of Joseph Smith Sr., father of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Elder Eldred Smith is the great-great-grandson of the Prophet’s brother Hyrum. Elder Smith’s father, Hyrum Gibbs Smith, was Patriarch to the Church from 1912 until his death in1932. Eldred G. Smith was called as Patriarch to the Church on April 10, 1947, by President George Albert Smith.

As a General Authority, Elder Smith traveled to stake conferences with individual members of the Quorum of the Twelve and was a frequent speaker at general conferences.

As a descendant of Hyrum Smith, Elder Smith inherited several artifacts that he displayed on various occasions.

During his birthday visit in January, President Monson recounted that in 1966 he asked Church President David O. McKay for permission to invite the Church Patriarch to travel with him on an assignment to the South Pacific, the area that then-Elder Monson supervised, in order for Elder Smith to provide patriarchal blessings to members in areas where there was no patriarch. President Monson said as he continued on with his travels, Elder Smith remained behind and gave many patriarchal blessings to members in Australia and other areas of the South Pacific. Elder Smith also traveled to other areas, including Europe, to give patriarchal blessings.

He married Jeanne Audrey Ness in 1932; they had five children. Following her death in June 1977, he married Hortense Child; she was then serving as a counselor in the Young Women general presidency. She died in May 2012.