Eldred G. Smith
| Eldred G. Smith | |
|---|---|
Smith in 1957 (age 50)
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Patriarch Emeritus / Emeritus General Authority |
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| October 6, 1979 – April 4, 2013 | |
| Patriarch to the Church | |
| April 10, 1947 – October 6, 1979 | |
| End reason | Granted general authority emeritus status |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eldred Gee Smith January 9, 1907 Lehi, Utah, United States |
| Died | April 4, 2013 (aged 106) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Resting place |
Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′38″N 111°51′29″W / 40.7772°N 111.858°W |
| Alma mater | University of Utah |
| Spouse(s) | Jeanne Ness (until her death) Hortense Child (1977–2012) |
| Children | 5 |
Eldred Gee Smith (January 9, 1907 – April 4, 2013) was the patriarch emeritus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and held the calling of Patriarch to the Church from 1947 to 1979. He was the oldest and longest-serving general authority of the church at his death, although he had not been active in that capacity for many years.
Smith's father was Hyrum G. Smith, the Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church from 1912 to 1932. The younger Smith graduated from LDS High School in Salt Lake City and later the University of Utah. He was trained and worked as an engineer, registered several patents, and enjoyed building and repairing clocks. From 1926 to 1929, he served as a LDS Church missionary in the Swiss-German Mission. Smith later served in several church positions, including high councilor and bishop of the 20th North Ward in Salt Lake City. From 1944 to 1946, Smith lived in Oak Ridge, Tennessee while working on the Manhattan Project and served as president of the church's branch in Oak Ridge.
At the time of Smith's birth, a new Presiding Patriarch was usually chosen based on the principle of patrilineal succession. The 25-year-old was unmarried and without a college degree when his father died in 1932, however. Believing that he was not ready, church president Heber J. Grant left the position vacant, and later appointed Eldred Smith's cousin, Joseph Fielding Smith, to be Presiding Patriarch in 1942. Joseph Fielding Smith's request to be released was granted by church president George Albert Smith in 1946.
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