Presiding Patriarchs

The calling of the Presiding Patriarch was discontinued in 1979 when Eldred G. Smith was granted Emeritus status.  Formerly, the call of Presiding Patriarch was one of the highest and most important offices within the priesthood.  Like Biblical patriarchs from Adam to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, this priesthood office would be of lineal succession from father to son.  When Hyrum Smith became the Presiding Patriarch, following the death of Joseph Smith, Sr., he was given the “keys of the patriarchal priesthood over the Kingdom of God on earth, even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”  Because Hyrum Smith was the eldest son of Joseph Smith Sr., it was expected that the title of Presiding Patriarch would be passed down through Hyrum’s lineage, eldest son to eldest son and so forth.  Unfortunately, circumstances would not allow the line to continue.  Eventually, the Church would grow so large that the position of a Presiding Patriarch would no longer be needed.

Joseph Smith, Sr. (served 1833- 1840)

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Hyrum Smith (1840- 1844)

– eldest son of Joseph Smith, Sr.

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William Smith (1845)

– Eighth child of Joseph Smith, Sr.

– served 6 months before a vote of his release by the Church and was later excommunicated by grounds of apostasy

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John Smith (1849- 1854)

– “Uncle John”, younger brother of Joseph Smith, Sr.

– held office because John Smith, Hyrum’s son, was only 11 years old at the time of his father’s death

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John Smith (1855- 1911)

– eldest son of Hyrum Smith

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Hyrum G. Smith (1912- 1932)

– son of Hyrum F. Smith (not worthy of position), grandson of John Smith, great-grandson of Hyrum Smith

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Nicholas G. Smith (1932- 1934)

– de facto Acting Presiding Patriarch

– Hyrum G. Smith’s son, Eldred G. Smith, was not yet ready to take on such a position

– Son of Apostle John Henry Smith, grandson of Apostle George A. Smith, great-grandson of former Presiding Patriarch “Uncle John”

– Brother of Apostle and future Church President George Albert Smith

– Never officially called, set apart, or sustained as the Acting Presiding Patriarch, but carried out the functions of the office

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Frank B. Woodbury (1934- 1937)

– de facto Acting Presiding Patriarch

– Never officially called, set apart, or sustained as the Acting Presiding Patriarch, but carried out the functions of the office

– Not related to the Smith family

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George F. Richards (1937- 1942)

– Acting Presiding Patriarch

– Member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

– Unlike Nicholas G. Smith and Frank B. Woodbury, George F. Richards was officially called, set apart, and sustained

– Not related to the Smith family

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Joseph Fielding Smith (1942- 1946)

– Great-grandson of Hyrum Smith, though not a descendant of Hyrum G. Smith

– Released from position in 1946 on grounds of unworthiness

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Eldred G. Smith (1947- 1979)

– Son of Hyrum G. Smith, great-grandson of John Smith, and great-great-grandson of Hyrum Smith

– When Hyrum G. Smith died, Eldred G. Smith was 25 years old, unmarried, and without a college degree.  Because the Presiding Patriarch was usually chosen based on the principle of lineal succession, it was Eldred G. Smith’s privilege to hold such a position – however, he was not ready and so the position was temporally filled

– By 1947, Eldred was married, started a family, and worked several professions.  During his tenure as Presiding Patriarch, Smith’s duty was to travel to areas of the world where there were no patriarchs in order to bestow patriarchal blessings upon worthy members.  For example, he gave 139 blessings in 16 days in Australia in 1966.  He also regularly spoke in General Conference.

– In 1979, Smith was released from active duties and designated Patriarch Emeritus.  The reason for the change was noted in General Conference: “Because of the large increase in the number of stake patriarchs and the availability of patriarchal service throughout the world, we now designate Elder Eldred G. Smith as Patriarch Emeritus, which means that he is honorably relieved of all duties and responsibilities pertaining to the office of Patriarch to the Church.”  In 2013, Elder Smith died at the age of 106.