There have been 16 Presidents to preside over the Church in this dispensation. They share many common traits that make them Prophets to which the Lord can entrust to serve as His spokesmen. However, each has been unique individually, varying from how they were raised to what their favorite hymn was to their favorite food. These men can serve as sources of inspiration and are righteous examples – but you might find that their life is not much different than yours!
Joseph Smith: December 23, 1805
Brigham Young: June 1, 1801
John Taylor: November1, 1808
Wilford Woodruff: March 1, 1807
Lorenzo Snow: April 3, 1814
Joseph F. Smith: November 22, 1856
Heber J. Grant: November 22, 1856
George Albert Smith: April 4, 1870
David O. McKay: September 8, 1873
Joseph Fielding Smith: July 19, 1876
Harold B. Lee: March 28, 1899
Spencer W. Kimball: March 28, 1895
Ezra Taft Benson: August 4, 1899
Howard W. Hunter: November 14, 1907
Gordon B. Hinckley: June 23, 1910
Thomas S. Monson: August 21, 1927
Joseph Smith: Sharon, Vermont
Brigham Young: Whitingham, Vermont
John Taylor: Milnthorpe, England
Wilford Woodruff: Farmington, Connecticut
Lorenzo Snow: Mantua, Ohio
Joseph F. Smith: Far West, Missouri
Heber J. Grant: Salt Lake City, Utah
George Albert Smith: Salt Lake City, Utah
David O. McKay: Huntsville, Utah
Joseph Fielding Smith: Salt Lake City, Utah
Harold B. Lee: Clifton, Idaho
Spencer W. Kimball: Salt Lake City, Utah
Ezra Taft Benson: Whitney, Idaho
Howard W. Hunter: Boise, Idaho
Gordon B. Hinckley: Salt Lake City, Utah
Thomas S. Monson: Salt Lake City, Utah
Joseph Smith: Harmony, Pennsylvania – May 15, 1829 – Age 23
Brigham Young: Mendon, New York – April 14, 1832 – Age 31
John Taylor: Ontario, Canada – May 9, 1836 – Age 27
Wilford Woodruff: Richard, New York – May 9, 1836 – Age 27
Lorenzo Snow: Kirtland, Ohio – June 19, 1836 – Age 22
Joseph F. Smith: Salt Lake City, Utah – May 21, 1852 – Age 13
Heber J. Grant: Salt Lake City, Utah – June 2, 1864 – Age 8
George Albert Smith: Salt Lake City, Utah – 1878 – Age 8
David O. McKay: Huntsville, Utah – 1881 – Age 8
Joseph Fielding Smith: Salt Lake City, Utah – 1884 – Age 8
Harold B. Lee: Clifton, Idaho – 1907 – Age 8
Spencer W. Kimball: Salt Lake City, Utah – 1903 – Age 8
Ezra Taft Benson: Whitney, Idaho – 1907 – Age 8
Howard W. Hunter: Boise, Idaho – 1919 – Age 12 (his father was not a member and didn’t allow him to get baptized until he was older)
Gordon B. Hinckley: Salt Lake City, Utah – 1918 – Age 8
Thomas S. Monson: Salt Lake City, Utah – 1935 – Age 8
Joseph Smith: 4th of eleven children
Brigham Young: 9th of eleven children
John Taylor: 2nd of ten children
Wilford Woodruff: 3rd of nine children
Lorenzo Snow: 5th of seven children
Joseph F. Smith: Oldest of two children
Heber J. Grant: Only child
George Albert Smith: 2nd of eleven children
David O. McKay: 3rd of ten children
Joseph Fielding Smith: 4th of thirteen children
Harold B. Lee: 2nd of six children
Spencer W. Kimball: 5th of eleven children
Ezra Taft Benson: Oldest of eleven children
Howard W. Hunter: Oldest of two children
Gordon B. Hinckley: Oldest of five children
Thomas S. Monson: 2nd of five children
Joseph Smith: Emma Hale (1827-1844 his death), 33 other wives
Brigham Young: Miriam Works (1824-1832 her death), Mary Ann Angell (1834-1887 his death), 53 other wives
John Taylor: Leonora Cannon (1833-1868 her death), Margaret Young (1858-1887 his death), 7 other wives
Wilford Woodruff: Phoebe Carter (1837-1885 her death), 8 other wives
Lorenzo Snow: Charlotte Merrill Squires (1844-1850 her death), Phoebe Amelia Woodruff (1859-1901 his death), 7 other wives
Joseph F. Smith: Legira A. Clark (1859-1868 divorced), Julina Lambson (1866-1918 his death), 4 other wives
Heber J. Grant*: Lucy Stringham (1877-1893 her death), Hulda Augusta Winters (1887-1952 his death), Emily Harris Wells (1887-1908 her death)
George Albert Smith: Lucy Emily Woodruff (1892-1951 his death)
David O. McKay: Emily Ray Riggs (1901-1970 his death)
Joseph Fielding Smith: Louie Emily Shurtliff (1898-1908 her death), Ethel Georgina Reynolds (1908-1937 her death), Jessie Ella Evans (1938-1971 her death)
Harold B. Lee: Fern Lucinda Tanner (1923-1962 her death), Freda Joan Jensen (1963-1973 his death)
Spencer W. Kimball: Camilla Eyring (1917-1985 his death)
Ezra Taft Benson: Flora Amusen (1926-1992 her death)
Howard W. Hunter: Clara Jeffs (1931-1983 her death), Inis Stanton (1990-1995 his death)
Gordon B. Hinckley: Majorie Pay (1937-2004 her death)
Thomas S. Monson: Francis Beverly Johnson (1947-2013 her death)
*last President to practice plural marriage
Joseph Smith: 21 years old – January 18, 1827
Brigham Young: 30 years old – October 8, 1924
John Taylor: 24 years old – January 28, 1833
Wilford Woodruff: 30 years old – April 13, 1837
Lorenzo Snow: 31 years old – January 27, 1845
Joseph F. Smith: 27 years old – May 5, 1866
Heber J. Grant: 20 years old – November 1, 1877
George Albert Smith: 22 years old – May 25, 1892
David O. McKay: 27 years old – January 2, 1901
Joseph Fielding Smith: 21 years old – April 26, 1898
Harold B. Lee: 24 years old – November 14, 1923
Spencer W. Kimball: 22 years old – November 16, 1917
Ezra Taft Benson: 27 years old – September 10, 1926
Howard W. Hunter: 23 years old – June 10, 1931
Gordon B. Hinckley: 26 years old – April 29, 1937
Thomas S. Monson: 21 years old – October 7, 1948
Joseph Smith: 11 (Five lived to maturity)
Brigham Young: 57
John Taylor: 35
Wilford Woodruff: 33 (Eleven did not survive past first year)
Lorenzo Snow: 42
Joseph F. Smith: 53 (Five adopted)
Heber J. Grant: 12
George Albert Smith: 3
David O. McKay: 7
Joseph Fielding Smith: 11
Harold B. Lee: 2
Spencer W. Kimball: 4
Ezra Taft Benson: 6
Howard W. Hunter: 3
Gordon B. Hinckley: 5
Thomas S. Monson: 3
Joseph Smith: 6 feet, 210 lbs.
Brigham Young: 5 feet 10 inches, 190 lbs.
John Taylor: 5 feet 11 inches, 180 lbs.
Wilford Woodruff: 5 feet 8 inches, 170 lbs.
Lorenzo Snow: 5 feet 6 inches, 170 lbs.
Joseph F. Smith: 5 feet 11 inches, 185 lbs.
Heber J. Grant: 6 feet, 180 lbs.
George Albert Smith: 6 feet, 160 lbs.
David O. McKay: 6 feet 1 inch, 200 lbs.
Joseph Fielding Smith: 5 feet 9 inches, 165 lbs.
Harold B. Lee: 5 feet 9 inches, 180 lbs.
Spencer W. Kimball: 5 feet 6 inches, 165 lbs.
Ezra Taft Benson: 6 feet 1 inch, 210 lbs.
Howard W. Hunter: 6 feet, 185 lbs.
Gordon B. Hinckley: 5 feet 10 inches, 175 lbs.
Thomas S. Monson: 6 feet 2 inches, 220 lbs.
Joseph Smith: Very little formal education
Brigham Young: Apprenticed carpenter
John Taylor: Good English education (Latin, Greek, Mathematics)
Wilford Woodruff: Attended school in youth
Lorenzo Snow: Private Schools, Oberlin College (Degree in Theology and Hebrew)
Joseph F. Smith: Ward schools
Heber J. Grant: Private schools
George Albert Smith: Brigham Young Academy, University of Utah
David O. McKay: LDS Church Academy (Weber St.), University of Utah
Joseph Fielding Smith: LDS Business College
Harold B. Lee: Oneida Stake Academy, Albion Stake Academy, University of Utah
Spencer W. Kimball: Public schools, University of Arizona
Ezra Taft Benson: BYU (B.A. in Animal Husbandry), Iowa State University (M.A. in Agriculture Economics), University of California
Howard W. Hunter: Southwestern Law School
Gordon B. Hinckley: University of Utah (B.A. in English)
Thomas S. Monson: University of Utah (B.S. in Business Management), BYU (M.A. in Business Administration)
Joseph Smith: Farmer, Mayor of Nauvoo, Banker, Merchant
Brigham Young: Skilled Craftsman, Carpenter, House Painter, Cabinet Maker, Governor of Utah
John Taylor: Farmer, Woodturner, Publisher, Writer, Previously a Successful Lay Methodist Preacher
Wilford Woodruff: Miller, Famer, Historian
Lorenzo Snow: School teacher, City Planner, Businessman, Served on the Utah Legislature for 29 years
Joseph F. Smith: Farmer, Public Servant, Hotel Operator
Heber J. Grant: Businessman (owned businesses in retail, insurance, bank, newspaper, theatre, and Utah Sugar Company)
George Albert Smith: Receiver of the US Land Office and Special disbursing Agent for Utah
David O. McKay: Teacher, Principal, Professor, Sponsored the founding of Church colleges, seminaries, and Institute of Religion
Joseph Fielding Smith: Wholesale grocery clerk, Church Historian for 64 years, Writer (authored 25 books and many articles)
Harold B. Lee: Teacher, Board of Directors of the Union Pacific Railroad
Spencer W. Kimball: Pulling corn and irrigating for farmers, cashier at Citizens Bank, Bookkepper, Insurance and Real Estate Broker
Ezra Taft Benson: Farmer, Agricultural Administrator, Government Service, Secretary of Agriculture in the Eisenhower Administration
Howard W. Hunter: Banker, Attorney (Corporate and Business Law)
Gordon B. Hinckley: Church Business Executive Radio, Publicity, Mission Literature Committee (wrote many manuals and missionary tracts)
Thomas S. Monson: Publisher and Printer, General Manager for Deseret News
Joseph Smith: A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief (No. 29)
Brigham Young: When First the Glorious Light of Truth (No longer in Hymn Book)
John Taylor: Go, Ye Messengers of Glory (No. 262)
Wilford Woodruff: God Moves in a Mysterious Way (No. 285)
Lorenzo Snow: Zion Stands with Hills Surrounded (No. 43)
Joseph F. Smith: Uphold the Right, Though Fierce the Fight (No longer in Hymn Book)
Heber J. Grant: Come, Come Ye Saints (No. 30)
George Albert Smith: Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words (No. 232)
David O. McKay: Oh Say, What is Truth? (No. 272)
Joseph Fielding Smith: Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire (No. 145)
Harold B. Lee: Praise to the Man (No. 27)
Spencer W. Kimball: I Need Thee Every Hour (No. 98)
Ezra Taft Benson: How Great Thou Art (No. 86)
Howard W. Hunter: Have I Done Any Good? (No. 223)
Gordon B. Hinckley: God of Our Fathers, Known of Old (No. 80)
Thomas S. Monson: Master, the Tempest Is Raging (No. 105)
Joseph Smith: Wrestling, Stick Pulling, Jumping at the Mark, Horseback Riding, Ice Skating
Brigham Young: Acting, Dancing, Attending Theatre, Singing Duets with his brother Joseph
John Taylor: Carpentry, Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Writing, Poetry, and Singing Hymns
Wilford Woodruff: Hunting, Fly Fishing, Dairy Farming, Cultivation, and Improving strains of vegetables, nuts, and fruits, Journal Keeping
Lorenzo Snow: Reading, Poetry, Attending Theatre, Art Events, Checkers, Music, and Singing
Joseph F. Smith: Long car rides, Golfing, Attending Plays and Concerts, Music, Checkers, and Riding Horses
Heber J. Grant: Sports (played baseball, volleyball, golf, and exercised each morning), Singing, Penmanship, Movies, Reading
George Albert Smith: Outdoor Activities (Swimming, Hunting, Fishing, and Camping), Horses, Music (Harmonica, Banjo, and Guitar), Collecting Art, Scouting
David O. McKay: Music (Piano), Debate, Singing, Wrote and Memorized Poetry, Football
Joseph Fielding Smith: Swimming, Doing Research, Writing, Sports (Baseball, Tennis, Handball), Horseshoes
Harold B. Lee: Debate, Basketball, Band, Gardening, Finishing, Music (Piano, Organ, Trombone, and Mandolin)
Spencer W. Kimball: Singing (solos and quartnets), Journal Keeping, Music (Piano), Indian Culture, Sports (Handball and Basketball)
Ezra Taft Benson: Singing, Horseshoes, Riding Horses, Scouting, Patriotic Events
Howard W. Hunter: Scouting, Stamp and Coin Collecting, Music (Piano, Clarinet, Drums, Violin, Trumpet, and Saxophone), Journal Keeping
Gordon B. Hinckley: Reading (English and American Literature, Church History, Current Events), Gardening, Writing (wrote 39 half hour Church History segments radio scripts)
Thomas S. Monson: Checkers, Visiting Friends, Raising Pigeons, Scouting
Joseph Smith: Age 23 – May 1829
Brigham Young: Age 33 – February 14, 1835
John Taylor: Age 30 – December 19, 1838
Wilford Woodruff: Age 32 – April 26, 1839
Lorenzo Snow: Age 35 – February 12, 1849
Joseph F. Smith: Age 27 – July 1, 1866
Heber J. Grant: Age 25 – October 16, 1882
George Albert Smith: Age 33 – October 8, 1903
David O. McKay: Age 31 – April 9, 1906
Joseph Fielding Smith: Age 33 – April 7, 1910
Harold B. Lee: Age 42 – April 10, 1941
Spencer W. Kimball: Age 48 – October 7, 1943
Ezra Taft Benson: Age 44 – October 7, 1943
Howard W. Hunter: Age 52 – October 15, 1959
Gordon B. Hinckley: Age 51 – October 5, 1961
Thomas S. Monson: Age 36 – October 4, 1963
Joseph Smith: 12 years (1832-1844)
Brigham Young: 30 years (1847-1877)
John Taylor: 7 years (1880-1887)
Wilford Woodruff: 9 years (1889-1898)
Lorenzo Snow: 3 years (1898- 1901)
Joseph F. Smith: 18 years (1901- 1918)
Heber J. Grant: 27 years (1918- 1945)
George Albert Smith: 6 years (1945- 1951)
David O. McKay: 19 years (1951- 1970)
Joseph Fielding Smith: 2 years (1970- 1972)
Harold B. Lee: 1.5 years (1972- 1973)
Spencer W. Kimball: 12 years (1973- 1985)
Ezra Taft Benson: 9 years (1985- 1994)
Howard W. Hunter: 9 months (1994-1995)
Gordon B. Hinckley: 13 years (1995-2008)
Thomas S. Monson: 6 years (2008-present)
Joseph Smith: Age 38 – June 27, 1844
Brigham Young: Age 76 – August 29, 1877
John Taylor: Age 78 – July 25, 1887
Wilford Woodruff: Age 91 – September 2, 1898
Lorenzo Snow: Age 87 – October 19, 1901
Joseph F. Smith: Age 80 – November 19, 1918
Heber J. Grant: Age 88 – May 14, 1945
George Albert Smith: Age 81 – April 4, 1951
David O. McKay: Age 96 – January 18, 1970
Joseph Fielding Smith: Age 95 – July 2, 1972
Harold B. Lee: Age 74 – December 26, 1973
Spencer W. Kimball: Age 90 – November 5, 1985
Ezra Taft Benson: Age 94 – May 30, 1994
Howard W. Hunter: Age 87 – March 3, 1995
Gordon B. Hinckley: Age 97 – January 27, 2008
Thomas S. Monson:
Joseph Smith: Murdered – Gunshot wounds
Brigham Young: Ruptured Appendix
John Taylor: Kidney Failure
Wilford Woodruff: Bladder Infection
Lorenzo Snow: Pneumonia
Joseph F. Smith: Broncho, Pneumonia
Heber J. Grant: Heart Failure
George Albert Smith: Respiratory Infection, Complications from Lupus
David O. McKay: Congestive Heart Failure
Joseph Fielding Smith: Heart Attack
Harold B. Lee: Cardiac and Lung Failure
Spencer W. Kimball: Heart Failure
Ezra Taft Benson: Heart Failure
Howard W. Hunter: Prostate Cancer
Gordon B. Hinckley: Old Age
Thomas S. Monson:
