John Smith

Who was John Smith?

John Smith, was the fifth Presiding Patriarch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His father was Hyrum Smith, the older brother of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism.

John was born in Kirtland, Ohio to Hyrum Smith and his first wife, Jerusha Barden Smith, during the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement. He was among the first generation of children raised in the church. The office of Presiding Patriarch was initially created to honor Joseph Smith, Sr., the father of the religion's founder. Before his death in 1840, Joseph Smith, Sr. declared that the position should pass by Lineal Succession to his eldest son, Hyrum. Hyrum Smith at this time was one of the most influential members of the church and was widely seen as the most likely successor to its leadership should he outlive his brother. However, in 1844, both Hyrum and Joseph Smith were assassinated by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.

This event left the church leaderless. By consensus, it was expected that the title of Presiding Patriarch would pass to Hyrum Smith's eldest son, John. However, because John Smith was only 11 years of age at the time of his father's death, the position was instead claimed by a younger brother of Joseph Smith, Jr., William Smith, and later by the younger brother of Joseph, Sr., John Smith, who was known to the church as "Uncle John". Meanwhile, Hyrum's son John Smith traveled with the family of Heber C. Kimball to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. In 1848, John Smith, along with Kimball, reached Salt Lake City, Utah to join Brigham Young, who had assumed leadership of the largest Latter Day Saint faction, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.