Just thought I'd observe that today (9 January 2009) marks the 102nd birthday of Eldred G. Smith, presiding patriarch emeritus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A Salt Lake Tribune article shortly before his 100th birthday (Peggy Fletcher Stack, "Century Mark: Church leader with historic position nears 100th birthday," Salt Lake Tribune, 2006), indicated that he was still active, regularly going to his office.
In less than four months, he will have outlived Elder Joseph Anderson (1889-1992), the only other General Authority to have become a centenarian. One auxiliary leader, Ruth May Fox, president of the organization now known as the Young Women from 1929-1937, lived to be 104 (1853-1958).
He was called to his position on April 10, 1947, nearly 62 years ago.
Other well-known individuals who have lived to be over 100 (taken from a larger list at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_centenarians) include:
Rose Kennedy, 104 (1890-1995)
Grandma Moses, 101 (1860-1961)
Irving Berlin, 101 (1888-1989)
The Queen Mother, 101 (1900-2002)
George Burns, 100 (1896-1996)
Bob Hope, 100 (1903-2003)
Alf Landon, 100 (1887-1987)
Strom Thurmond, 100 (1902-2003)
Born 1907 and still living
- Born 1907 Lehi, Utah
- Baptized as a child; Aaronic Priesthood as a youth; Melchizedek Priesthood as a young man
- Served Mission to Switzerland and Germany 1926-1926
- Married Jeanne Ness; five children
- Ordained High Priest 1938
- Named Patriarch to the Church 1947
- Named General Authority Emeritus 1979
Eldred Gee Smith is the son of Hyrum Gibbs Smith and Martha Electa Gee. He was born January 9, 1907 in Lehi, Utah the third great grandson of Joseph Smith, Senior, the first Patriarch to the Church in this dispensation. He served in the Swiss-German mission from 1926 to 1929, then in various local leadership positions prior to his call as a General Authority.
He married Jeanne Ness by whom he fathered five children. Following her death in 1977, he married Hortense Child.
He was ordained a High Priest May 23, 1938 by President J. Reuben Clark, Jr. before being set apart as Patriarch to the Church by President George Albert Smith in 1947.
Elder Smith was granted Emeritus status October 4, 1979 for reasons of health and age. The position of Patriarch to the Church was retired and no one has since been so named.
Elder Smith's most recent major public appearance of which Grampa Bill is aware was on April 6, 2000 when he accompanied President Gordon B. Hinckley to upstate New York for the dedication of the Palmyra New York Temple.
On the occasion of his 100th birthday, Elder Eldred G. Smith, patriarch emeritus, is remarkable not just for being only the second former General Authority in history to attain the century mark (Elder Joseph Anderson, an emeritus General Authority, died in 1992 at age 102), but because he is a living, breathing — and healthy — vestige of a chapter in Church history.
Elder Smith, who turned 100 on Jan. 9, is the last person to have held the position of Patriarch to the Church, one that originated in 1833 with the calling of Joseph Smith Sr., the father of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Eldred Smith is the eldest son of Hyrum Gibbs Smith, who served as Patriarch to the Church from 1912 until his death in 1932. As such, he is a great-great-grandson of Hyrum Smith.
And so it was that in 1947, when he had just recently returned home from Oak Ridge, Tenn., where he had been involved with the atomic energy project during World War II, he was called in to meet with Church President George Albert Smith. The man who had been serving as Patriarch to the Church, Joseph Fielding Smith (not to be confused with the Church president of the early 1970s) had been released due to ill health; Eldred Smith was being called to fill the position.
He immediately went to work.
Elder Smith also had the responsibility of a General Authority to travel to stake conferences with individual members of the Quorum of the Twelve.
At a Jan. 4, 2007 celebration in Salt Lake City, Elder Smith was honored by the Salt Lake Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, of which he is a member and former chapter president. President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, also an honorary member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, was the featured speaker and paid a birthday tribute to Elder Smith.
As Patriarch to the Church, Elder Smith was a frequent speaker at Church general conferences. Typical of his sermons is this excerpt from a talk he gave in April 1978:
"I have come to believe that the Lord is not so concerned about what we study or what profession we follow as long as it is an honest living. He is concerned about our immortality and eternal life — or exaltation.
"Everyone has inherent talents. From a study of your genealogy, find the talents you have inherited by the things you like to do, and do easily, that some of your ancestors have done. Then become an expert or specialist in some phase of that field. The Lord will bless your efforts in your studies and in your daily work."
At general conference on Oct. 6, 1979, President N. Eldon Tanner, first counselor in the First Presidency, read a statement announcing a significant change in Church administration:
"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 a Patriarch Emeritus."
At the recent reception held in his honor in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on the evening of his birthday, his key to longevity was displayed: "Keep breathing."
As a Hyrum Smith descendant, he has inherited several artifacts he displays at firesides and other occasions.
Elder Smith married Jeanne Audrey Ness in 1932 with whom he had five children. Following her death, he married Hortense Child in 1977, who was then serving as a counselor in the Young Women general presidency.
On the occasion of his birthday, Elder and Sister Smith were received at the Church Administration Building by President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust. The First Presidency wrote in a letter to him:
"We are sincerely grateful for your long life and dedicated service and devotion to the Lord's Church and to His children, who have greatly benefited from your sacred ministry. We acknowledge with deep appreciation your noble heritage and the honor that has been yours to pronounce patriarchal blessings on thousands of members of the Church. Likewise, it has been your privilege to be the instrument through whom the Lord has revealed the sacred lineage of the individuals, entitling them to all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
"Over the years, you have shared your knowledge, testimony and historical artifacts of the Joseph Smith Sr. family in many settings. These meetings have been faith-promoting to those who have heard you bear witness of the Restoration."
On a personal note, Grampa Bill recalls meeting Eldred G. Smith on the occasion of Grampa Bill's parents receiving their patriarchal blessings from the Patriarch to the Church, they living at that time in a mission district and not having access to a Stake Patriarch.
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.4, Appendix 1
“The Sustaining of Church Officers,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, p.18
2005 Church Almanac, p.69
Al: M, Thanks for this insight. I was wondering where you had been just yesterday. Very glad to hear form you.
Konnie and I are planning to be at the High school reunion, carbon High 1959 on Saturday the 18th. Might you be in the vicinity, we could visit.
Love you
al
Manufacturing Engineering
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Ph. (206) 544-3098
alan.r.pitts@boeing.com
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Myrna: I would love to see you. Both of you are very dear to me but, I won't be here. I will be on a church tour with my daughter AnnMarie and her family. I am so sorry. I am so very sad to miss you. Love, M
