George A. Smith

George A. Smith

1817–1875 (58 years)

Hometown: Potsdam, New York

Biography

George A. Smith was an apostle from 1839 until his death in 1875 and served as First Counselor to Brigham Young. A cousin of Joseph Smith, he was called as an apostle at age 21—one of the youngest ever.

Smith practiced polygamy with seven wives. He was a major colonizer, helping establish settlements in southern Utah. The city of St. George is named after him.

He served as Church Historian and was heavily involved in the settlement of the “Dixie” region of Utah. His colonizing legacy shaped southern Utah permanently.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Brigham Young
Brigham Young

Wives (10)

George A. Smith was a polygamist with 10 wives. Note these are simultaneous marriages — married to multiple living spouses at the same time. 1 of these wives were a teenager (18 or less) at the time of marriage.

10 wives · Lifespan: 1817–1875

Bathsheba Wilson Bigler
1841–1875 (34 yrs)
Nancy Clement
1841–1847 (6 yrs)
Lucy Meserve
1844–1875 (31 yrs)
Zilpha Stark
1845–1875 (30 yrs)
Hannah Maria Libby
1845–1875 (30 yrs)
Sarah Ann Libby
1845–1851 (6 yrs)
Agnes Moulton Coolbrith
1846–1875 (29 yrs)
Mary Jane Smith
1852–1875 (23 yrs)
Susan Elizabeth West
1857–1875 (18 yrs)
Elizabeth Boardman Smith
1868–1875 (7 yrs)
1817 (born) 1832 1847 1862 1875 (died)
Wife

23 children from 7 wives · Lifespan: 1817–1875

Bathsheba Wilson Bigler
4 children
Nancy Clement
1 child
Lucy Meserve
3 children
Zilpha Stark
4 children
Hannah Maria Libby
5 children
Sarah Ann Libby
1 child
Susan Elizabeth West
5 children
1817 (born) 1832 1847 1862 1875 (died)
Wife Child born

10 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)
#NameBornDiedMarriedHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1
Bathsheba Wilson Bigler Bathsheba Wilson Bigler
May 3, 1822Sep 20, 1910 Jul 25, 1841 192454
2
Nancy Clement Nancy Clement
Oct 31, 1815Mar 26, 1847 Jul 25, 1841 252411
3
Lucy Meserve Lucy Meserve
Feb 9, 1817Oct 5, 1892 Nov 23, 1844 2727—3
4
Zilpha Stark Zilpha Stark
Jul 3, 1818Sep 19, 1878 Mar 8, 1845 262714
5
Hannah Maria Libby Hannah Maria Libby ⚠
Jun 29, 1828Sep 21, 1906 Nov 20, 1845 1728115
6
Sarah Ann Libby Sarah Ann Libby
May 7, 1818Jun 12, 1851 Nov 20, 1845 272811
7
Agnes Moulton Coolbrith Agnes Moulton Coolbrith
Jul 9, 1808Dec 26, 1876 Jan 28, 1846 372890
8
Mary Jane Smith
Apr 29, 1813Mar 1, 1878 Jan 31, 1852 383440
9
Susan Elizabeth West Susan Elizabeth West
Dec 4, 1833Oct 14, 1926 Oct 28, 1857 2340175
10
Elizabeth Boardman Smith Elizabeth Boardman Smith
Jan 27, 1817Sep 25, 1893 Apr 11, 1868 515010

Children (23)

With Bathsheba Wilson Bigler Bathsheba Wilson Bigler  (4 children)

  1. George Albert Smith Jr (b. Jan 1, 1842)
  2. Smith (b. Jan 1, 1844)
  3. Bathsheba Kate Smith (b. Jan 1, 1844)
  4. John Smith (b. Jan 1, 1847)

With Nancy Clement Nancy Clement  (1 child)

  1. Nancy Adelia Smith (b. Mar 20, 1846)

With Lucy Meserve Lucy Meserve  (3 children)

  1. Don Carlos Smith III (b. Jan 1, 1846)
  2. Sarah Malinda Smith (b. Jan 1, 1850)
  3. Joel Smith (b. Jan 1, 1850)

With Zilpha Stark Zilpha Stark  (4 children)

  1. Zilpha Adelade Smith (b. Jan 1, 1846)
  2. Ruth Oshij alias Smith (b. Jan 1, 1845)
  3. Joseph Smith (b. Jan 1, 1850)
  4. Mary Amelia Smith (b. Jan 1, 1852)

With Hannah Maria Libby Hannah Maria Libby  (5 children)

  1. Sr (b. Jan 1, 1849)
  2. Sarah Maria Smith (b. Jan 1, 1856)
  3. Eunice Albertine Smith (b. Jan 1, 1860)
  4. Jr (b. Jan 1, 1862)
  5. Grace Libby Smith (b. Jan 1, 1865)

With Sarah Ann Libby Sarah Ann Libby  (1 child)

  1. John Henry Smith John Henry Smith (b. Jan 1, 1848)

With Susan Elizabeth West Susan Elizabeth West  (5 children)

  1. Clarissa West Smith (b. Jan 1, 1859)
  2. Margaret Smith (b. Jan 1, 1862)
  3. Elizabeth Smith (b. Jan 1, 1866)
  4. Priscilla Smith (b. Jan 1, 1869)
  5. Emma Pearl Smith (b. Jan 1, 1871)

Images Related to George A. Smith

The statements emphasized that the Church practiced no marital law other than monogamy while implicitly leaving open the possibility that individuals, under direction of God’s living prophet, might do so. [Footnote: See, for example, “On Marriage,” Times and Seasons, Oct. 1, 1842, 939–40; and Wilford Woodruff journal, Nov. 25, 1843, Church History Library, Salt Lake City; Parley P. Pratt, “This Number Closes the First Volume of the ‘Prophet,’” The Prophet, May 24, 1845, 2. George A. Smith explained, “Any one who will read carefully the denials, as they are termed, of plurality of wives in connection with the circumstances will see clearly that they denounce adultery, fornication, brutal lust and the teaching of plurality of wives by those who were not commanded to do so” (George A. Smith letter to Joseph Smith III, Oct. 9, 1869, in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 9, 1869, Church History Library, Salt Lake City).] LDS Church Website, Gospel Topics Essays: Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo | wasmormon.org "The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency George Albert Smith, J Reuben Clark & David O McKay, August 17, 1949 | wasmormon.org "The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency George Albert Smith, J Reuben Clark & David O McKay, August 17, 1949 | wasmormon.org "After seeing the devastation of Europe this summer, I am appalled by the sight of it and the contemplation of what mankind can collectively do to himself, unless somehow we, collectively – the human family – can put love of each other above hatred and somehow come to a mutual respect based upon understanding, and recognize that others, although they may be different from us, are not by that fact alone inferior." - Dr Lowry Nelson to First Presidency of George Albert Smith, 1947 | wasmormon.org "We may not permit ourselves to be too much impressed by the reasonings of men however well-founded they may seem to be. We should like to say this to you in all kindness and in all sincerity that you are too fine a man to permit yourself to be led off from the principles of the Gospel by worldly learning. You have too much of a potentiality for doing good and we therefore prayerfully hope that you can reorient your thinking and bring it in line with the revealed word of God." - President George Albert Smith to Dr Lowry Nelson, 1947 | wasmormon.org "After seeing the devastation of Europe this summer, I am appalled by the sight of it and the contemplation of what mankind can collectively do to himself, unless somehow we, collectively – the human family – can put love of each other above hatred and somehow come to a mutual respect based upon understanding, and recognize that others, although they may be different from us, are not by that fact alone inferior." - Dr Lowry Nelson to First Presidency of George Albert Smith, 1947 | wasmormon.org "I am deeply troubled. Having decided through earnest study that one of the chief causes of war is the existence of ethnocentrism among the peoples of the world; that war is our major social evil which threatens to send all of us to destruction; and that we can ameliorate these feelings of ethnocentrism by promoting understanding of one people by others; I am now confronted with this doctrine of my own church which says in effect that white supremacy is part of God's plan for His children" - Dr Lowry Nelson to First Presidency of George Albert Smith, 1947 | wasmormon.org "So we are in the position, it seems to me, of accepting a doctrine regarding the Negro which was enunciated by the Hebrews during a very early stage in their development. Moreover, and this is the important matter to me, it does not square with what seems an acceptable standard of justice today; nor with the letter or spirit of the teachings of Jesus Christ. I cannot find any support for such a doctrine of inequality in His recorded sayings." - Dr Lowry Nelson to First Presidency of George Albert Smith, 1947 | wasmormon.org "Your ideas, appear to contemplate the intermarriage of the Negro and White races, a concept which has heretofore been most repugnant to most normal-minded people. We are not unmindful of the fact that there is a growing tendency toward the breaking down of race barriers in the matter of intermarriage between whites and blacks, but it does not have the sanction of the Church and is contrary to Church doctrine." - First Presidency of George Albert Smith to Dr Lowry Nelson, 1947 | wasmormon.org "From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by any of the Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel." - First Presidency of George Albert Smith to Dr Lowry Nelson, 1947 | wasmormon.org "The social side of the Restored Gospel is only an incident of it; it is not the end thereof. The basic element of your ideas and concepts seems to be that all God's children stand in equal positions before Him in all things. Your knowledge of the Gospel will indicate to you that this is contrary to the very fundamentals of God's dealings." - First Presidency of George Albert Smith to Dr Lowry Nelson, 1947 | wasmormon.org "There is no doubt in my mind that our Church could perform a great service in Cuba, particularly in the rural areas, but it would be far better that we not go in at all, than to go in and promote racial distinction. I wanted you to know my feelings on this question and trust you will understand the spirit in which I say these things. I want to see us promote love and harmony among peoples of the earth." - Sociologist Dr. Lowry Nelson to President George Albert Smith, 1947 | wasmormon.org I have the "impression that there is no irrevocable church doctrine on this subject. I am not unaware of statements and impressions which have been passed down, but I had never been brought face to face with the possibility that the doctrine was finally crystallized. I devoutly hope that such crystallization has not taken place. The many good friends of mixed blood and who know me to be a Mormon would be shocked indeed if I were to tell them my Church relegated them to an inferior status." - Sociologist Dr. Lowry Nelson to President George Albert Smith, 1947 | wasmormon.org "Permit me to quote the passages which seem to be brought most in question: “He (Lucifer) wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to ‘do their own thinking” & “When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan–it is God’s plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy….”" - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith | wasmormon.org "I do not know who is responsible for this statement, but I am sure it is doing inestimable harm to many who have no other reason to question the integrity of the Church leaders. Many people are suffering because of this. My reply to each of those who have spoken to me is “Please, do not become disturbed, for this cannot be the position of the true leaders.” And, from my knowledge of the early writings of your leaders, I must assume this to be non-representative." - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith | wasmormon.org "There was delivered to my door a short religious editorial, prepared by one of your leaders, entitled “Sustaining the General Authorities of the Church.” Its message amazed me a great deal, and with the passing of weeks my disturbance became very acute. It might have passed, except that several members of your Church have come to me to discuss the subject. The most recent was a prominent doctor, who, because of this tract, he affirms, is losing his religious faith. He is a large man, and I became impressed with his deep sincerity as he broke down and wept like a boy. I am convinced that he is undergoing a very dangerous experience." - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith | wasmormon.org