Joseph Fielding Smith

Joseph Fielding Smith was the tenth President of the LDS Church, serving a brief tenure from 1970 to 1972. The son of President Joseph F. Smith, he was born into Mormon “royalty” and devoted his life to church service, serving as Church Historian and Recorder for 49 years.

Smith was ordained an apostle in 1910 at age 33 and served for 60 years before becoming president at age 93—the oldest person to assume the presidency. He was a prolific writer, authoring over 25 books on doctrine and history, including “Doctrines of Salvation” and “Answers to Gospel Questions.” His doctrinal interpretations were often conservative and literal.

He is known for controversial statements, including strong opposition to evolution and teachings about Black people being less valiant in the pre-existence. He wrote “Man: His Origin and Destiny” (1954) which took a creationist stance opposed by some church educators. His view that man would never reach the moon was contradicted during his own apostleship.

Despite his conservative reputation, as president he oversaw significant changes including the consolidation of church magazines, correlation of church curricula, and the organization of the first stake in Asia. His presidency, though only 2.5 years, came at a time of significant social upheaval in America. He married three times, his first two wives having died.