George A. Smith

George A. Smith
First Counselor in the First Presidency
October 7, 1868 (1868-10-07) – September 1, 1875 (1875-09-01)
Called byBrigham Young
PredecessorHeber C. Kimball
SuccessorJohn W. Young
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 26, 1839 (1839-04-26) – October 7, 1868 (1868-10-07)
Called byJoseph Smith
End reasonCalled as First Counselor in the First Presidency
LDS Church Apostle
April 26, 1839 (1839-04-26) – September 1, 1875 (1875-09-01)
Called byJoseph Smith
ReasonReplenishing Quorum of the Twelve[1]
Reorganization
at end of term
No apostles ordained[2]
Personal details
BornGeorge Albert Smith
(1817-06-26)June 26, 1817
Potsdam, New York, United States
DiedSeptember 1, 1875(1875-09-01) (aged 58)
Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States
Resting placeSalt Lake City Cemetery
40°46′37″N 111°51′29″W / 40.777°N 111.858°W / 40.777; -111.858 (Salt Lake City Cemetery)
Spouse(s)7
Children20
ParentsJohn Smith
Clarissa Lyman

George Albert Smith (June 26, 1817 – September 1, 1875) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Smith was a prominent leader in the settlement of many communities in southern Utah, and played a role in the chain of events preceding the Mountain Meadows Massacre on September 11, 1857. The city of St. George, Utah, may have been named after him.[3]

  1. ^ The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had not had twelve members since September 3, 1837, when Luke S. Johnson, John F. Boynton, and Lyman E. Johnson were disfellowshipped and removed from the Quorum. Since that time, William E. McLellin and Thomas B. Marsh had been excommunicated and removed from the Quorum; David W. Patten had been killed; and John Taylor and John E. Page had been added to the Quorum. The ordinations of Smith and Wilford Woodruff brought membership in the Quorum of the Twelve to ten members.
  2. ^ No apostle was immediately called to replace Smith. Brigham Young died two years after Smith, and the First Presidency dissolved. Due to the dissolution of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve had twelve members after Young's death and there was therefore no immediate need to call an apostle to replace Smith.
  3. ^ Lynn Arave, "St. George likely named after an LDS apostle", Deseret Morning News, 8 July 2007