| John Smith | |
|---|---|
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| 5th Presiding Patriarch | |
| February 18, 1855 – November 6, 1911 | |
| Called by | Brigham Young |
| Predecessor | "Uncle" John Smith |
| Successor | Hyrum G. Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 22, 1832 Kirtland, Ohio, United States |
| Died | November 6, 1911 (aged 79) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37″N 111°51′29″W / 40.777°N 111.858°W |
| Spouse(s) | Hellen M. Fisher Nancy M. Lemon |
| Children | 10 |
| Parents | Hyrum Smith Jerusha Barden |
John Smith (September 22, 1832 – November 6, 1911), was the fifth Presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His father was Hyrum Smith, the older brother of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Having served for 56 years, he was the longest serving Presiding Patriarch in the history of the LDS Church. Smith traveled west to Winter Quarters and then Salt Lake City with the Mormon pioneers. He traveled with Heber C. Kimball's party and his step-mother Mary Fielding Smith. Smith joined the "Battalion of Life Guards" to protect the Latter-day Saints from Native Americans.
During his life, Smith maintained strong relationships with his family members in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church), particularly his cousin Joseph Smith III. Though John Smith was never released as Presiding Patriarch, some general authorities were outspoken in their disapproval of Smith's unwillingness to marry more than one plural wife and his habit of tobacco use. Smith was married to Hellen Maria Fisher with whom he had nine children. Smith married Nancy Melissa Lemmon as his plural wife after the encouragement of Brigham Young. Smith had one child with Lemmon.