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 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."
