David A. Smith

David A. Smith served as a member of the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1907 to 1938. He served as first counselor to Charles W. Nibley from 1907 to 1918, when Orrin P. Miller died. Smith was asked to serve as first counselor, and continued to serve as first counselor under Presiding Bishop Sylvester Q. Cannon after Nibley was released in 1925 to serve in the First Presidency. Smith was released in 1938 after Cannon was released and called to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

While serving in the Presiding Bishopric, Smith also served as the first president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and head of LDS Hospital. He also served as a member of the general board of the Deseret Sunday School Union.

Smith was born on May 24, 1879, in Salt Lake City to then Apostle Joseph F. Smith and Julina Lambson Smith. He and his wife, Emily Jenkins, were the parents of nine children. In addition to his service in the Church, he was chief clerk and then chief deputy in the Salt Lake County clerk’s office.

He died on April 6, 1952, in Salt Lake City.