George Albert Smith (Prophet)
President George Albert Smith was ordained as the eighth President of the Church on May 14, 1945. He was known for his love and genuine concern for others.
George Albert Smith was born on April 4, 1870 in Salt Lake City, Utah. When he was only five years old he had the opportunity to meet Brigham Young. Arthur R. Bassett recorded his experience this way, “When he was only five years old, his mother dressed him in his black velvet suit and sent him to see Brigham Young. He carried a letter asking for help in buying some railroad tickets to go to Ogden. George Albert’s father was serving a mission in Great Britain, and his mother needed some assistance. George Albert walked the two blocks to President Young’s office and pushed open the huge timber gate in the wall that then surrounded the headquarters of the Church. He found himself face to face with a large security guard named John Smith, who demanded of the boy, “What do you want?” Frightened, George answered, “I want to see President Young,” to which the man bellowed back, “President Young has no time for the likes of you.” Just then the door of the office opened and President Young walked out and asked: “ ‘What’s wanted, John?’“John replied, ‘Here is a little fellow wants to see President Young,’ and then he roared with laughter. He thought it was a good joke. But with all the dignity in the world, President Young said to him, ‘John, show him in.’ He was President of a great Church and Governor of a Territory, and with all the duties he had to perform, yet I as a little boy was received with as much dignity, and kindness as if I had come as a governor from an adjoining state.”George Albert never forgot that lesson in courtesy, and he always tried to be sensitive to other people’s feelings, regardless of their station in life.
As a young man, George Albert Smith served to missions. The first was to work with youth in southern Utah. He was called on his second mission just a week after he married Lucy Emily Woodruff in May of 1892. She joined him in the Southern States Mission. After their mission the Smiths settled in Salt Lake City and raised three children.
In life outside of the Church, George Albert Smith became president of the Sons of the American Revolution, awarded the highest award in Scouting, served on the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, and was the president of the Internation Irrigation and Farm Congress.
In 1903 George Albert Smith at the age of 33 was ordained to be an Apostle. His father was already serving as an Apostle. As an Apostle George Albert Smith was the European Mission president from 1919-1921, served on the YMMIA general board as president, And spread the truth he did as he fulfilled his apostolic assignments, including serving as European Mission president from 1919 to 1921. He continued to serve on the YMMIA general board through the mission years, and on his return from Europe he became YMMIA general president. On May 21, 1945 he was sustained as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As President of the Church George Albert Smith conducted numerous welfare operations for those who were suffering from the effects of World War II. He also oversaw an increase in missionary work and construction of buildings for the increasing members of the Church.
Other Links: Church Publications Search http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/history/people/smith_ga_eom.htm http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/w/o/wol3/smithga1.htm
