CASteinman Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) Eldred G Smith is 105 years old.Astonishing. I realize that the office of Patriarch to the Church is a holdover from a time of smaller organization, where the stakes were so centralized. But still I miss it. I don't know why but I do. However, I am not fully comfortable with a position of authority associated merely by heredity -- even when the Lord authorizes it. (I am aware that the patriarch also has to be called).When Eldred G Smith was a full grown adult, my father, now deceased was not even born yet.At the time of his 21st Birthday there were still many polygamist families in Utah. He would remember them.We study the words of Joseph F. Smith. Eldred G Smith could probably remember hearing them. We live in a time, when we can shake hands with a person who shook hands with a person who knew Joseph Smith. We are still just 2 connections away. Edited July 28, 2012 by CASteinman 1
Anijen Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Eldred G Smith is 105 years old.Astonishing. I realize that the office of Patriarch to the Church is a holdover from a time of smaller organization, where the stakes were so centralized. But still I miss it. I don't know why but I do. However, I am not fully comfortable with a position of authority associated merely by heredity -- even when the Lord authorizes it. (I am aware that the patriarch also has to be called).When Eldred G Smith was a full grown adult, my father, now deceased was not even born yet.At the time of his 21st Birthday there were still many polygamist families in Utah. He would remember them.We study the words of Joseph F. Smith. Eldred G Smith could probably remember hearing them. We live in a time, when we can shake hands with a person who shook hands with a person who knew Joseph Smith. We are still just 2 connections away.He came to our Stake about ten years ago. He brought the clothes Hyrum was killed in and the wooden box the plates were held in. A wonderful man. I didn't realize how old he was.
Tacenda Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 I would love to just sit at his feet and talk with him, like one would do with a grandparent. Where is he today? What is he doing?
blackstrap Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 2 connections away.May the Lord preserve him.Consider the changes in the world since 1907 vs the changes from 1807-1907. We are,as the Chinese say, living in interesting times.
CASteinman Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 I would love to just sit at his feet and talk with him, like one would do with a grandparent. Where is he today? What is he doing?Me Too! I would absolutely love that!
blackstrap Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Just checked on wiki . Church population in 1907 after 77 years was just under 360,000. We now add about 300,000 to the rolls each year.
zerinus Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Don't forget he is also prophet, seer, and revelator. The fact that he has been made emeritus doesn't change anything.
Duncan Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 I, too, am astonished at his remarkable life and experiences, serving a mission in the late 1920's among a multitude of others. His dad Hyrum G. Smith died when my father was born, 1932. Eldred Smith would have met practically every leader in the last century. I wish he wrote an autobiography or maybe he has I dunno!
Duncan Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 2 connections away.May the Lord preserve him.Consider the changes in the world since 1907 vs the changes from 1807-1907. We are,as the Chinese say, living in interesting times.what is your connection to him?
CASteinman Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 Just checked on wiki . Church population in 1907 after 77 years was just under 360,000. We now add about 300,000 to the rolls each year.I sort of feel a bit old. When I joined, the Church had about 3 million members. Of course, that's not like Eldred G. Smith at all but still...
Robert F. Smith Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 I, too, am astonished at his remarkable life and experiences, serving a mission in the late 1920's among a multitude of others. His dad Hyrum G. Smith died when my father was born, 1932. Eldred Smith would have met practically every leader in the last century. I wish he wrote an autobiography or maybe he has I dunno!You might want to have a look at Irene M. Bates & E. Gary Smith (Eldred's son), Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch (Univ. of Illinois Press, 1996/ reprint 2003). 1
CASteinman Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 He is apparently still sufficiently active that he meets with the Apostles once a month:http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700213920/Church-patriarch-marks-105th-birthday.html?pg=all
CV75 Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 However, I am not fully comfortable with a position of authority associated merely by heredity -- even when the Lord authorizes it.Hmmm... just like a lot of teenagers towards their Dads!
Duncan Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 You might want to have a look at Irene M. Bates & E. Gary Smith (Eldred's son), Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch (Univ. of Illinois Press, 1996/ reprint 2003).read it and loved it!!!! thank you!
USU78 Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 He came to our Stake about ten years ago. He brought the clothes Hyrum was killed in and the wooden box the plates were held in. A wonderful man. I didn't realize how old he was.One of my best friends is his nephew . . . when said nephew was 23, and had just completed his football life at the UofU, he visited uncle Eldred. Eldred took out Hyrum's clothing and had my friend try them on. My friend was 6'2 and 260 . . . and the clothes fit him perfectly.Hyrum was massive and strong as a bull. People forget that.Good stuff. I love this thread and the OP.
Duncan Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 They have that DVD out with Eldred Smith talking about Hyrum Smith's stuff and it is well worth the watch!
CASteinman Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 They have that DVD out with Eldred Smith talking about Hyrum Smith's stuff and it is well worth the watch!Who is they? What DVD?I want my son or someone young, to meet him before he dies, spend some time with him so that when they are old it will only be 3 links.
Duncan Posted July 29, 2012 Posted July 29, 2012 Who is they? What DVD?I want my son or someone young, to meet him before he dies, spend some time with him so that when they are old it will only be 3 links.http://deseretbook.com/Witness-RestorationThe-Smith-Family-Artifacts-Their-Story-Eldred-G/i/4917330this DVD by the Smith's
CASteinman Posted July 29, 2012 Author Posted July 29, 2012 http://deseretbook.c...red-G/i/4917330this DVD by the Smith'sThanks! I'm gonna buy that! 1
CA Steve Posted July 29, 2012 Posted July 29, 2012 He came to our Stake about ten years ago. He brought the clothes Hyrum was killed in and the wooden box the plates were held in. A wonderful man. I didn't realize how old he was.Does anyone know the provenance of the box and clothes?
Duncan Posted July 29, 2012 Posted July 29, 2012 Does anyone know the provenance of the box and clothes?Eldred is a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith so I am assuming...that he inherited all that stuff
Scott Lloyd Posted July 29, 2012 Posted July 29, 2012 (edited) Don't forget he is also prophet, seer, and revelator. The fact that he has been made emeritus doesn't change anything.He is not sustained as such in general conference, hasn't been for many years. I'm not convinced the designation still applies and wouldn't teach it as fact.As for emeritus not changing anything, a great deal has changed. He does not function as Patriarch to the Church today. And though he can still give patriarchal blessings, it can only be (as I understand it) for extended family. That would be the case for any ordained patriarch not currently holding the position of stake patriarch.__________________________Scott Lloyd, a proud consumer of Chick-fil-A food since the attempted boycott/suppression/intimidation of July 2012. Edited July 30, 2012 by Scott Lloyd
zerinus Posted July 30, 2012 Posted July 30, 2012 He is not sustained as such in general conference, hasn't been for many years. I'm not convinced the designation still applies and wouldn't teach it as fact.He may not hold that "office" in the Church; but once a prophet, always a prophet. You don't stop being a prophet unless you have transgressed or something. Same applies to "seer".
Scott Lloyd Posted July 30, 2012 Posted July 30, 2012 (edited) He may not hold that "office" in the Church; but once a prophet, always a prophet. You don't stop being a prophet unless you have transgressed or something. Same applies to "seer".There is a difference between being a prophet as in someone possessing the gift of prophecy (the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy) and having the formal designation of prophet, seer and revelator, such as that given the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve who are sustained as such in general conference.Any faithful member of the Church, young or old, male or female, can be a prophet in the sense of having the testimony of Jesus. But only 15 men at a time are designated as prophets, seers and revelators.____________________________________Scott Lloyd, a proud consumer of Chick-fil-A food since the attempted boycott/suppression/intimidation of July 2012. Edited July 30, 2012 by Scott Lloyd
zerinus Posted July 30, 2012 Posted July 30, 2012 There is a difference between being a prophet as in someone possessing the gift of prophecy (the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy) and having the formal designation of prophet, seer and revelator, such as that given the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve who are sustained as such in general conference.Any faithful member of the Church, young or old, male or female, can be a prophet in the sense of having the testimony of Jesus. But only 15 men at a time are designated as prophets, seers and revelators.____________________________________Scott Lloyd, a proud consumer of Chick-fil-A food since the attempted boycott/suppression/intimidation of July 2012.The Patriarch to the Church is also designated "prophet, seer, and revelator". Once you are so designated, and receive the gift, I don't see how you can be "released" from it, or "lose" the gift. If an Apostle was declared "emeritus," would he stop being an Apostle? Would he lose the gift? I don't see how. If he transgressed maybe he would lose his gifts--or maybe he never received them in the first place through some unworthiness. But once someone becomes a "prophet, seer, and revelator," I don't see how he can suddenly stop being one just because his status has changed to "emeritus".
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