Hyrum M. Smith

Hyrum M. Smith

Hyrum Mack Smith (March 21, 1872 – January 23, 1918) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, the eldest son of church apostle and future Church President Joseph F. Smith and Edna Lambson. Smith was named after his paternal grandfather Hyrum Smith, who was the elder brother of LDS Church founder Joseph Smith and a prominent leader of the early Church.

Smith attended Latter-day Saint College, from which he graduated in 1894. On November 15, 1895, he married Ida Bowman and the next day left her behind so he could go and serve a mission in Great Britain. From October 1896 until February 1898 he presided over the Newcastle Conference.

After returning from his mission abroad Smith worked at ZCMI while also serving as a part time missionary in Salt Lake City.

Smith was ordained an apostle of the church on October 24, 1901 at the age of 29, by his father, who was by then president of the church.

In 1913 Smith was called as the president of the European Mission of the church. He served in this capacity until 1916, when the activities of the mission were suspended due to World War I.

Smith was married to Ida Elizabeth Bowman, with whom he had five children, one of whom was Joseph Fielding Smith, a one-time presiding patriarch of the church. Another of Smith's children was Geraldine Smith, the mother of M. Russell Ballard.

Smith wrote a commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants with Janne M. Sjödahl.

Smith died prematurely in Salt Lake City from a ruptured appendix at the age of 45. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.