Wallace B. Smith

Wallace Bunnell Anthony Smith (born July 29, 1929) was Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ), from April 5, 1978 through April 15, 1996. Son of President W. Wallace Smith, he was designated as his father's successor in 1976, and ordained church president in 1978 when his father retired to emeritus status. Wallace B. Smith is a great-grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr. (the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement), and was a practicing ophthalmologist in the Independence, Missouri area before accepting ordination to Community of Christ's leadership.

Wallace B. Smith's presidency was notable for authorizing construction of the church's Temple in Independence, Missouri in 1990-1994, and for promoting at the same time a church conference vote on Thursday, April 5, 1984 which approved ordination of females to priesthood offices: The first ordination took place on Sunday, November 17, 1985. Smith is also credited with being one of the first church leaders to formally propose a name-change for the church, at a Joint Council retreat in 1994. At the subsequent World Conference in 1996, the proposed name change (to "Community of Christ" from "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints") was not approved by a majority vote at that time, but conference approval did take place during the April, 2000 World Conference, four years after Smith's retirement as prophet-president of the church.

On September 19, 1995, Smith announced he was retiring as prophet, seer and revelator of the church, and he designated W. Grant McMurray as his successor. Smith formally retired on Monday, April 15, 1996, at which time his successor McMurray was ordained in a ceremony at the RLDS Auditorium. Smith was designated "President Emeritus," as his father likewise had been designated in 1978 upon ordination of his son. Smith holds the position today.