| George A. Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First Counselor in the First Presidency | |
| October 7, 1868 – September 1, 1875 | |
| Called by | Brigham Young |
| Predecessor | Heber C. Kimball |
| Successor | John W. Young |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 26, 1839 – October 7, 1868 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith |
| End reason | Called as First Counselor in the First Presidency |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| April 26, 1839 – September 1, 1875 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith |
| Reason | Replenishing Quorum of the Twelve[1] |
| Reorganization at end of term | No apostles ordained[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Albert Smith June 26, 1817 Potsdam, New York, United States |
| Died | September 1, 1875 (aged 58) Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37″N 111°51′29″W / 40.777°N 111.858°W |
| Spouse(s) | 7 |
| Children | 20 |
| Parents | John Smith Clarissa Lyman |
George Albert Smith (June 26, 1817 – September 1, 1875) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Smith was a prominent leader in the settlement of many communities in southern Utah, and played a role in the chain of events preceding the Mountain Meadows Massacre on September 11, 1857. The city of St. George, Utah, may have been named after him.[3]
- ^ The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had not had twelve members since September 3, 1837, when Luke S. Johnson, John F. Boynton, and Lyman E. Johnson were disfellowshipped and removed from the Quorum. Since that time, William E. McLellin and Thomas B. Marsh had been excommunicated and removed from the Quorum; David W. Patten had been killed; and John Taylor and John E. Page had been added to the Quorum. The ordinations of Smith and Wilford Woodruff brought membership in the Quorum of the Twelve to ten members.
- ^ No apostle was immediately called to replace Smith. Brigham Young died two years after Smith, and the First Presidency dissolved. Due to the dissolution of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve had twelve members after Young's death and there was therefore no immediate need to call an apostle to replace Smith.
- ^ Lynn Arave, "St. George likely named after an LDS apostle", Deseret Morning News, 8 July 2007