How surviving personal tragedy forged a legacy of religious leadership

Health · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Joseph Fielding Smith led one of the world's largest religious organizations while navigating a life marked by profound loss and complex family history. From his childhood in a persecuted community to his tenure as church president, his story explores how enduring faith can withstand repeated personal and societal upheaval.

Born in 1876 in Salt Lake City, Joseph Fielding Smith grew up in an era of intense scrutiny for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because his parents practiced polygamy—which was criminalized by the federal government at the time—the family was forced to evacuate to Hawaii for several years. After coming home, his father was barred from seeing his kids or wives publicly until a pardon arrived from the president in 1891. Despite these tumultuous beginnings and a childhood spent working on the family farm, Smith developed a deep commitment to his faith.

Smith’s life was defined by significant personal tragedy that tested his resolve. He lost his first wife, Louie Emily Shurtliff, in 1908 due to complications from a third pregnancy. Later, his second wife, Ethel Georgina Reynolds, died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1937, and their son Lewis was killed during World War II. While Smith ascended within church leadership, these tragedies happened, including two decades of presidency over the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles beginning in 1951.

In 1970, at the age of 93, he became the tenth president of the Church—the oldest person to ever hold the position. His leadership was characterized by a focus on genealogy and family unity, notably designating Monday nights for Family Home Evenings. While his views were noted as rigidly conservative regarding scientific and social advances, his tenure was marked by a dedication to global expansion, including temple dedications in London and the opening of missions in Korea and the Philippines.

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