Hyrum Gibbs Smith, Presiding Patriarch, with Portrait

EDITOR'S TABLE. 847 The demonstrations of M. I. A. Scout work at the Friday evening entertainment in the gymnasium as well as the entertainment itself was an inspiration to the officers who attended. Mr. Woods of the Waterloo ward and his M. I. A. Scouts did much to show the value and importance of this division of our work. The folk-dances by the associations from Wilford and Forest Dale wards of the Granite stake of Zion demonstrated the practicability of introducing fascinating entertainments of this kind into our amusements. While the athletic exercises at Wandamere were not as well attended, nor were there as many entries, as were expected, yet the work done and the interest taken by those who did attend were even better than last season, and the meet proved that we are growing in this activity also. The singing was unusually attractive and the choruses from the Jordan and Granite stakes, as well as those of the Primary organizations, were worthy of highest praise and commendation. The Tabernacle choir, and the different soloists, including David Smith of Teton, Miss Nora McPherson of Los Angeles, Edna Evans, Mrs. Bessie Browning and the other singers, deserve the sincere thanks of the M. I. A. for the life and pleasure they added to the meetings. Altogether the convention, in the character and practicability of the exercises, was a complete success, and the attendance and representation from the various stakes was fairly good. Sixty stakes were represented, all but Alberta, Uintah and Panguitch, and there were two hundred seventy representatives present when the roll was called on Friday afternoon. We are sure that the success of our conference will be an inspiration to the officers throughout the Church to put forth renewed energy towards a vigorous campaign and effective work for the season coming. Hyrum Gibbs Smith The newly appointed Presiding Patriarch of the Church is the son of Hyrum Fisher and Annie M. (Gibbs) Smith. He is a grandson of the late Patriarch John Smith, and was born in a humble cottage on the west bank of the Jordan river, South Jordan, Salt Lake county, Utah, Tuesday morning, July 8, 1879. He was christened and blessed by his grandfather, John Smith, on the 23rd of the same month.

848 IMPROVEMENT ERA. When about a year old his parents moved to Snake river, Idaho, to seek and make a new home. Later they went to Portage, Box Elder county, Utah, where his father engaged in farming and horseraising. When Hyrum G. was seven years old the family moved to Hoytsville, Summit county, where he spent fifteen years of his boyhood days upon the farm and range, herding, fishing and swimming in the mountain streams, hunting and riding in the mountain ranges, and assisting his father in his ranch business. He graduated from the public schools in 1896, in the meantime having attended faithfully his duties in the Lesser Priesthood and the auxiliary organizations. In 1897, he attended the Brigham Young Academy, now University, at Provo, taking a three-year normal course. He then taught in the public schools of Wasatch, Summit and Utah counties, following this profession successfully for seven years. During this period he was also active in Church work. He was ordained to the offices of the Lesser Priesthood in their order. In 1902-3 he acted as assistant in the superintendency of the Summit stake Sunday School, and locally worked in the Religion Class. He has been ordained to these offices in the Higher Priesthood — elder, seventy, high priest, and patriarch. On August 17, 1904, he was married in the Salt Lake Temple, by John Smith, to Martha Gee, daughter of George W. and Sophina A. (Fuller) Gee, of Provo. On October 5, 1908, he left Utah for Los Angeles to pursue a course in dentistry in the University of Southern California. At the same time he was set apart to perform missionary labor as time and opportunity would permit. He acted for two years as superintendent of the Los Angeles Branch Sunday School, and as president of the Mutual Improvement Association for one year. He also presided over the Church branch there from September, 1911, and labored in this capacity when chosen to succeed his grandfather, John Smith, as Presiding Patriarch of the Church. On June 5, 1911, he graduated from the University of Southern California, receiving the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery and a gold medal offered for excellency in operative technic by the doctor at the head of the operative department. Since graduating he practiced his profession until called home to devote all his time to his work as Presiding Patriarch, to which office he was chosen and sustained April 6, and set apart May 9. He is a direct lineal descendant of the martyred Patriarch Hyrum Smith, his great-grandfather, and though a young man, is ten years older than his grandfather was when ordained patriarch. Patriarch Smith was sustained a member of the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. at the annual conference on Sunday, June 9, 1912. He is a man of pleasing address, and pronounced spirituality, whose sympathies go out to young and old in a way that promises for him the sincere love and respect of the people.

PRESIDING PATRIARCH HYRUM G. SMITH Sustained April 6, at the General Conference, as Presiding Patriarch of the Church, ordained and set apart to that calling under the hands of the First Presidency and members of the Council of the Twelve in the Salt Lake Temple, May 9, 1912, President Joseph F. Smith officiating. Also sustained as a member of the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. at the Annual Conference, June 9, 1912.