Hyrum Mack Smith

Hyrum Mack Smith, eldest son of President Joseph F. Smith

and his wife> Edna Lambson Smith, was born in Salt Lake City,

March 21, 1872. In his youth he was carefully reared under the

watchcare and love of his father and mother, which extended also

into his manhood. He grew up a man of honor, unblemished and

pure, a typical product of his father's home where ideals of honor

are uppermost. He received his education in the public schools

of Salt Lake City, and the Latter-day Saints University from .which

he graduated in the class of 1894. As a student he was keen and

active, a favorite among his classmates and friends. He married

Miss Ida Bowman, of Ogden, November 15, 1895, and on the

evening of the next day departed for his first mission to Great

Britain, laboring there' as an ordinary elder in the Leeds confer-

ence. In October, 1896, he was set apart to preside over the New

Castle conference which position he filled with honor until re-

leased to return home in February, 1898. At home he became

an active missionary in the Salt Lake stake where his talents and

energy were recognized by those who watched his progress. He

was called to fill various Church positions in all of which, includ-

ing his quorum activities, he was zealous and faithful. On the

division of the Salt Lake stake he became a resident of that part

known as the Granite stake where he continued his active mis-

sionary and quorum labors. He became the first stake Sunday

School secretary of the Granite stake.

In temporal affairs he developed marked ability, and was for

a time connected with Z. C. M. I. and in later life with a number

of leading business concerns.

On October 24, 1901, he was ordained an apostle by President

Joseph F. Smith, he having been chosen a member of the Council

of Twelve Apostles, being recognized by them as a man fit in

every way for that responsible position. At the time of his death

he s'ood fourth in point of seniority in the Council as then organ-

ized, President Heber J. Grant, Elders Rudger Clawson and Reed

Smoot being his seniors.

On September 18, 1913, he was called to succeed Elder Rudger

Clawson as President of the European Mission and was in Ger-

many on a missionary tour, at the time of the outbreak of the war.

He met with signal success in calling in the missionaries, arrang-

ing their movements, and modifying their work according to the

war situation. Returning home on September 15, 1916, he con-

tinued his work with renewed energy and enthusiasm, added power

and comprehensiveness, and his utterances from the pulpit and

in conversation were keen disquisitions on the doctrines of the

gospel, the work of the Loid, as well as upon the great war. On

his mission his wife aided him ably and untiringly.

His middle name, Mack, was a family name given him by his

father in honor of Lucy Mack Smith, who was the mother of the

Prophet Joseph Smith, and the Patriarch Hyrum Smith who was

President Joseph F. Smith's father. Hyrum M. Smith was a strict

observer of the word of wisdom, never having tasted tea, coffee,

tobacco or strong drinks. In every way, he not only lived in har-

mony with the principles of truth, but was one of the strongest

teachers of the gospel among his brethren. He often reproved with

sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, but afterwards,

in conformity with the word of God, showed forth an increase

of love toward him or them whom he bad reproved, lest they

might deem him an enemy. On earth he was a teacher of right-

eousness, an advocate of justice, and an exemplar of purity. In

the world to come, glory, immortality and eternal life are his.