Presiding Patriarch

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In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Presiding Patriarch (also called Presiding Evangelist, Patriarch over the Church, Patriarch of the Church, or Patriarch to the Church) is a church-wide leadership office within the priesthood. Among the duties of the Presiding Patriarch are to preside in council meetings, ordain other patriarchs, and administer patriarchal blessings. Originally, the office of Presiding Patriarch was one of the highest and most important offices of the church's priesthood. The role was equated by Joseph Smith with Biblical patriarchs from Adam to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it was expected that the office would descend through lineal succession from father to son. This precedent was set when Hyrum Smith, Joseph's brother, became the second Presiding Patriarch because he was the eldest surviving son of the first Presiding Patriarch, Joseph Smith Sr. When the office was given to Hyrum, he was given "keys of the patriarchal priesthood over the kingdom of God on earth, even the Church of the Latter Day Saints."[1] Thus, some have argued that Presiding Patriarch is an office of the Patriarchal Priesthood. However, the existence and meaning of the Patriarchal Priesthood is controversial and uncertain.

Community of Christ

Chronology of the Presiding Patriarchs/Evangelist of Community of Christ

Date Presiding Patriarchs/Evangelist Notes
File:Joseph Smith, Sr.jpg 18 December 1833 – 14 September 1840 Joseph Smith Sr. Father of Joseph Smith
File:Hyrum Smith ca 1880-1920.png 14 September 1840 - 27 June 1844 Hyrum Smith Oldest surviving son of Joseph Smith Sr.
File:Williamsmith.gif 24 May 1845 – 19 October 1845 William Smith Oldest surviving son of Joseph Smith Sr. William Smith was patriarch to the church until his name and positions were read at the 19 October 1845 general conference. Those attenders unanimously voted against Smith being retained as both an apostle and the patriarch.[2] He then lost both offices and was disfellowshipped from the church.[2][3] William Smith would also be referred to as "Petitioner for RLDS Patriarchate" from April 6, 1872 – November 13, 1893 by the Community of Christ (RLDS).[4]
(Petitioner)
April 6, 1872 – November 13, 1893
File:Alexander Hale Smith.jpg April 1897 – 12 August 1909 Alexander H. Smith Brother of Joseph Smith III
File:Joseph R. Lambert.jpg 12 August 1909 – 20 April 1913 Joseph R. Lambert Acting Presiding Patriarch
File:Frederick A. Smith.jpg 20 April 1913 – 10 April 1938 Frederick A. Smith Son of Alexander H. Smith.
File:Elbert A. Smith.jpg 10 April 1938 – 4 February 1958 Elbert A. Smith Grandson of Joseph Smith, Son of David Hyrum Smith
4 February 1958 – 4 April 1974[5] Roy A. Cheville Left his professorial career at Graceland College to accept ordination. In 1974 he became "Patriarch Emeritus".[5] First person to serve in that office who was not a direct descendant of Joseph Smith Sr.
4 April 1974[5] - 29 March 1982[6] Reed M. Holmes  
29 March 1982[6] – 5 April 1992[7] Duane E. Couey  
5 April 1992[7] – 5 April 1994[8] Paul W. Booth "Presiding Evangelist" became preferred title.[4]
5 April 1994[8] – 2000 Everett S. Graffeo  
2000 – 6 March 2006[9] Danny A. Belrose  
1 May 2006[9] – 27 March 2007[10] Richard E. Kohlman Acting Presiding Evangelist
26 March 2007[10] – 31 March 2016[11] David R. Brock  
31 March 2016[11] – Jane M. Gardner First female presiding evangelist

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Main article: Chronology of Presiding Patriarchs (LDS Church)

When a Presiding Patriarch has existed, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has sustained the person as a prophet, seer, and revelator.[12] In the church's history, there have been eight Presiding Patriarchs, three Acting Presiding Patriarchs, and one Patriarch Emeritus. The LDS Church effectively discontinued the office of Presiding Patriarch in 1979, indicating enough local patriarchs existed so that the church-wide position was no longer needed. However, E. Gary Smith, the eldest son of the final patriarch, Eldred G. Smith, rejected this explanation, suggesting instead that the dissolution of the office was the inevitable result of longstanding tensions rising from the incompatibility of a hereditary position with the broader church hierarchy based in "office charisma," consistent with the Weberian model of bureaucracy.[13] Until that time, the role and duties of the office had varied.[13] The Presiding Patriarch sometimes appointed local patriarchs in the church's stakes and presided over them as a loose "Quorum of Patriarchs." Like the local patriarchs, the Presiding Patriarch was also empowered to give patriarchal blessings.

Chronology of the Presiding Patriarchs of the LDS Church

Dates Presiding Patriarch Notes
File:Joseph Smith, Sr.jpg 18 December 1833 – 14 September 1840 Joseph Smith Sr. Father of Joseph Smith
File:Hyrum Smith ca 1880-1920.png 14 September 1840 – 27 June 1844 Hyrum Smith Oldest surviving son of Joseph Smith Sr.
File:Williamsmith.gif 24 May 1845 – 6 October 1845 William Smith Oldest surviving son of Joseph Smith Sr. William Smith was patriarch to the church until his name and positions were read at the 6 October 1845 general conference. Those attenders unanimously voted against Smith being retained as both an apostle and the patriarch.[2] He then lost both offices and was disfellowshipped from the church.[2][3]
File:John Smith (uncle of Joseph Smith).jpg 1 January 1849 – 23 May 1854 John Smith "Uncle John"; brother of Joseph Smith Sr.
File:John Smith (nephew)1895.JPG 18 February 1855 – 6 November 1911 John Smith Son of Hyrum Smith
File:Hyrum G. Smith2.jpg 9 May 1912 – 4 February 1932 Hyrum G. Smith Grandson of his predecessor John Smith; great-grandson of Hyrum Smith
File:Nicholas G. Smith.jpg 4 February 1932 – 1934 Nicholas G. Smith
(de facto Acting Presiding Patriarch) 		Son of apostle John Henry Smith; grandson of apostle George A. Smith; great-grandson of former presiding patriarch "Uncle" John Smith; was never officially called, set apart, or sustained as the Acting Presiding Patriarch, but carried out the functions of the office
File:Frank B. Woodbury.jpg 1934 – October 8, 1937 Frank B. Woodbury
(de facto Acting Presiding Patriarch) 		Unrelated to Smith family; was never officially called, set apart, or sustained as the Acting Presiding Patriarch, but carried out the functions of the office
File:George F. Richards 1920.jpg October 8, 1937 – 8 October 1942 George F. Richards
(Acting Presiding Patriarch) 		Unrelated to Smith family; unlike Nicholas G. Smith and Frank B. Woodbury, was officially called, set apart, and sustained as the Acting Presiding Patriarch
File:Joseph Fielding Smith (presiding patriarch).jpg 8 October 1942 – 6 October 1946 Joseph Fielding Smith[14]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Smith, Joseph. Smith, Joseph Fielding (ed.). Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Covenant Communications. p. 36.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 B. H. Roberts (ed.), History of the Church 7:457–59.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hosea Stout journal, October 6, 1845.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Howard, Richard P. Lesson 2: A Brief Historical Survey of the Ministry of the Evangelist-Patriarch, page 13. Temple School Course PA 222: Evangelists: Sharing a New World of Blessing, Community of Christ.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Doctrine and Covenants Sec 151:1a and 151:2
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Doctrine and Covenants Sec 155:1a and 155:2a
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Doctrine and Covenants Sec 158:2a and 155:2a
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Doctrine and Covenants Sec 158:1 and 155:2a
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Communication to the Church(Belrose Released): March 6, 2006 Archived May 17, 2008, at archive.today
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 World Conference 2007: Official Minutes of Business Session
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Stephen M. Veazey, "Letter of Counsel about World Church Leadership", cofchrist.org, March 31, 2016.
  12. ↑ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (2013-04-05). "Longest-serving Mormon general authority dies at 106". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Bates Lost Legacy
  14. ↑ Not to be confused with his uncle of the same name, Joseph Fielding Smith, who served as church president from 1970 to 1972.

References
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