“A Review of the Administration of President Joseph Fielding Smith,” Ensign, Aug. 1972, 40
A Review of the Administration of President Joseph Fielding Smith
January 23, 1970–July 2, 1972
The following list outlines some of the active and far-reaching nature of President Smith’s tenure of office as President of the Church. However, by its very nature such a list is fragmentary. Countless decisions, redirections, and different emphases of President Smith’s administration have never received public attention, yet have given and will continue to give imprint to aspects of the work of the Lord for generations to come.
Photograph taken the day President Smith’s administration began, January 23, 1970: President Lee, President Smith, President Tanner.
1970
January
18 Death of President David O. McKay
23 Joseph Fielding Smith named President of the Church, with Harold B. Lee and N. Eldon Tanner as counselors
February
11 Howard W. Hunter named Church Historian and Recorder, to succeed Joseph Fielding Smith
14 Announcement of organizing of sixteen new regions in Church
20 Myrthus W. Evans named president of Los Angeles Temple
March
15 First stake in Asia—Tokyo Stake
22 First stake in Africa—Transvaal Stake
April
2 Changes in the Primary program for children outlined at Primary Conference
6 Joseph Fielding Smith sustained as President of Church at solemn assembly in Tabernacle; Boyd Kenneth Packer named to Council of the Twelve, with Joseph Anderson, David B. Haight, and William H. Bennett named as Assistants to the Twelve
19 First pre-service orientation program conducted for Latter-day Saints entering military service
May
30 President Smith visits Church members in Mexico City
June
5 6,000 pounds of relief supplies sent to Church members caught in Peru earthquake
6 Announcement that Improvement Era, Children’s Friend, Relief Society Magazine, and Instructor, as well as the seminary system’s Impact, will be discontinued at end of 1970; three new magazines to be published: one for adults, one for youth, one for children
10 Church leaders attend banquet climaxing efforts to raise funds for the Deliverance Temple, to be built for a black denomination in Salt Lake City; Latter-day Saint youth assist in raising money for structure
20 Neal A. Maxwell appointed Church Commissioner of Education, reactivating that position after nearly quarter of century
25 New family camping program announced at MIA June Conference
July
11 The Presiding Bishopric named as General Boy Scout Committee, with general YMMIA and Primary leaders serving on board
18 James O. Mason named as Church Commissioner of Health Services
26 Peter Whitmer home dedicated as tourist center
August
8 Announcement of Aaronic Priesthood personal achievement program, to go into effect September 1
15 Announcement of young women’s personal achievement program, paralleling that for young men, to go into effect January 1, 1971
22 Laurel leadership conference opened at BYU with 2,500 girls participating
31 C. Bryant Whiting set apart as president of Arizona Temple
September
7 Cornerstone of Ogden Temple laid
19 President Smith visits members in Hawaii
26 Announcement made that R- and X-rated movies are not to be advertised in the Church’s daily newspaper, the Deseret News, after October 15, 1970
October
3 Members of Presiding Bishopric named as chairmen of board of trustees of Health Services Corporation. Names for new Church magazines announced: Ensign, New Era, Friend, with publication to begin in January, 1971
6 Thirty-seven buildings dedicated at BYU
10 Mondays set aside for family home evenings with temples and genealogical libraries, as well as local Church facilities, to be closed. Publication of President Smith’s new book, Seek Ye Earnestly. Cecil E. Hart named to preside over Idaho Falls Temple
11 President Smith honored by 3,000 students at Ogden Institute
31 Announcement of new training program for bishops
December
5 Formation of Taiwan Mission announced
19 Announcement of expansion of Church assistance to Indian agricultural and home management program. Name changes in Church Scouting program announced: Scouts, Venturer Explorers, Explorers
1971
January
5 Announcement of purchase of building site adjacent to New York City’s Lincoln Center
16 Consolidation of counseling and admissions services for Church universities and colleges announced
23 Meetinghouse Library Committee formed
February
2 Henry B. Eyring inaugurated as president of Ricks College
12 Relief sent to victims of San Fernando Valley, California, earthquake
27 Church Social Services Department reorganized. First Regional Representative from South America called
March
9 Announcement of plans for law school at BYU
13 Fred W. Schwendiman appointed president of New Zealand Temple
April
5 Charles Lloyd Walch named as president of Hawaii Temple
21 Stephen L. Brower named as president of Church College of Hawaii
May
4 Dallin H. Oaks named as president of BYU
21 Cornerstone laid for Provo Temple
31 Visitors center at Independence, Missouri, dedicated
June
12 Italy North Mission created
22 Alabama-Florida, Florida South, and Georgia-South Carolina missions created
28 New Sunday School Superintendency named: Russell M. Nelson, general superintendent [now called president]
July
12 Last all-Church athletic tournament (tennis) held; tournaments henceforth are to be on area and regional basis throughout the Church
16 Relief sent to victims of Chile earthquake
24 Fiji Mission created. First medical missionaries called
31 Nauvoo Visitors Center opens
August
3 Death of Sister Jessie Evans Smith at age 68
10 Announcement that Church will build new elementary and secondary schools in areas such as Latin America, but will probably not build any more colleges in U.S.
28 Announcement of change of name of Deseret Sunday School Union to Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
27 First area general conference in Manchester, England, opens
September
First deaf ward in Church organized in Salt Lake City
October
Genesis Group organized in Park Stake to provide auxiliary activity for black members in Salt Lake City
November
1 Death of Richard L. Evans of the Council of the Twelve
December
3 Marvin J. Ashton named to the Council of the Twelve
16 Church sells Forest Dale Golf Course back to Salt Lake City, having purchased it in 1959 for the construction of a junior college
1972
January
3 Department of Internal Communications announced, with J. Thomas Fyans as managing director
15 Church Historian’s Office reorganized: Leonard J. Arrington named as Church Historian, Earl E. Olson as Church Archivist
18–20 Dedicatory services for Ogden Temple
29 Announcement of prospective elders program, to replace Aaronic Priesthood—adult program
February
9 Dedicatory services for Provo Temple
March
18 Quebec Mission created
Donald T. Schmidt called as Church librarian; title of the Church Historian’s Office changed to the Historical Department of the Church; James B. Allen and R. Davis Bitton named as assistant Church historians
April
6 John H. Vandenberg and Robert L. Simpson named as Assistants to Council of the Twelve; Victor L. Brown named as Presiding Bishop, with H. Burke Peterson and Vaughn J. Featherstone as counselors. Church Department of Physical Facilities announced
8 Changes made in organization of Church welfare program
18 President Smith receives 1972 Exemplary Manhood Award at BYU
Announcement that Book of Mormon has been translated into Afrikaans
May
13 Sherman M. Crump named general secretary of Aaronic Priesthood
26 Elder Theodore M. Burton named president of Genealogical Society. Lyric Theater in Salt Lake City being restored, to be known as Promised Valley Theater
June
3 First French-speaking stake, Tahiti Stake, organized
25 Titles of Sunday School and YMMIA leaders changed from superintendent and assistant to president and counselor. President Smith addresses closing session of MIA conference
28 Seventy new regions created; 35 new Regional Representatives called; mission districts as well as stakes now included in regions; 29 Mission Representatives called to direct missionary work under the Council of the Twelve and First Council of the Seventy
29 John K. Edmunds appointed president of Salt Lake Temple
July
2 President Joseph Fielding Smith dies in Salt Lake City
6 Funeral services for President Smith in the Tabernacle; burial in the Salt Lake City Cemetery