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W. Wallace Smith
Prophet Emeritus
April 5, 1978 (1978-04-05) – August 4, 1989 (1989-08-04)
Prophet–President of the Church
October 6, 1958 (1958-10-06) – April 5, 1978 (1978-04-05)
Predecessor	Israel A. Smith
Successor	Wallace B. Smith
Reason	Doctrine of Lineal succession
End reason	Granted emeritus status
Counselor in the First Presidency
April 2, 1950 (1950-04-02) – October 8, 1958 (1958-10-08)
Called by	Israel A. Smith
Predecessor	John F. Garver
Successor	Maurice L. Draper
Reason	Death of John F. Garver
End reason	Became Prophet–President of the Church
Council of Twelve Apostles
April 7, 1947 (1947-04-07) – October 8, 1958 (1958-10-08)
Called by	Israel A. Smith
Predecessor	John W. Rushton
Successor	Donald O. Chesworth
Reason	Honorable release of Rushton
End reason	Called as counselor in the First Presidency
Personal details
Born	William Wallace Smith (1900-11-18)November 18, 1900 Lamoni, Iowa, U.S.
Died	August 4, 1989(1989-08-04) (aged 88) Independence, Missouri, U.S.
Resting place	Mound Grove Cemetery 39°6′41.20″N 94°25′34.78″W / 39.1114444°N 94.4263278°W / 39.1114444; -94.4263278
Alma mater	University of Missouri
Spouse(s)	Rosamund Bunnell Smith
Children	2, including Wallace B. Smith
Parents	Joseph Smith III
Website	Our History: W. Wallace Smith
Biography portal

William Wallace Smith ((1900-11-18)November 18, 1900 – (1989-08-04)August 4, 1989) was a grandson of Joseph Smith Jr. and Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Community of Christ), from October 6, 1958, to April 5, 1978, when he retired to "emeritus" status.

Biography

W. Wallace Smith was born in Lamoni, Iowa, on November 18, 1900, to Joseph Smith III and his third wife Ada R. Clark. Smith graduated from the University of Missouri in 1924. He entered the ministry of the RLDS Church in 1928 and was ordained an apostle and joined the Council of Twelve Apostles on April 7, 1947, after the honorable release of John W. Rushton. On April 2, 1950, Smith was called as counselor to Israel A. Smith, his half brother, in the First Presidency, and was replaced in the Quorum of the Twelve by Donald O. Chesworth. Smith died in Independence, Missouri on August 4, 1989.

President of the Church

Smith was the third of his father's sons to succeed to the presidency of the church, assuming the presidency after the deaths of his brothers Frederick M. Smith and Israel A. Smith.

Church Growth

Following a 1960 worldwide missionary tour, W. Wallace Smith's tenure as church president saw substantial overseas growth in the church, especially in Africa, Latin America, and the Far East. Also during his administration, the church saw significant doctrinal and practical changes, characterized by vigorous efforts in ecumenism, liberalism and internationalization of the group's message.

The Independence Temple of Zion

The building of temples is part of the overall tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. For several decades the idea of building of an "Independence Temple of Zion" had been part of RLDS Church tradition. However, nothing specific had been said or done by the leadership of the RLDS Church for several decades. In 1972, W. Wallace brought the concept to the forefront in a document that called for "defining the purpose and selecting the place for erecting a temple."

Breaking with lineal succession

In 1958, instead of calling Lynn Smith to replace his father in the office of Presiding Patriarch, W. Wallace Smith named Roy Cheville to the office, in a break with an RLDS traditional doctrine of lineal succession.

The inter-relationship of the offices of President of the Church (also known as "Prophet-President") and Presiding Patriarch (also known a Presiding Evangelist) in the Smith family, and the doctrine of Lineal succession, of pre and post-reorganization in the Community of Christ:

v t e

Joseph Smith, Sr. 1771–1840 Presiding Patriarch (1833–1840) Lucy Mack Smith 1776–1856 Hyrum Smith 1800–1844 Presiding Patriarch (1841–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. 1805–1844 President of the Church (1830–1844) Emma Hale Smith 1804–1879 Elect Lady William B. Smith 1811–1893 Presiding Patriarch (1845) Bertha Madison 1843–1896 Joseph Smith III 1832–1914 Prophet-President (1860–1914) Ada Clark 1871–1914 Alexander Hale Smith 1838–1909 Presiding Patriarch (1897–1902) David Hyrum Smith 1844–1904 Frederick M. Smith 1874–1946 Prophet–President (1914–1946) Israel A. Smith 1876–1958 Prophet–President (1946–1958) W. Wallace Smith 1900–1989 Prophet–President (1958–1978) Frederick A. Smith 1862–1954 Presiding Patriarch (1913–1938) Elbert A. Smith 1871–1959 Presiding Patriarch (1938–1958)

Retirement

Smith designated his son, Wallace B. Smith as his successor in 1976, and on April 5, 1978, he became the first president of the church to retire to "emeritus" status — all previous presidents had served until their deaths. To ensure a smooth transition, W.W. Smith read a letter of resignation shortly before his son was ordained.

See also

References

1. Questions and Answers on Church Name Change
2. ^ W. Wallace, Smith. "Doctrine and Covenants: Appendix F". Doctrine and Covenants of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
3. Jones, Gracia. "Joseph Smith III". The Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
4. "D&C 140 3-4a". Doctrine and Covenants of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
5. "D&C 142:1b-142:2". Doctrine and Covenants of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
6. ^ "Our History: W. Wallace Smith (1958-1978)". Official website of the Community of Christ. Community of Christ. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
7. ^ Steven C. Kellogg, "Temples of the Restoration," Saints Herald 118 (September 1971):10-12, 30-31; (October 1971):15-17, 48-49; (November 1971):18-20, 32-34.
8. W. Wallace, Smith. "D&C 150:8". Doctrine and Covenants of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
9. "D&C 151:1a and 2". Doctrine and Covenants of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches. Retrieved September 8, 2011.

Other sources

• Richard P. Howard, The Church Through the Years, Herald House: 1992.

External links

• W. Wallace Smith at Find a Grave

v t e Community of Christ
Major people	Joseph Smith Emma Smith David Whitmer Alpheus Cutler William Smith Lyman Wight Joseph Smith III Frederick M. Smith Israel A. Smith Charles D. Neff W. Wallace Smith Wallace B. Smith W. Grant McMurray Stephen M. Veazey Sidney Rigdon
History	First Vision Amboy Conference Lineal succession Supreme Directional Control
Major beliefs	All are Called Concept of Zion God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit Peace Priesthood Prophetic leadership Salvation Worth of all persons
Sacred texts	Bible King James Version Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and covenants
Worship	Auditorium Community of Christ Sings Daily Prayer for Peace Sacraments Temples (Independence, Kirtland)
Organization	Children's Peace Pavilion Seminary World Conference Field organization
Leadership	Prophet-President List First Presidency Council of Twelve Apostles Presiding Bishop World Church Leadership Council Standing High Council Presiding Evangelist
Other	Comparison with Latter-day Saints Graceland University Harmony (organization) Herald Herald House Harvest Hills International Peace Award
Historic Sites	Joseph Smith Mansion House Liberty Hall Nauvoo House Plano Stone Church Red Brick Store Stone Church

• Apostles of the Community of Christ
• 1900 births
• 1989 deaths
• American Latter Day Saints
• American leaders of the Community of Christ
• Doctrine and Covenants people
• Members of the First Presidency (Community of Christ)
• People from Lamoni, Iowa
• Prophet-Presidents of the Community of Christ
• Religious leaders from Iowa
• Smith family (Latter Day Saints)
• University of Missouri alumni