Presiding Patriarch

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." 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 18 December 1833 – 14 September 1840 Joseph Smith Sr. Father of Joseph Smith 14 September 1840 - 27 June 1844 Hyrum Smith Oldest surviving son of Joseph Smith Sr. 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. Conference attendees unanimously voted against Smith being retained as both an apostle and the patriarch.B. H. Roberts (ed.), History of the Church 7:457–59. He then lost both offices and was disfellowshipped from the church.Hosea Stout journal, October 6, 1845. 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).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.April 6, 1872 – November 13, 1893 April 1897 – 12 August 1909 Alexander H. Smith Brother of Joseph Smith III 12 August 1909 – 20 April 1913 Joseph R. Lambert Acting Presiding Patriarch 20 April 1913 – 10 April 1938 Frederick A. Smith Son of Alexander H. Smith. 10 April 1938 – 4 February 1958 Elbert A. Smith Grandson of Joseph Smith, Son of David Hyrum Smith 4 February 1958 – 4 April 1974 Doctrine and Covenants Sec 151:1a and 151:2 Roy A. Cheville Left his professorial career at Graceland College to accept ordination. In 1974 he became "Patriarch Emeritus". First person to serve in that office who was not a direct descendant of Joseph Smith Sr. 4 April 1974 - 29 March 1982 Doctrine and Covenants Sec 155:1a and 155:2a Reed M. Holmes 29 March 1982 – 5 April 1992 Doctrine and Covenants Sec 158:2a and 155:2a Duane E. Couey 5 April 1992 – 5 April 1994 Doctrine and Covenants Sec 158:1 and 155:2a Paul W. Booth "Presiding Evangelist" became preferred title. 5 April 1994 – 2000 Everett S. Graffeo 2000 – 6 March 2006Communication to the Church(Belrose Released): March 6, 2006 Danny A. Belrose 1 May 2006 – 27 March 2007 Richard E. Kohlman Acting Presiding Evangelist 26 March 2007 – 31 March 2016Stephen M. Veazey, "Letter of Counsel about World Church Leadership", cofchrist.org, March 31, 2016. David R. Brock 31 March 2016 – 2 June 2025 Jane M. Gardner First female presiding evangelist2 June 2025 – Mareva M. Arnaud TchongFirst non-American presiding evangelist and first non-native English speaking presiding evangelist. Arnaud Tchong is Tahitian and was formerly a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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. 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. Until that time, the role and duties of the office had varied. 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 18 December 1833 – 14 September 1840 Joseph Smith Sr. Father of Joseph Smith 14 September 1840 – 27 June 1844 Hyrum Smith Oldest surviving son of Joseph Smith Sr. 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. Conference attendees unanimously voted against Smith being retained as both an apostle and the patriarch. He then lost both offices and was disfellowshipped from the church. 1 January 1849 – 23 May 1854 John Smith "Uncle John"; brother of Joseph Smith Sr. 18 February 1855 – 6 November 1911 John Smith Son of Hyrum Smith 9 May 1912 – 4 February 1932 Hyrum G. Smith Grandson of his predecessor John Smith; great-grandson of Hyrum Smith 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 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 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 8 October 1942 – 6 October 1946 Joseph Fielding SmithNot to be confused with his uncle of the same name, Joseph Fielding Smith, who served as church president from 1970 to 1972. Great-grandson of Hyrum Smith; not a descendant of previous presiding patriarch Hyrum G. Smith; ordained as "Patriarch to the Church" rather than "Presiding Patriarch," a change in title that was accompanied by a reduction in the scope of the office, as Smith was not permitted to ordain or formally supervise local patriarchs. Released by church president George Albert Smith amid reports of homosexual activity. "Patriarch to the Church: Released from Duties", Improvement Era 49 (November 1946) pp. 685, 708. Restored to "priesthood status" in 1957. 10 April 1947 – 4 October 1979 Eldred G. Smith Son of former Presiding Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith; great-great-grandson of Hyrum Smith. Patriarch emeritus from 4 October 1979 to his death on 4 April 2013. No longer sustained as "prophet, seer, and revelator" following designation as patriarch emeritus.

Presiding Patriarch

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