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Presiding Patriarch (Mormonism)The Presiding Patriarch is a leadership office in the Latter Day Saint movement. Also known as "Patriarch over the Church," "Patriarch of the Church," or "Patriarch to the Church," the office's role and scope has sometimes led to conflicts. Duties The role and duties of the office have varied. The Presiding Patriarch sometimes appointed local patriarchs in the stakes of the church and presided over them as a loose "Quorum of Patriarchs." Like the local Patriarchs, the Presiding Patriarch is also empowered to give Patriachal Blessings. History The first Presiding Patriarch was Joseph Smith, Sr., father of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. When the senior Smith was on his deathbed, he ordained his eldest son, Hyrum, to succeed him in the office by right of lineal succession. When Hyrum was assassinated together with his brother Joseph, their only surviving brother, William asserted his lineal right to the Patriarchate. William was duly ordained, but he argued with Brigham Young over the scope of the office and was eventually excommunicated from Young's organization. William went on to be recognized as Presiding Patriarch of a rival faction of the church led by James J. Strang. He later broke with Strang as well and asserted his own claim to be successor to the Presidency of the Church. In the meantime, Young called John Smith, a brother of Joseph Smith Sr., to be Presiding Patriarch of his church faction, which became the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John Smith was succeeded by Hyrum's son, also named John Smith, in 1855. This John Smith was followed by his grandson, Hyrum G. Smith in 1912. After Hyrum G. Smith's death, in 1932, church President Heber J. Grant wanted to dimish responsibilities of the office and also wanted to eliminate the precedent of lineal succession. After a ten year conflict with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he succeded in elevating Joseph F. Smith II to the office in 1942. Joseph F. Smith II resigned the office in 1946 and in 1947, Hyrum G. Smith's son, Eldred G. Smith became Presiding Patriarch. In 1979, the church Presidency put Eldred on "emeritus" status and effectively discontinued the office. Related articles References - Irene M. Bates and E. Gary Smith, Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch, Urbana, Illinois, 1996.
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