Representative Israel Alexander Smith View All Years

ISRAEL ALEXANDER SMITH

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character, and public service of the late Honorable Israel Alexander Smith, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Israel Alexander Smith, who lost his life in an automobile accident on June 14, 1958, was a quiet, dignified gentleman, and at his death was spiritual leader and administrative head of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with World Headquarters in Independence, Missouri.

The statistical facts of his life show him living a busy and broad life.

He was born at Plano, Illinois, on February 2, 1876, the son of Joseph Smith III. At the age of five he moved with his family to Lamoni, Iowa. There he attended the public schools and was graduated from the Lamoni high school in 1895. He was enrolled in the first class at Graceland College.

Israel Alexander Smith was married on March 14, 1908, to Nina Grenawalt, who preceded him in death. They had two sons, Joseph Perrine, born in 1912, and who died in March, 1936; and Donald Carlos, born in 1916.

His public and political life was full. He was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1912; to the Missouri Bar in 1913, and held memberships in the Independence, Missouri, Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association, and American Bar Association. He served Decatur county one term as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1911 to 1913 in the Thirty­fourth General Assembly of Iowa. In 1942 he was elected President of the Iowa Pioneer Lawmakers Association and served several years in that capacity. In 1943 he was appointed a member of the Missouri Constitutional Convention, which gave the state of Missouri a new constitution in 1944, and was made chairman of its committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Federal Relations.

He was a member of the American War Dads; Trustee of Jackson County, Missouri, Tuberculosis Society; Jackson County Red Cross Chapter; and Missouri Historical Society. He gave much time to his work as President of the Board of Trustees of the Independence, Missouri, Sanitarium and Hospital.

He started his spiritual development early in life. He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for seventy-two years. His church work included: associate editor of the church paper, The Saint’s Herald, 1908 to 1914; served as counselor to the presiding bishop from 1920 to 1925; a member of the general church standing high council from 1922 to 1942; general church secretary 1930 to 1940; and counselor in the first presidency 1940 to 1946. In 1946 he was ordained prophet, seer, revelator, and president of the church. Under his spiritual and administrative leadership the church expanded in the achievement of its goals and objectives.

He was a kind and intellectual leader, and a noble Christian gentleman, who was wholeheartedly devoted to the cause of liberty, justice, and freedom. He stood for integrity and right, and the influence of this man was felt throughout many nations of the world.

He will long be remembered and cherished for the enduring qualities he developed in the eighty-two years of his life as a good and humble citizen, with many human interests, yet a great church and civic leader, with high ethical standards and practical achievements.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-eighth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Israel Alexander Smith the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House, by this resolution, would express its sympathy to his son and the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward enrolled copies to the family of the deceased, to the World Headquarters of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and to the Lamoni Congregation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

FRANKLIN S. MAIN,

REED CASEY,

STANLEY WATTS,

Committee.