Joseph Smith Sr.
| Joseph Smith Sr. | |
|---|---|
| 1st Presiding Patriarch | |
| December 18, 1833 – September 14, 1840 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith Jr. |
| Successor | Hyrum Smith |
| Assistant Counselor in the First Presidency | |
| September 3, 1837 – September 14, 1840 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 12, 1771 Topsfield, Province of Massachusetts Bay |
| Died | September 14, 1840 (aged 69) Nauvoo, Illinois, United States |
| Resting place | Smith Family Cemetery 40°32′25.98″N 91°23′31.06″W / 40.5405500°N 91.3919611°W |
| Spouse(s) | Lucy Mack |
| Children | 11, including: Alvin Smith Hyrum Smith Joseph Smith Jr. Samuel H. Smith William Smith Katharine Smith Don Carlos Smith |
| Parents | Asael Smith |
Joseph Smith Sr. (July 12, 1771 – September 14, 1840) was the father of Joseph Smith Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Smith Sr. was also one of the Eight Witnesses, the second of two groups of witnesses that stated that they had seen and handled the golden plates, which his son, Joseph, said was his source material for the Book of Mormon. Smith was an original members of his son's church, the Church of Christ, in 1830 when it was founded. In 1833, Smith became the church's first patriarch, and in 1837 became a member of the First Presidency of the church until his death in 1840.