Wallace B. Smith, great-grandson to Joseph and Emma Smith

Wallace B. Smith, great-grandson to Joseph and Emma Smith, currently lives in Independence, MO.

He was born July 29, 1929 in Lamoni Iowa to W. Wallace Smith (son of Joseph Smith III) and Rosamund Bunnell Smith. Wallace and his wife Anne had 3 children, as he worked as an ophthalmologist in the Independence, MO area.

He was designated his father’s successor and ordained President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on April 5, 1978. His presidency was notable for authorizing the construction of the church’s temple in Independence (1990-1994), as well as promoting a church conference in 1984 which approved the ordination of females to priesthood offices.

Wallace B. Smith is also noted to be one of the first church leaders to formally propose a name-change for the church in 1994 to “Community of Christ” from “Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” The name change was finally accepted by the majority vote in the April 2000 World Conference, four years after Smith retired as the church’s prophet-president.

He formally retired on April 15, 1996, at which time his successor W. Grant McMurray was ordained in a ceremony at the RLDS Auditorium.

Currently, Wallace B. Smith holds the position of “President Emeritus” and continues to offer his love and support for Community of Christ and their efforts to promote world peace.