ELDRED G SMITH PASSES AWAY AT 106

Dear Family,

We went to the funeral of Eldred G. Smith the other day.  He was 106 years old and the oldest man living in Utah at the time.

Here is a photo of him and President Monson on one of his birthdays.  President Monson visited him on his birthday each year after Eldred turned 100.

Eldred Smith was a member of our ward and the most faithful person going to church.  He came to all meetings and stayed the entire time.  Mom and I spoke to him last Sunday. He drove a car up until last year or two.  He was of course the Patriarch to the Church for many years, an office that came down through the Smith family.  He gave over 18,000 blessings and would travel to areas of the world where there were no Patriarchs to give this special blessing.

He gave a great fireside on Joseph Smith and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and came to our home twice to give this fireside.  His family has the clothing wore by Joseph and Hyrum when they were shot in the Carthage jail.  Eldred's history is full of church history and he was a Smith through and through!

When I was ordained a Patriarch, he would always invite me to ride up with him on the little elevator we have in our church building.  It was very slow and he would chat on the way up.  I asked him once how many descendants he had. He was not sure but at the time he had 17 great, great, grandchildren which blew my mind.  He now has 22 great, great, grandchildren.  I liked him because he was so faithful in coming to church even when he became frail.  President Monson paid him tribute at his funeral.  We will miss him but I will always remember his example.

Love, Dad