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Show President Joseph Fielding Smith, in his first year as President, has had a busy, eventful year. An Historic, Eventful Year For President Of Church 1 I l By JACK E. JARRARD Church News Staff Writer he first year of President Joseph Fielding Smith's tenure in office has been an historic and eventful one. President Smith was ordained and set apart as the 10th president of the Church on Jan. 23, and the ensuing 12 months saw many significant changes and growth in the Church. Membership will hit near 2.9 million as 1970 becomes a part of history. Also reflected in the Church growth is the organization of 41 new stakes in' such farflung areas as Peru, Japan, South Africa, the South Pacific, Brazil, London and Mexico. Stake in Montana which brings the total to Kalispell Stake in Montana which brings the total to 537 stakes in the Church. These include more than 4,142 wards and 757 branches. Of significance in 1970 was the organization of the 500th stake of the Church on the same day that President McKay died Jan. 1K The stake was organized in Fallon, Nev. The First Presidency, which includes Presidenf Smith's counselors, President Harold B. Lee and President N. Eldon Tanner, also announced the creation of five new missions during the year. These were Ecuador, Spain, Pennsylvania, two in Japan, and one in Taiwan for a total of 93 missions in the world, Since President Smith became president, several correlation programs have been announced, a new Church historian has been called, and many new assignments given the General Authorities and the Regional Representatives of the Twelve. President Smith participated in the reorganization of four temple presidencies and visited the Hawaii Temple on a speaking tour of the islands. The new presidencies head temples in Los Angeles, Mesa, Idaho Falls, and st. George. A significant change was noted in the Church publications field when in June the First Presidency announced that all Chm'ch magazines would be reorganized into three separate monthly publications-one T for adults, one for youth and one for young adults. The three new magazines, to begin cirCUlation on Jan. 1, are being published under the direct supervision of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve, and will bring the publications into harmony with the Church Correlation Program. President Smith, President Lee and President Tanner will serve as editors of the magazines. A significant move in the field of Church education was made mid-year in the first year of President Smith's calling as president of the Church. The First Presidency called Neal A. Maxwell, executive vice president of the University of Utah, as the Church commissioner of education. In his new post, Mr. Maxwell will direct the entire Church education system under direction of the Church Board of Education. The scouting program and Aaronic PriE'stiIood were placed in full correlation under President Smith's guidance when he named the Presiding Bishopric as chairman of of the General Boy Scout Committee of the Church. President Richard M. Nixon became a familiar figure in Salt Lake City as he made two visits and 'each time conferred with President Smith and his counselors. The health needs of the Church were seen by President Smith and the new Church Health Services was organized with Dr. James O. Mason called as the first Church health commissioner. The First Presidency named Presiding Bislwp John H. Vandenberg chairman of the board of the services. The general purpo:;:e and objective of the services is to operate hospitals and health-related facilities and activities of the Church. In line with the admonition that "The Glory of God Is Intelligence," a new teacher development program for the Church was announced by the First Presidency and is to go into effect the first of the year. The teaching plan will take in the pro- spective teacher, the inservice teacher and supervision. The program was outlined at the priesthood session of October General Conference. The sanctity of the home also was stressed by President Smith and he set Family Home Evening throughout the Church for Monday evenings. The First Presidency admonished the Church leadership that no meetings or other Church-related activities should be held on Monday nights. A new Personal Achievement Program for the Youth of the Church also was inaugurat~d during the year. It was set up to help the ward bishop and branch president, his counselors and the teachers and advisers get closer to the young people. The program also allows the young people to set their personal goals in Church and other activity. A great help for the thousands of bishops in the Church also was announced by the First Presidency to start the first of the year. This was a new training program to be conducted by the stake presidents to instrud bish<Jps and train them and prospective bishops for the tasks and problems facing them. The program was based on an outline of a bishop's responsibilities prepared by President Lee. Also during the past year, President Smith had sad tasks in presiding at the funerals of President McKay, his widow, Emma Ray McKay, and Elder Thorpe 13. Isaacson, an Assistant to the Twelve and former member of the First Presidency. A'S the curtains were being drawn on 1970, the First Presidency announced yet another priesthood program aimed at bringing the Aaronic Priesthood and the YMMIA into closer accord with the correlation program. The new program will bring Aaronic Priesthood leaders and MIA advisors into closer cooperation for the good of the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood. I Warmth of Pres. Smith is shown in love for children. WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 1970 • CHURCH-7 |
