Barbara Bradshaw Smith (January 26, 1922 – September 13, 2010) was the tenth general president of the

Relief Society The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States, and has more than 7 million members in over 18 ...

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1974 to 1984. She was the first Relief Society General President to have been born in the 20th century. Born on January 26, 1922, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Smith was the third of six children born to Dorothy Mills and Dan Delos Bradshaw. Smith graduated from South High School in 1940. She married Douglas H. Smith in the Salt Lake Temple on June 16, 1941. They were the parents of seven children. In 1974, Smith succeeded

Belle S. Spafford Marion Isabelle Sims Spafford ( Smith; October 8, 1895 – February 2, 1982), known as Belle S. Spafford, was the ninth Relief Society General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 6, 1945, unti ...

, who had been the Relief Society General President since 1945. Prior to her becoming Relief Society General President, Smith had served on a number of general boards at local and general church levels in the same organization. As Relief Society General President, Smith spearheaded the LDS Church's opposition to the proposed

Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...

to the U.S. Constitution. Smith also used her position to actively oppose the recruitment of women into the United States military and the spread of abortion, which had been legalized in the United States in 1973. Smith was succeeded by

Barbara W. Winder Barbara Ann Woodhead Winder (May 9, 1931 – June 25, 2017) was the eleventh general president of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1984 to 1990. Family and education Barbara Woodhead wa ...

in April 1984. Smith died on September 13, 2010, after suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for a number of years.

Notes

References

“Report of Relief Society Conference,”
'' Ensign'', November 1974, pp. 120–23. *Nola Redd
Relief Society Presidents: Barbara B. Smith
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Barbara B. 1922 births 2010 deaths American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery Deaths from pulmonary fibrosis General Presidents of the Relief Society Religious leaders from Salt Lake City Latter Day Saints from Utah

See also

Notes

References