Joseph Smith, Sr., First Patriarch to the LDS Church

"Father Smith," as he was affectionately called by contemporary Latter-day Saints, played an important role in the first decade of LDS Church history as one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon who saw and held the gold plates; as the person to whom D&C 4 (February 1829) was directed; as one of the first baptized members of the Church; as one of the fledgling Church's first missionaries (successful in bringing nearly all of his family to Mormonism); as a member of the first High Council; as one of the assistant counselors to the Prophet Joseph; and as the first Patriarch to the whole Church. Father Smith gave patriarchal blessings and ministered to hundreds of Latter-day Saints, from his ordination on December 18, 1833, by his son, the Prophet Joseph, until his death on September 14, 1840, just hours after pronouncing patriarchal blessings on each of his children.