The first Patriarch to the Church called in this dispensation was Joseph Smith, Sr, at his death, his oldest surviving son, Hyrum, received the call to serve. With the exception of a ten year interregnum when acting Patriarchs were called, the call has remained in this birthright family. There are only two in the history of the Church not related to the Smith's.
The Patriarch to the Church was a Church officer whose chief duty was to confer patriarchal blessings on church members who did not have the service of Stake Patriarchs readily available to them. As more areas were absorbed into newly created Stakes, each of which was provided with a Patriarch, the local availability of Stake Patriarchs greatly increased..
In 1979 the office of Patriarch to the Church was retired because of the large increase in the number of Stake Patriarchs and the availability of patriarchal service throughout the world. Eldred G. Smith was designated "a Patriarch Emeritus, which means that he is honorably relieved of all duties and responsibilities pertaining to the office of Patriarch to the Church" (CR Oct. 1979). Since the office of Patriarch is both a Priesthood office to which one is ordained and a position in Church hierarchy, to which one is called, Eldred G. Smith's ordination remains valid although the position is not filled.
Hyrum Smith
William B. Smith
John Smith (Jos. Smith, Sr. Brother)
John Smith (Hyrum Smith Son)
Hyrum Gibbs Smith
Nicholas G. Smith
Frank B. Woodbury
George F. Richards
Joseph Fielding Smith
Eldred G. Smith
