Frederick M. Smith

Frederick M. Smith
Prophet–President of the Church
May 5, 1915 (1915-05-05) – March 20, 1946 (1946-03-20)
Predecessor	Joseph Smith III
Successor	Israel A. Smith
Reason	Doctrine of Lineal succession
Counselor in the First Presidency
April 18, 1902 (1902-04-18) – May 5, 1915 (1915-05-05)
Called by	Joseph Smith III
Predecessor	William W. Blair
Successor	Floyd M. McDowell
Reason	Death of William W. Blair
End reason	Became Prophet–President of the Church
Personal details
Born	Frederick Madison Smith (1874-01-21)January 21, 1874 Plano, Illinois, U.S.
Died	March 20, 1946(1946-03-20) (aged 72) Independence, Missouri, U.S.
Resting place	Mound Grove Cemetery 39°06′43.31″N 94°25′37.05″W / 39.1120306°N 94.4269583°W / 39.1120306; -94.4269583
Education	BA–Graceland College MA–University of Kansas PhD–Clark University
Spouse(s)	Ruth Lyman Cobb Smith
Parents	Joseph Smith III Bertha Madison Smith
Website	Frederick M. Smith

Frederick Madison Smith (January 21, 1874 – March 20, 1946), generally known among his followers as "Fred M.", was an American religious leader and author and the third Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (renamed the Community of Christ in 2001), serving from 1915 until his death.

Smith's paternal grandfather was Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his father was Joseph Smith III, the first president after the Church's "Reorganization." The first graduate of Graceland University, Fred M. earned a PhD in psychology from Clark University in 1916, setting him apart as one of the most highly educated members of his church at the time.^[1]

Smith's leadership was controversial. One biographer has called him "a man of paradox"^[2] and "one of the most controversial figures in Reorganization history."^[3] His presidency saw the church initiate a series of major projects, but it was also marred by the controversy over what became known as "Supreme Directional Control."^[4]