Belle S. Spafford
Encyclopedia
Marion Isabelle Sims Smith Spafford (October 8, 1895 – February 2, 1982) was the ninth general president of the Relief Society
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 6, 1945 until October 3, 1974. She served longer in this capacity than any other woman in the history of the Relief Society. Spafford was also the second counselor to president Amy B. Lyman
from 1942 to 1945. In 1974, Spafford was succeeded by Barbara B. Smith
.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
to John Gibson Smith and his wife the former Hester Sims. She was their seventh and last child.
Spafford served under six presidents of the church, from Heber J. Grant
to Spencer W. Kimball
. During her tenure as president, the society grew from just over 100,000 members to more than one million spanning several dozen countries. Spafford oversaw the discontinuance of the Relief Society Magazine
in 1970 and promoted the Ensign as the primary magazine for the women of the church.
Spafford was the founder of the LDS Church's social services program, the program that is today LDS Family Services
.
Spafford was a member of the National Council of Women of the United States, and served as its president from 1968 to 1970. She was also a member of the American Regional Council of the International Council of Women
. In the late 1970s Spafford was a very vocal opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment
.
Spafford attended both the University of Utah
and Brigham Young University
. She did work with special education instruction at BYU.
In 1921, Belle married W. Earl Spafford. They had two children, Earl and Mary. The Belle S. Spafford Endowed Chair in Social Work at the University of Utah is named in her honor. She authored two books: Women in Today's World and A Woman's Reach.
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 6, 1945 until October 3, 1974. She served longer in this capacity than any other woman in the history of the Relief Society. Spafford was also the second counselor to president Amy B. Lyman
Amy B. Lyman
Amy Brown Lyman was the eighth general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1940 to 1945....
from 1942 to 1945. In 1974, Spafford was succeeded by Barbara B. Smith
Barbara B. Smith
Barbara Bradshaw Smith was the tenth general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1974 to 1984. She was the first Relief Society president to have been born in the 20th century.A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Smith graduated from South High...
.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
to John Gibson Smith and his wife the former Hester Sims. She was their seventh and last child.
Spafford served under six presidents of the church, from Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
to Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
. During her tenure as president, the society grew from just over 100,000 members to more than one million spanning several dozen countries. Spafford oversaw the discontinuance of the Relief Society Magazine
Relief Society Magazine
Relief Society Magazine was the official publication of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1915 to 1970. It succeeded the earlier Woman's Exponent, which was begun in 1872. The magazine was an important publishing outlet for Utah women, and was run by women...
in 1970 and promoted the Ensign as the primary magazine for the women of the church.
Spafford was the founder of the LDS Church's social services program, the program that is today LDS Family Services
LDS Family Services
LDS Family Services is a private nonprofit corporation owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It offers members of the church and others adoption services, marital and family counseling, addiction and drug dependency counseling, general psychotherapy, and counseling...
.
Spafford was a member of the National Council of Women of the United States, and served as its president from 1968 to 1970. She was also a member of the American Regional Council of the International Council of Women
International Council of Women
The International Council of Women was the first women's organization to work across national boundaries for the common cause of advocating human rights for women. In March and April 1888, women leaders came together in Washington D.C...
. In the late 1970s Spafford was a very vocal opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
.
Spafford attended both the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. She did work with special education instruction at BYU.
In 1921, Belle married W. Earl Spafford. They had two children, Earl and Mary. The Belle S. Spafford Endowed Chair in Social Work at the University of Utah is named in her honor. She authored two books: Women in Today's World and A Woman's Reach.
External links
- Nola Redd, Relief Society Presidents: Belle S. Spafford