Job Smith

Job Taylor Smith was born 2 December 1828 in Dewhurst, Gloucestershire, England, to Thomas and Ann (Taylor) Smith. Due to his parents' poverty, at the age of 2½ years, Job was taken to his uncle and aunt, George and Mary Bundy in Red Marley, and was brought up by them. Job’s uncle and aunt were members of the United Brethren. He was sent to school at the age of ten and was a regular scholar for 15 months. In 1835, Job’s sister, Ann, was also living with the family, being adopted as a baby. After finishing his schooling, Job learned the art of basket making. The family had moved to the small village of Haw-Cross, in the parish of Redmarley. When they heard Wilford Woodruff's message, they joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840.

Job recalls his baptism in his journal as follows, “My Uncle and Aunt readily received the gospel, as did also my Father, as he also belonged to the United Brethren. On the 18th day of May 1840, I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Elder Thomas Kington. Confirmed at the water’s edge by Presidents Brigham Young, Willard Richards and Wilford Woodruff.” After Job’s baptism, being only twelve years old and being capable to read and write a tolerably, he was made use of among the small branches as a clerk and book agent, and frequently spoke in meetings as he was instructed by the elder officers. Job used to teach the Saints in their prayer meetings and visit them if they were not attending to their duties.

In 1843, the family immigrated to the United States. Job, his aunt and uncle, and sister, Ann, suffered much during the next five years while living at Nauvoo, Illinois, Council Bluffs, Iowa and Winter Quarters, Nebraska. In 1848 they travelled to Salt Lake City, Utah, in the Brigham Young Company. In 1849, at age 21, Job was called to serve a mission to England, where he served for five years as president of the Bedfordshire Conference. Job married Adelaide Fowles in 1852. At the completion of his mission in 1854, Job and Adelaide immigrated to the United States and arrived at Salt Lake City that September. Adelaide's sister, Jane, accompanied the family to Utah and married Job as a plural wife in 1855. Job also married Sarah Punter and Charlotte Slinger in 1874 and 1885, respectively. Job worked as a basket maker on Main Street, Salt Lake City, the first to do so in Utah, and occasionally as a farmer. In 1877, Job served another mission, this time to the Pacific States. Job Smith wrote an article on the United Brethren that gives a detailed description of why they were formed and how they operated. It was printed in the Improvement Era in July 1910.

Job died 3 January 1913 in Salt Lake City - Age 84.