Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York; son of Clarissa Lyman and John Smith. Baptized, 1832. Ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 1839, at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. Served a mission to England, 1839–1841. Married Bathsheba W. Bigler, 1841; participated in plural marriage. Admitted to the Council of Fifty, 1844. Traveled to the Salt Lake Valley with the Brigham Young pioneer company, 1847. Appointed church historian and recorder, 1854. Appointed first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency, 1868. Died at Salt Lake City. 1 (See Document 3.23)