[3] Before his death in 1840, Joseph Smith Sr. declared his eldest living son, Hyrum, would receive the office of patriarch by virtue of lineal succession.

[4]: 90  Hyrum at this time was one of the most influential members of the church and was widely seen as the most likely successor to its leadership should he outlive his brother.

By consensus, it was expected that the title of Presiding Patriarch would pass to Hyrum Smith's eldest son, John.

[2]: 99 John Smith was baptized into the LDS Church in 1843 and ordained an elder in the Nauvoo Temple on January 24, 1846, at the age of thirteen.

[2]: 124 [6] He joined the "Battalion of Life Guards" in 1850 with the purpose of protecting the Latter-day Saints from Native Americans.

[2] Although Smith was glossophobic and refused nearly every public speaking assignment that Brigham Young gave him, his patriarchal blessings were eloquent.

[2]: 127, 135 In 1862, Smith was asked to postpone his duties as a Patriarch to serve a mission in Denmark in order to "gain experience".

[4]: 101  Smith was, at one time, called a "Josephite" for maintaining close relationships with his family in the RLDS Church.

[4]: 103  Although there is no official reason for this, according to Bates, it was likely because Hyrum F. Smith was separated from his wife when his father died, had a difficulty following the Word of Wisdom, and had recently had a difficult time keeping a steady job and supporting his family.

[2]: 146  He became the longest-serving Presiding Patriarch in LDS Church history,[7] remaining in that position for 56 years, until his death from pneumonia on November 6, 1911, in Salt Lake City.

Hellen was outspoken about her lack of enthusiasm for plural marriage which was a highly encouraged practice by the LDS Church at the time.