By . Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:35 EST, 8 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:37 EST, 8 April 2013 . Elder Eldred G. Smith, the oldest Mormon church general authority and oldest known Utah resident, has died at the age of 106. Smith, who was born in Lehi, Utah, died on Thursday night. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement praising him as a 'valued friend' and 'respected leader.' Mourning: Elder Eldred G. Smith, the oldest Mormon church general authority and oldest known Utah resident, has died at the age of 106 . During his 32 years as church patriarch, he traveled to every continent and gave more than 18,000 blessings. Smith, the great-great-great-nephew of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith Jr, had been an emeritus church patriarch since 1979. Historian Richard Bushman, an ordained LDS patriarch, told the Salt Lake Tribune: 'Though I didn’t know him personally, Eldred Smith embodied the Mormon patriarchal ideal - that we are connected in our families going back through time - and brought it into the 20th century. 'No one spoke as long and as effectively about Joseph Smith as Patriarch Smith. His passing will be a loss.' Worship: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement praising Smith as a 'valued friend' and 'respected leader' Family ties: Eldred Smith, pictured left, was the great-great-great-nephew of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith Jr, right . Provo's Daily Herald reports he had five children, 24 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great grandchildren as of a year ago. KSL reported that he was the most long-lived general authority in the church's history. The LDS Church said in a statement: 'The church lost a valued friend and respected leader with the passing of Patriarch Eldred G. Smith. 'He was a man who lived a Christ-centered life as he faithfully served as patriarch to the church. We pray for the Lord’s blessing to be upon his family at this tender time.' Smith celebrated his 106th birthday on January 9. Elder of the church: Smith was reportedly the most long-lived general authority in the church's history .
Smith was the great-great-great nephew of church founder Joseph Smith Jr .
At 106 years old, he was also Utah's oldest resident .
By . Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:35 EST, 8 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:37 EST, 8 April 2013 . Elder Eldred G. Smith, the oldest Mormon church general authority and oldest known Utah resident, has died at the age of 106. Smith, who was born in Lehi, Utah, died on Thursday night. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement praising him as a 'valued friend' and 'respected leader.' Mourning: Elder Eldred G. Smith, the oldest Mormon church general authority and oldest known Utah resident, has died at the age of 106 . During his 32 years as church patriarch, he traveled to every continent and gave more than 18,000 blessings. Smith, the great-great-great-nephew of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith Jr, had been an emeritus church patriarch since 1979. Historian Richard Bushman, an ordained LDS patriarch, told the Salt Lake Tribune: 'Though I didn’t know him personally, Eldred Smith embodied the Mormon patriarchal ideal - that we are connected in our families going back through time - and brought it into the 20th century. 'No one spoke as long and as effectively about Joseph Smith as Patriarch Smith. His passing will be a loss.' Worship: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement praising Smith as a 'valued friend' and 'respected leader' Family ties: Eldred Smith, pictured left, was the great-great-great-nephew of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith Jr, right . Provo's Daily Herald reports he had five children, 24 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great grandchildren as of a year ago. KSL reported that he was the most long-lived general authority in the church's history. The LDS Church said in a statement: 'The church lost a valued friend and respected leader with the passing of Patriarch Eldred G. Smith. 'He was a man who lived a Christ-centered life as he faithfully served as patriarch to the church. We pray for the Lord’s blessing to be upon his family at this tender time.' Smith celebrated his 106th birthday on January 9. Elder of the church: Smith was reportedly the most long-lived general authority in the church's history .
Smith, the oldest Mormon church general authority great-great-great-nephew of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith Jr, right . Provo's Daily Herald he was the most long-lived general authority in