RLDS president visits Church headquarters
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President Wallace B. Smith of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints paid a courtesy call to Church headquarters during a three-day visit to Salt Lake City Oct. 19-21.
The president of the 243,000-member church, headquartered in Independence, Mo., was in town to visit and renew personal ties with members of the RLDS congregation.RLDS Church leaders met with President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, and several members of the Council of the Twelve and of the Seventy Oct. 19.
Dr. George J. Van Komen, a Salt Lake physician and friend of the Smith family, helped arrange the RLDS leader's visit to Church headquarters.
"I have been acquainted with his brother-in-law, Dr. Otto Elser, for the past five years," said Dr. Van Komen. "We have a common heritage and background."
President Smith and his wife, Ann, and other local RLDS leaders met in the First Presidency board room with President Hinckley, President Howard W. Hunter of the Council of the Twelve, and Elders H. Burke Peterson and Loren C. Dunn of the Seventy.
Elder Peterson is the current area president of the North America Central area, an area that includes the RLDS headquarters. Elder Dunn is past president of the area and was acquainted with President Smith.
After the meeting, the group attended a luncheon on the 26th Floor of the Church Office Building. Six members of the Council of the Twelve - including President Hunter - attended the luncheon.
Elders Boyd K. Packer, James E. Faust, Neal A. Maxwell, Joseph B. Wirthlin and Richard G. Scott and their wives were among those in attendance.
Local RLDS leaders also attended. Leaders of the two groups exchanged gifts. President Hinckley presented a small replica of the statue of "In the Family Circle" to President Smith, who then presented a painting of the Seventies Hall in Nauvoo, Ill., to President Hinckley.
