A Mormon Larry Craig?

I recently came across this information and thought it might be interesting in light of the recent goings on with Idaho's senior senator.

Joseph Fielding Smith (30 January 1899—29 August 1964) was Presiding Patriarch and a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1942 until 1946.

Smith should not be confused with his grandfather, Joseph F. Smith, nor his uncle, Joseph Fielding Smith, both of whom served as Apostles and later as Presidents of the Church.Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of LDS Apostle Hyrum M. Smith and Ida Elizabeth Bowman. He went to school at the University of Utah, where he majored in Theater. In 1929, he married Ruth Pingree.[1] Together they had 7 children, Ruth, Lynne, Ida, Joe, Denis, Hyrum and Pauline.[2].

At the age of 43, Smith was ordained a High Priest and Patriarch to the Church on 8 October 1942 by Church President Heber J. Grant. He served but four years before it was reported by the Church that he had requested to be released from his position. His request was granted by Church President George Albert Smith on 6 October 1946, with the Church announcing that Smith was released for reasons of "ill health."[3] After Smith's death it was discovered that the patriarch had been involved in a homosexual affair with a 21-year-old U.S. Navy sailor, who was also a Latter-day Saint.[4] Homosexuality was considered a mental illness in the USA until 1974,[5] which may explain why "ill health" was given as the reason for the release.

After being released, Smith took his family to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he continued to raise his family. For a time, Smith was not allowed to hold any position in the church, but reportedly was "treated with compassion."[6] In 1957, Smith was again allowed to serve in the church after he had forsaken his homosexual behavior.[7] Shortly thereafter, Smith's wife Ruth wrote a letter to Church President David O. McKay expressing her gratitude for the church's help, stating, "I know, better than anyone else, the trial our family has been to you and to the authorities."[8] In 1957 and after, Smith served as a member of his stake's high council.

Smith died and was buried in Salt Lake City, Utah.

To follow up on this I was in the library today and looked for the entry on Joseph Fielding Smith II in a book on the history of the office of Presiding Patriarch. It included some quotations from the journals of George Albert Smith, the Church President at the time and a relative of Patriarch Smith. President Smith records very briefly that he dealt with the patriarchs 'situation' that day in council, and that the whole thing was 'heartbreaking'. I love that President Smith never submits Patriarch Smiths embarrassing situation to paper by name. The more I read about George Albert Smith the more I become convinced that he was quite the empathetic compassionate soul, as witnessed by his handling of the 'Conventionista's' and struggling Saints in Post-war Europe ect. I really need to read a biography on that man.