page_title: Abraham O. Smoot
section_title: Provo and Brigham Young Academy
hierarchical_section_title: Abraham O. Smoot / Leadership in Utah / Provo and Brigham Young Academy
caption_attribution_description: English: Exterior of the Abraham O. Smoot (Administration) Building at BYU
context_page_description: Abraham Owen Smoot was an American pioneer, businessman, religious leader, and politician. He spent his early life as a missionary in Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, and England. Like other early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Smoot practiced plural marriage, eventually marrying six women and having 27 children. After migrating west to Utah, he was elected as the second mayor of Salt Lake City. He was then assigned by Brigham Young to move to Provo, where he served as stake president and mayor from 1868 to 1881. Smoot was the first president of the board of trustees of Brigham Young Academy - which later developed into Brigham Young University - and was an early financial supporter of the institution. The Smoot Administration Building at BYU is named after him.
context_section_description: Early in 1868, Young called Smoot to be president of the Utah Stake in Provo. Young was concerned with church members' unity and cooperation, and he expected Smoot to improve the situation. According to family tradition, Smoot initially protested the call. After more than three decades of church and civic service, including nine missions, Smoot was apparently looking forward to enjoying the comforts brought by his hard work and successful business ventures. When Young told Smoot about the assignment, he reportedly said, "There are three places, all on a par, one is as good as the other. They are Provo, Hell, or Texas. You can take your choice." Although Smoot supposedly responded, "I would sooner go to Hell than to Provo," he eventually chose Provo.
  By February 1868, Smoot moved to Provo with at least two of his wives and their children. Within his first week in the city, Smoot was elected mayor, an office he held until 1881. He reportedly received no compensation for his public service in both Provo and Salt Lake City. Under his leadership, the Utah Southern Railroad, multiple streets, and the Provo Tabernacle were built. Smoot contributed personally to the fund for the Tabernacle and worked to raise money from the community as well. He was a major investor in the Provo Woolen Mills and eventually became president of the business. Smoot was also co-founder and president of the First National Bank of Provo and the Provo Lumber Manufacturing and Building Company.
  Smoot was the first president of the board of trustees of BYA from 1875 until his death in 1895. Smoot is credited with making major financial contributions to BYA that allowed for its continued operations. Enrollment increased from 70 students to 313 during Smoot's tenure. The Academy eventually developed into BYU. Today, BYU's administration building is named after Smoot. Despite personal financial success, Smoot was heavily weighed down by the burden of debts from the construction of the Provo Tabernacle and Academy Building, for which he was personally liable, until his passing. He mortgaged his property in order to sustain BYA.
caption: Smoot Administration Building at BYU
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