Hale Smith to the office. Thereafter, the office of Presiding Patriarch in the RLDS Church remained within the Smith family and was passed by lineal succession until 1958. In that year, W. Wallace Smith ended the tradition by calling Roy Cheville as Presiding Patriarch. Today, Presiding Patriarchs of what is now the Community of Christ are known as "Presiding Evangelists." After William Smith was excommunicated by Brigham Young, "Uncle" John Smith (brother of Joseph Smith, Sr.) was appointed by Young to be Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church. After the death of that John Smith, another John Smith (a son of Hyrum Smith) became Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church. Thereafter, the majority of the Presiding Patriarchs of the LDS Church were descendants of Hyrum, in keeping with the tradition of lineal succession. The LDS Church ceased to include Presiding Patriarchs in its hierarchy after 1979, when Eldred G. Smith was released from official duties and designated as emeritus. Apostleship In the LDS Church, some leaders have regarded the office of apostle as one that may be transmitted by lineal succession, though such a practice has never been formalized in the church. The following father–son apostle combinations have existed in the LDS Church: Brigham Young selected and ordained three of his sons to be apostles at relatively young ages: Brigham Young, Jr., (age 29), John Willard Young (age 11), and Joseph Angell Young (age 29). John Taylor selected and ordained his son, John W. Taylor, to be an apostle at age 25. Wilford Woodruff selected and ordained his son, Abraham O. Woodruff, to be an apostle at age 23. Joseph F. Smith selected and ordained his sons, Hyrum M. Smith (age 29) and Joseph Fielding Smith (age 33) as apostles. Joseph F. Smith was a son of Hyrum Smith, who was an apostle and the Assistant President of the Church. all members of the three-generation George A. Smith, John Henry Smith, and George Albert Smith line were apostles. all members of the three-generation Amasa Lyman, Francis M. Lyman, and Richard R. Lyman line were apostles. all members of the three-generation Franklin D. Richards, George F. Richards, and LeGrand Richards line were apostles. George Q. Cannon and his sons, Sylvester Q. Cannon and Abraham H. Cannon, were all apostles. Jedediah M. Grant and his son, Heber J. Grant, were both apostles. Marriner W. Merrill and his son, Joseph F. Merrill, were