▁tou red ▁the ▁church ' s ▁Mexican ▁Mission . ▁In ▁July ▁and ▁August ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁he ▁made ▁an ▁extensive ▁tour ▁of ▁Asia , ▁during ▁which ▁he ▁dedicated ▁Korea ▁and ▁the ▁Philippines ▁for ▁the ▁pre aching ▁of ▁the ▁g ospel . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 7 ▁he ▁went ▁to ▁Europe ▁for ▁the ▁dedic ation ▁of ▁the ▁London ▁Temple ▁and ▁also ▁pres ided ▁over ▁the ▁ex communic ation ▁of ▁several ▁mission aries ▁in ▁the ▁French ▁mission ▁who ▁had ▁apost at ized . ▁From ▁October ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁to ▁January ▁ 1 9 6 1 ▁he ▁and ▁Jess ie ▁tou red ▁the ▁church ▁miss ions ▁in ▁Central ▁and ▁South ▁America . ▁ ▁Writ ings ▁The ▁first ▁book ▁Smith ▁published ▁was ▁As ael ▁Smith ▁of ▁T ops field , ▁Massachusetts , ▁with ▁some ▁Account ▁of ▁the ▁Smith ▁Family ▁( 1 9 0 2 ). ▁In ▁all , ▁Smith ▁published ▁ 2 5 ▁books . ▁ ▁Church ▁president ▁Smith ▁became ▁L DS ▁Church ' s ▁president ▁on ▁January ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 1 9 7 0 , ▁following ▁the ▁death ▁of ▁David ▁O . ▁McK ay . ▁He ▁chose ▁Harold ▁B . ▁Lee ▁and ▁N . ▁E ld on ▁T anner ▁as ▁his ▁coun sel ors . ▁Smith ▁elected ▁not ▁to ▁retain ▁Hugh ▁B . ▁Brown ▁in ▁the ▁First ▁Pres iden cy . ▁According ▁to ▁Church ▁Histor ian ▁Leonard ▁J . ▁Arr ington , ▁Smith ' s ▁age ▁and ▁health ▁prevent ed ▁him ▁from ▁having ▁much ▁of ▁a ▁super vis ing