Southern Utah businessman and philanthropist Hyrum Smith dies at age 76

Hyrum W. Smith founded the Franklin Quest Company in 1981. Among the company's other products, Smith created the Franklin Planner  and seminars on productivity development based on "principles" and other concepts.

In 1997, Franklin Quest merged with Stephen R. Covey's Leadership Center to form Franklin Covey.

Smith was the author of 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management (1994) and What Matters Most (2001) as well as producing audio tapes.

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church), Smith served as a mission president in California for the church.

He also wrote a few religious books: Where Eagles Rest (1982) a collections of sermons he gave over the years, and Pain is Inevitable, Misery is Optional (2004) about his excommunication from and rejoining the LDS Church.

In Southern Utah, however, Hyrum Smith is known not only for his intellect but also for his generosity.

His exorbitant contributions to businesses and schools all over Washington County, including Dixie State University and Tuacahn Center for the Arts, have touched thousands of lives.

After being diagnosed a few months earlier, he died from cancer on November 18, 2019.