Bishop James B. Smith joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age eleven through the efforts of sister missionaries and an ASL interpreter in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has served in various church callings, including Sunday School Teacher and President, Elders Quorum President and Counselor, Branch President, and Bishop of the Riverside ASL Ward. On February 22, 2025, he was called to serve on the ASL Board of Accessibility for the Church.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in history teaching with a minor in watershed science and a master’s degree in deaf education from Utah State University. He began his career in Oregon as a history and CTE construction teacher and now serves as the CTE Principal at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside.

Raised in Nevada and the son of Pat and LeAnn Smith, he is married to Lynell Smith. They are the parents of four children, three of whom are Deaf. He enjoys fishing, hunting, camping, the outdoors; geography, history, and oceanography. The Smiths live in the Riverside ASL Ward of the Riverside, California Stake.