Bishop John Wells

Bishop John Wells

The choice of Elder John Wells as second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric by the Presidency of the Church and the Twelve, on July 18, places a worthy and competent man in a very important position which, from his long experience and faithfulness in Church work, is richly deserved. He was ordained a bishop and set apart as second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric by President Joseph F. Smith. Elder John Wells was born in Carlton, Nottingham, England, September 16, 1864. He was a boyhood companion and playmate of Elder Arthur Winter, for many years a faithful worker in the office of the First Presi- dency.. In fact, it was Elder Winter who was instrumental in converting him to the gospel, in England. Elder Wells while yet in England married Almena Thorpe, at Nottingham, and with his wife and babe, came to Utah, arriving here in July, 1889. After their arrival in Utah, their first desire was to be married in the House of the the Lord; they received the ordinances and were married for time and eternity, by President Daniel H. Wells, at Manti. He obtained work at the Z. C. M. I. Shoe factory and later at the wrap- ping desk of that great mercantile institution. .It was on the first of February, 1890, that he entered the Presiding Bishop's Office as an all-round helper, under the direction of Elder R. S. Campbell, then the chief clerk of the office. Elder Campbell having resigned the position, Elder Wells was given charge as chief clerk, in the spring of 1898. This was the year in which many radical changes took place in the methods of handling the tithes. Instead of certral tithing offices with a bish- op's agent in the leading stakes of the Church, the bishops of the wards were given complete control of the handling of the tithing, being supervised directly by the Presiding Bishopric. New methods of disposing of the tithing in the various wards, and placing the whole system on a cash basis was introduced, and other improvements made in the handling of the tithihgs of the Church. New systems were also introduced in the method of keeping the records in the Presiding Bishop's office, the systematic and progressive scheme being set in motion which has gradually grown to the perfect system now in vogue. In all this work Elder Wells has been a leading spirit. For ten years Elder Wells was connected with Dr. W. H. Groves Latter- day Saints Hospital, being superintendent of construction from the time the first stone was laid, June 28, 1903, until the building was opened, January 13, 1905. He was thereafter superintendent for eight years, until August, 1913, when his other duties became too heavy for him to carry both. In 1913 he was ordained a High Priest. Prior to that time he had successfully presided over the first quorum of elders of the Ensign stake for several years, and taken active part in ward work. He was chosen second counselor to Presi- dent Richard W. Young of the Ensign stake, November, 1916, in which posi- tion he still acts. He has also been a member of the committee on Priest- hood study from its organization. A faithful member of the Church, a worker of almost unequaled energy and persistence, reliable, exact, trust- worthy, and faithful in all the responsibilities and duties that have been placed upon him, he is specially worthy and qualified for his present great trust.

BISHOP JOHN WELLS Second Counselor in ihe Presiding Bishopric

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Improvement era Vol. XXI SEPTEMBER, 1918 No. 11