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Important Changes in Church Offices

Improvement Era, vol. 24, no. 6, April 1921, pp. 563 to 564

Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations

Important Changes in Church Offices

Several important changes of the officers of the Church, were made in the regular weekly meeting of the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles, held Thursday, March 10, 1921. The vacancy caused by the death of President Anthon H. Lund was filled by the advancement of President Charles W. Penrose to be First Counselor in the First Presidency. The vacancy caused by the advancement of President Charles W. Penrose was filled by the appointment of Elder Anthony W. Ivins, of the Council of the Twelve, as Second Coun- selor in the First Presidency. Elder Rudger Clawson, who had served as acting President of the Council of the Twelve, was chosen President of that body, succeeding President Anthon H. Lund. The brethren were set apart in each instance by President Heber J. Grant. President Charles W. Penrose has been a member of the First Presidency since 1911, when he was chosen as second coun- selor by the late President Joseph F. Smith, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Henry Smith. After the death of President Smith, November 19, 1918, he was again chosen to act as second counselor to President Heber J. Grant. President Penrose has been associated with the Church, in missionary, literary and official pursuits, as long as most of us can remember. He was born February 4, 1832, in Camberwell, London, England, and from early youth up to the present time has been connected, in many leading positions, with the Church and the development of the West. In his 89th year, he is still hale and hearty, taking an active part in the forefront of Church and civil affairs in the community. President Anthony W. Ivins was born September 16, 1852, in New Jersey, and came with his parents to Utah, in 1853, settling with the family in southern Utah, in 1861. He is an early traveler in Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico— a genuine scout of pioneer times, whose visits to the various tribes of Indians in early days, in the great south-west, aided in establishing friendly relations between them and the whites. He was a member of an expedition sent out to this region by President Young, m

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1875, and again in 1878. He went to the Navajo and Pueblo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico in 1882. He did missionary work among the Mexican people; and in 1895 took charge of the interests of the Church in Mexico, be- coming the President of the Juarez stake, where he stood at the head of the religious and indus- trial activities of the Church, and is still in active touch with all the affairs of the colonies, being an authority on Mexican affairs. He has seen service in southern Utah Indian wars, he' many civil offices, and served in the Legis- lature and Constitu- tional Convention. In educational affairs he is very active, being at this time President of the Board of Trustees of the Agricultural College of Utah. He has been asso- ciated with the Y. M. M. I. A. from early days in

St. George, where he was president of one of the wards. Later he acted as stake superin- tendent, and member of the high council, and counselor in the stake presidency. He was or- dained an apostle in 1907, was appointed, in 1918, the General Super- President Anthony W. Ivins intendent of the Y. M. M. I. A., succeeding President Joseph F. Smith He is interested in a number of banks, and is National committeeman for Utah, of the Boy Scouts of America. His selection to the position of second coun selor in the First Presidency received general approval, and