Who’s Who in the Church

Who's Who in the Church A STUDY of the lives of our general authorities indi- cates the democratic nature of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These twenty- six men, several of them foreign born, all from sturdy but humble stock, indicate that there is no nepotism in the Church. "We be- lieve that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the lay- ing on of hands, by those who are in authority * * * ." The First Presidency PRESIDENT Heber J. Grant, '■*• son of Jedediah M. and Rachel R. Ivins, born November 22, 1856, on the east side of Main Street, between South Tem- ple and First South Streets, Salt Lake City. Attended common and private schools and the Univer- sity of Deseret. Business: Insurance; organizer and officer of many industrial, commercial and financial compan- ies. Father of twelve children — two sons and ten daughters. Pres- ident of Tooele stake 1880-82. Ordained an apostle, October 16, 1882, and succeeded to presidency of the Church November 23, 1918. Opened the Japanese mission and presided there from 1901-03; pres- ident of European mission 1904- 06. PRESIDENT Anthony W. ■ Ivins, son of Israel and Anna Lowrie Ivins; born at Tom's River, New Jersey, September 16, 1852. Education: Common and private schools. A hard student, self-taught in law, languages and history. Farmer, stock-raiser, and pre-eminent colonizer, executive officer of important companies. Has nine children, eight living. Has been deacon, teacher, elder, seventy, high priest. Filled mis- sions to Mexico, Arizona. New Mexico and among Navajo and Pueblo Indians. Served in the St. George stake presidency and pre- sided over the Juarez stake, 1895 to October 6, 1907, then ordained an apostle. Second counselor in First Presidency from 1921 to 1925, since then first counselor. PRESIDENT Charles W. Nib- ley, son of James and Jean Wilson Nibley, born at Hunter- field, Midlothian, Scotland, Feb- ruary 5, 1849. Came to Utah 1860. Had commercial and cler- ical training, but meager schooling. Assiduous student of scriptures and great authors. Business: Clerk in village store, railway agent's secre- tary, president and manager of railway, dominating figure in lum- ber and sugar production. Father of nine living sons and eight daughters. First Counselor in Union stake presidency, June 1901 to December 11, 1907, then Pre- siding Bishop. Second Counselor in First Presidency since May 28, 1925. Filled missions in United States, England and traveled ex- tensively, visiting many other mis- sions. Members of the Council of Twelve PRESIDENT Rudger Clawson, ■■ son of Hiram B. and Mar- garet Judd Clawson, born March 12, 1859, in Salt Lake City. At- tended commercial college and University of Utah, and is trained accountant. Among first to be tried and suffered longest for con- science sake from 1884-87, under the Congressional law to suppress plural marriage; for six months his father was prison companion for same offense. In 1879 as mis- sionary in Georgia, he was mobbed and his companion, Joseph Stand- ing, killed. President Box Elder stake 1887-98. Ordained apostle October 10, 1898. President of European Mission 1910-13. Pres- ident of Quorum since March 10, 1921. "D EED Smoot, son of Abraham ■^ O. Smoot and Anna Kirstine Mouritzen, was born in Salt Lake City, January 10, 1862. Attend- ed public schools and graduated from the B. Y. U. in 1879. Worked in the Provo Woolen Mills, becoming familiar with every department of the factory and later its manager. Engaged in many successful business enterpris- es. Did missionary work in Eng- land from 1890-91 and was re- called by telegram from President Woodruff, due to serious illness of his father. Ordained an apostle April 9, 1900. Has represented Utah in the United States Senate since 1903. Is now chairman of Senate Finance Committee and one of the most influential members of Congress. pEORGE Albert Smith, son of V John Henry and Sarah Farr Smith, born in Salt Lake City, April 4, 1870. Attended the Brigham Young Academy and la- ter graduated from U. of U. Filled a mission in the Southern States in 1891, 1892 and 1893. Has been engaged in the mercantile business and banking. In 1898 appointed receiver of United States land office by President McKinley and re-appointed by Theodore Roosevelt. Ordained an apostle October 8, 1903. President Eu- ropean mission from 1919 to 1921. Always active in M. I. A. work, he has been General Super- intendent of the Y. M. M. I. A. since 1921. riEORGE F. Richards, son of ^-' Franklin D. and Nancy Longs- troth Richards, born in Farming- ton, Utah, February 23, 1861. Graduate of the U. of U. Engaged in farming, stock raising and lum- ber and implement business. Served as counselor to Hugh S. Gowans in the presidency of Tooele stake for sixteen years. Ordained an apostle April 9, 1906. In 1916 went to England to preside over European mission and directed af- fairs there during the trying years of the war. Has presided over the Salt Lake Temple since 1921. He is the father of fifteen children, thirteen of whom are living. ORSON F. Whitney, born in Salt Lake City, July 1, 1855, is the son of Horace K. and Helen Mar Whitney. Received his edu- cation in the public schools and the University of Deseret, now the U. *©f U., an institution of which he was later chancellor. Though he accepted employment in various in- stitutions^his taste has always been

The Improvement Era for May, 1930 463 for literature. Has followed news- paper work and is a poet and his- torian. Has written extensively. Filled a mission to the eastern states, 1876-78. Was bishop of the Eighteenth ward, Salt Lake City, for twenty-eight years, and became an apostle April, 1906, president of the European mission from 1921 to 1922. "TJAVID O. McKay, was born and raised on a farm in Hunts- ville, Weber County, Utah, the son of Bishop David McKay and Jennette Evans. Developed a love of teaching early in life and taught school even before his graduation from U. of U. Filled a mission to Scotland 1897-99. Taught in Weber Stake Academy and later be- came its principal. Ordained apostle April 9, 1906. For several years served as Church commission- er of education. General Superin- tendent of Sunday Schools since 1918. From December 1920 to December 1921 made trip around the world visiting Church schools and missions. President over Eu- ropean mission from 1922-24. JOSEPH Fielding Smith, son of President Joseph F. Smith and Julina Lambson Smith, born in Salt Lake City, July 19, 1876, came up as active member through various grades of Priesthood. Has always been hard student and is an authority on Church history and doctrine. Was missionary in England from 1899 to 1901. De- voted much of his time to the Gen- ealogical Society and assisted in establishing the "Utah Genealogi- cal and Historical Magazine." Or- dained apostle April 7, 1910. Has been Church Historian and General Church Recorder since March 17, 1921. He is the author of "Es- sentials in Church History." JAMES E. Talmage, born Sep- tember 21, 1862, at Hunger- ford, Berkshire, England, son of James Joyce and Susannah Preater Talmage. After joining Church, the family emigrated to America in 1876, since when he has become widely known as scholar, scientist, writer and educator, having been a teacher in the B. Y. U., student of Lehigh and Johns Hopkins Uni- versities, president of L. D. S. and State Universities and fellow of many honorary societies. A dea- con in 1873, a High Priest in 1884, and an apostle December 8, 1911. Intelligent, analytical and sincere, he is an authority on Church government and doctrine. Was president European mission from 1924-27. CTEPHEN L. Richards, born in ^ Mendon, Cache County, Utah, son of Dr. Stephen L. and Emma Louisa Stayner Richards. Attend- ed private and public schools, the L. D. S. University, University of Michigan and took his degree of L. L. B. at the University of Chi- cago. For a time was principal of the Malad city schools, and at the time he was ordained an apostle, January 18, 1917, was successfully practicing his profession of law in Salt Lake City. He was second assistant superintendent of Sunday Schools under President Joseph F. Smith and since 1918 has been first assistant to Superintendent David O. McKay. "DICHARD R. Lyman, civil en- ^ gineer by profession, born in Fillmore, Millard County, Utah, November 23, 1870, son of Fran- cis M. and Clara Callister Lyman. Attended school in Tooele, where his father was for several years president of the stake, later the B. Y. U. at Provo and the B. Y. C. at Logan, the University of Mich- igan, also the Universities of Chi- cago and Cornell where he took his degree of Ph. D. Taught in the B. Y. U. and the U. of U. where he was head of the civil engineering department. Ordained an apostle April 7, 1918. Has been engaged by several large cities as consulting engineer. VJELVIN J. Ballard, son of Bishop Henry Ballard and Margaret McNeil, pioneers of Utah, was born in Logan, Utah, February 9, 1873. Was raised on a farm and spent the hours he could snatch from other duties in diligent study. Graduated from the Brigham Young Col- lege in 1894, and later taught music, in which he is gifted, in that institution. Has given fourteen years to outside missionary service besides work in the Church at home. Presided over the North- western States Mission for ten years. Ordained an apostle Janu- ary 7, 1919. Opened the South American Mission in 1925. JOHN A. Widtsoe, educator and J scientist, born January 31, 1872, on the Island of Froen, Trondhjemamt, Norway, son of John A. and Anna Gaarden Widt- soe. Graduated from the B. Y. C. at Logan, later from Harvard University and took the degree of A. M. Ph. D. from the University of Goettingen, Germany. Has been president of the Utah Agricul- tural College and University of Utah. An author of note, some of his works have been translated into several languages. Was or- dained an apostle March 17, 1921. Called to preside over the Euro- pean Mission in 1927 and is still presiding there. Presiding Patriarch JJYRUM G. Smith, by profes- -•-*• sion a dentist, son of Hyrum F. and Annie M. Gibbs Smith, was born in South Jordan, Salt Lake County, July 8, 1879. He is the fourth direct descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr., first patriarch of the Church, to hold the office of presiding patriarch. He is a grad- uate of the Brigham Young Uni- versity and University of Southern California. Served as Superin- tendent of the Summit Stake Sun- day Schools and also of the Sunday Schools in Los Angeles. He was called to his present position when 33 years of age, May 9, 1912. The First Council of Seventies "DRIGHAM H. Roberts, senior president, son of Benjamin Roberts and Ann Everington, was born March 13, 1857, in War- rington, Lancashire, England. Came to Utah in 1866. Worked as farm hand, in mining camps and as blacksmith, studying constantly and graduated from Deseret Uni- versity in 1878. Taught school and became editor of a daily news- paper. Filled missions in Southern States and in England. One of the voluminous writers of the Church, his crowning work being the six volumes of Church history cover- ing hundred years since the organ- ization. Was set apart as one of the presidents of Seventies on Oc- tober 8, 1888. JONATHAN Golden Kimball, J son of President Heber C. Kim- ball and Christine Golden, was born in Salt Lake City, June 9, 1853. He has been a freighter,

464 The Improvement Era for May, 1930 hauling wood from the canyons and ore from the mines, etc., and was engaged in farming and stock raising, as a pioneer in northern Utah and southern Idaho. From 1883-85 filled a mission in the Southern States, at a time when mob violence was raging. In 1 891 he was called by President Wood- ruff to preside over the Southern States Mission and served in that capacity for three years. He was set apart as one of the Seven Pres- idents April 8, 1892. J)ULON S. Wells was born in ■*^ Salt Lake City, on spot where Utah Hotel now stands, July 7, 1854, the son of President Daniel H. Wells and Luisa Free. Attend- ed the scientific and classical course offered by the University of Des- eret. Worked in saw mills and later fell naturally into bookkeep- ing and clerical work. From 1875- 1877 filled mission to Switzerland and Germany. April 5, 1893, was set apart for his present position. President of European Mission from 1896-1898. Accompanied Melvin J. Ballard and Rey L. Pratt to Buenos Aires and assisted in opening South American Mis- sion. JOSEPH W. McMurrin, son of J Joseph and Margaret Leating McMurrin, was born in Tooele, Utah, September 5, 1858. Learned the stonecutter's trade and worked on Salt Lake temple. When sev- enteen years old drove two yoke of oxen to Arizona on colonizing mission and spent two years help- ing build canals, homes, etc. From 1881-83, and from 1886-90 was a missionary in Great Britain. Again in 1896 went to England as counselor to President Rulon S. Wells of the European Mission. Set apart as a president of the Seventies January 21,1898. Has presided over the California mis- sion since 1919. n HARLES H. Hart, a lawyer by ^ profession, was born in Bloom- ington, Idaho, a son of James H. and Sabina Sheib Hart. After at- tending the University of Utah he went to the University of Michi- gan where he graduated in 1889. Was county attorney of Cache County, a member of the state con- stitutional convention and for nine years was judge of the first judicial district, during which time he tried many important cases. In 1927 he was appointed president of the Ca- nadian Mission, a position which he still holds. He was set apart as one of the presidents of Seven- ties, April 8, 1906. T EVI Edgar Young, professor of history at University of Utah, was born in Salt Lake City, Feb- ruary 2, 1874, the son of Seymour B. and Elizabeth Riter Young. Always a hard student, he has had unusual opportunities of adding to his knowledge by study in this country and in Europe. He was three years at Harvard and took his degree from Columbia University. Is rated an outstanding authority on Western History. Presided over Swiss Mission from 1902 to 1904 and has been president of Temple Block Mission since 1922. Set apart in the Council January 23, 1910. T) EY L. Pratt, son of Helaman ^ and Emmeline BUlingsley Pratt, was born in Salt Lake City October 11, 1878. When but a small boy moved with his parents to Juarez, Mexico, where he was raised, acquiring early an acquaint- ance with the Spanish language and the Mexican people. In 1907 he was appointed president of the Mexican Mission and still occupies that position. Accompanied Mel- vin J. Ballard and Rulon S. Wells and assisted in organizing the South American Mission, his knowledge of Spanish being a great help to the party. Has been a mem- ber of the First Council since April 8, 1925. Presiding Bishopric C YLVESTER Q. Cannon, son of ^ President George Q. and Eliz- abeth Hoagland Cannon, born June 10, 1877, in Salt Lake City, and raised on farm near there. Graduated as hydraulic and mining engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Has twice presided over the Netherlands and Belgian Mission. Served from 1904 to 1917 as first counselor in presidency of Pioneer stake and from 1917 to 1925 as president thereof. For twelve years was city engineer of Salt Lake City. Or- dained and set apart Presiding Bishop June 11, 1925. He is the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters. F)AVID A. Smith, son of Pres- ident Joseph F. and Julina L. Smith, was born in Salt Lake City, May 24, 1879. Attended the L. D. S. University and Business Col- lege. Worked in a mercantile estab- lishment and for seven years was chief deputy in office of County Clerk. Has been interested in stock-raising and farming. Is the father of nine living children and has lost one by death. Was or- dained and set apart as second counselor to Bishop Nibley, Dec. 11, 1907, and became first coun- selor July 18, 1918, a position he retained when the presiding bish- opric was reorganized in 1925. JOHN Wells, son of Thomas J Potter Wells and Sarah Cook, was born in Carlton, Nottingham- shire, England, September 16, 1864. A graduate of the univer- sity of hard knocks. Began earn- ing his living and contributing to the support of the family when ten years old. Came to Utah in 1889. Did odd jobs about Presiding Bish- op's office, later advancing to the position of stenographer, and in 1 897 became chief clerk. July 25, 1918, was ordained and set apart as second counselor to Bishop Nibley and retained this position in the Presiding Bishopric as at pres- ent organized. (~)N one occasion our Savior said: ^ "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." This being true, it is consistent to believe that men should know those who have been divinely called to represent the Father and the Son here upon earth. A study of their lives will prove highly in- teresting. It will emphasize the fact that spiritual and intellectual growth may be attained by all who are willing to expend the neces- sary effort and will obey the law governing such development. In each of these lives there is some- thing heroic, and a proper amount of hero worship is beneficial. The general authorities of the Church are intensely sincere, but are af- fable and easy to approach — not long-faced, for they realize that "man is that he might have joy." It is expected that this brief information concerning our Church leaders will be used for the pro- gram of the joint M. I. A. session, June 1, 1930.