Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-20
Head OF MORMON
CHURCH DIES

salt Adhc Sityb Ctdu, NoN. ~
Joseph F. Smith, president Of the
Church Of Jesus Christ. Of Latter
Day Saints (Mormon). died at his
home here early today, after long
illness.
Death was due indirectly to par
alytic stroke suffered last April.
President Smith attended the semi
annual conference of the church in
October. and spoke strongly against
polygamcus marriages. which it was
rumored had been surreptiously
performed during the last few years.
Joseph Fielding Smith was presi-
dent If the Mormon church, the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
Day Saints. the seat Of which cult
is in Utah, though its members are
scattered in colonies through the
world to the number Of some 400. 900.
The church is ruled by council. Tut
Smith was its nominal head. and
laid claim to the authority Of the
original Mormon Prophet. Joseph
Smith. his uncle. This claim was
disputed by several apostate organ
izations, including the Missouri
branch, at the head Of which was
Joseph Smith. son of the prophet,
who died in 1914.
With the death Of both Smiths,
Mormon leaders whose birth oc-
CURED prior to the settlement of the
cult in Utah. Joseph Fielding
Smith was 80 years old. (Born 1889.
His father, Hyrum Smith. and his
uncle. the original Prophet Joseph,
were shot to death by mob which
stormed the Jail in Carthage. Mo,
where the two were confined short
~ after the began to preach plural
ity of wives. When his mother. with
the rest OF the Mormons, was driv-
en- from Nauvoo, ILL.,. the eight
year-old Joseph Fielding Smith drove
an oX-team across the plains into
Utah and became herd boy, and
then a missionary, when. in 1852.
Brigham Young established the
headquarters of the Mormon sect at
Salt Lake City, Utah. He was sent
on a mission to Hawaii when only
Is years old.
He entered the army which
Young despatched to intercept the
United States troops which were
about to invade Utah, and per-
formed active service as scout,
harassing the Federal expedition un-
til the Presidents proclamation end
ed the Mormon War
Joseph Fielding Smith was an
avowed polygamist. According to
his testimony i the United States
Senate inquiry into the case Of Reed
Smoot, United States Senator from
Utah, Smith had five wives. It is
said his children numbered 40.
In 1890, after the supreme court had
upheld the Edmunds- Tucker Act
making polygamy unlawful in the
territories-which resulted in the i'm
prisonment of more than 1000 Nor
mons-President Woodruff of the
church issued a manifesto declaring
that polygamy was no longer prac-
ticed by the Mornons. In public adj
monitions. President Smith upheld
this manifesto, but as to his oWn case,
he said. before the Smoot inquiry
that although it was contrary to the
law of the land, he had had plural
family for many years and he pre-
terred to meet the consequences of
the law rather than to abandon his
children and their mothers. He tes-
tilted that he had eleven children born
since 1890, and that all of his wives
had borne children since that time
but he reiterated that no plural mar
riages had been performed by officers
of the Mormon church or sanctified
to be performed by the church since
1890.
President Smith, like number of
his associates. was at various times
subjected to prosecution and on one
occasion paid a fine of $500.
He directed vast business enter
prises in connection with his admin
istration of church affairs. IN the in
quiry into the Sugar Trust" he told
how the church had half a million
dollars invested in sugar.
Smiths private fortune was also
reputed to be large
Aside from his religious activities,
Smith was several times a member
Of the Utah state legislature and OF
the city council of Salt Lake City.
He was widely travelled man, hav-
ing made many trips to Europe. In
1874 he was sent to England as mis-
sionary and was SO active with the
Mormon propaganda that his work
attracted wide attention.
On Smiths return from Europe he
became second counsellor to John
Taylor, then president of the church.
He held a similar office under MILFORD
Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow, subse-
Quent presidents. In 1901, Smith