The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-11-19
MORMON CHURCH
HEAD.IS DEAD
AT AGE OF 50
Joseph F. Smith, Last of Pio-
,neers of Latter Day Saints,
Passes Away
43 CHILDREN SURVIVING
Was Founder of Great Family,
With Five Wives and 81
Grandchildren

Salt Lake City, Utah, New. 49,
Joseph F. Smith, president OF the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day
Saints (Nformon) died at his home here
early today, after a long illness. Not
withstanding his illness. President
Smith attended the recent semi-anual
conference Of his church. held the filtt
week in October, and spoke strongly
against polygamous marriages which
had been reported as surreptltiously
performed during the last year.
WAS PIONEER LEADER.
Joseph Fielding Smith was president
of 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 100000 The church is ruled by
council, but Smith was its nominal
head, and laid claim to the authority
of the original Mormon prophet, Joseph
Smith, his uncle. This claim was dis
Duted by several apostate organizations,
Including the Missouri branch. ut the
head Of which was Joseph Smith, son
Of the prophet, who died in l9l4
With the death Of both Smiths, has
passed probably the last OF the Nor
anon leaders whose birth occurred PRIOR
to the settlement of the cult III Utah.
Joseph Fielding Smith was 80 years
old. His father, Hyrum Smith, and his
were shot to death by mob which
stormed the jail in Carthage, Ill.,,
where the two were confined shortly
after they began to preach plurality Of
wives. When his mother, with the rest
Of the Mormons. were driven from
Nauvoo, ILL.,. the S-years-old Joseph
Fielding Smith drove an OK team across
,the plains into Utah and became herd
boy. and then a missionary, when IN
1859. Brigham Young established the
headquarters OF the Mormon sect at
Salt Lake City, Utah. He was sent
on. mission to Hawaii when only Is
years old. ~.
He entered the nrmy, which Young
despatched to intercept the United
States troops which were about to in
yadc Utah, and performed active serv-
Ice MS scout, harassing the federal
expedition until the presidents gprocla-
nation ended the Mormon war
Ins1S0O, after fhe supreme court had
upheld the Edmunds-T Tucker act max
ing @l,.lysamy unlawful in the terri
tories-which resulted in the imprison-
ment of more than 1000 Mormoils- 81
President Woodruff Of the church 1sl
sued a manifesto declaring that polyga.
INV was no longer practiced by the
Mormons. In public admonitions,
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 preferred to meet the conse-
auences of the law. rather than to
abandon his children and their moth
ers. He testified 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 marriages had been performed
by officers of the Mormon church or
sanctioned to be performed by the
church since 1890.
4 Aside from his religious activities,
Smith was several times member Of
the Utah state legislature and of the
city council of Salt Lake City. He
was widely Travelled man, having
made many trips to Europe. In 1874
he was sent to England as a mission
ary and was so, active with the Nor
mon propaganda that his work attract
ed wide attention.
In 1918 President Smith had five
living wives, although he had been mar
ried six times. OF his AZ children 20
were living and he had 81 grandchil.
dren. = So.
GRANT MAY SUCCEED.
Hebcr J. Grant, president Of the
quorum of twelve apostles Of the
Church Of Latter Day Saints Nor
m0n) church, is regarded as likely to
succeed to the presidency, precedent
having established his succession. In
every case since the establishment Of
the church In the Salt Lake valley by
Brigham Young, the president Of the
quorum of twelve has succeeded to the
first presidency. which carries with it
also the titles of prophet, seer and
revelator, and usually trustee in trust.
The first presidency comprises the
president of the church, and two coun-
lselors, appointed by the president In
most instances they have been chosen
from the quorum Of twelve, but it is
not compulsory to select them from
that body.
The quorum Of the twelve apostles
select the president, who appoints the
coupselors. If they are selected from
the quorum Of twelve. and the two
counselors who are relieved were not
members Of the quorum before their.
appointment as counselors, there are
three vacancies in the quorum of twelve
to fill. If the retiring counselors have
been members Of the quorum, they re-
S,lme their places in that body. and the
only vacancy existing in the quorum is
that Of the newly elected president
At present the first and second coun-
selors, Anthon III. Lund, and Charles
W. Penrose are members of the quorum
of twelve
ACTION IS FAVORABLE.
Washington, Nov 19.-Final favor
able action was taken in the senate
this afternoon on the national war