Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-20
JOSEPH F. SMITH
HEAD Of MORMON
CHURCH IS DEAD
Was Nephew Of Prophet and
Last Officer of Church
Whose Birth Occurred Be-
fore Settlement in Utah.
ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO MORNING JOURNAL

ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO MORNING JOURNAL
Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. l9.--
Joseph f. Smith, president of the
Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day
Saints (Mormon) died at his home
here early today after a long illness.
Death was due, indirectly to a para
lytic stroke suffered last April. Not
withstanding his illness President
Smith attended the recent semi
annual conference of the church,
held the first week of October, and
spoke strongly against polygamous
marriages, which it was rumored had
been surreptitiously performed dur
ing the last few years.
Joseph Fielding Smith was presi-
dent of the Mormon church, the
Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day
Saints, the seat of which cult is in
Utah, though it's members are scat
tered in colonies through the world
to the number of some 400, 900 The
church is ruled by council, but Smith
was it's nominal head, and laid claim
to the authority of the original Nor
mon prophet, Joseph Smith, his
uncle. This claim was disputed by
several apostate organizations, in
GLIDING 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, has
passed probably the last of the Nor
mon leaders whose birth occurred
prior to the settlement of the cult in
Utah. Joseph Fielding Smith was 80
years old. His father, Hyrum Smith.
and his uncle, the original Prophet
Joseph, were shot to death by mob
which stormed the Jail in Carthage,
H., where the two were confined
shortly after they began to peach
plurality of wives. When his mother,
with the rest of the Mormons, was
driven from Nauvoo, ILL.,. the Swear
old Joseph Fielding Smith drove an
oX-team across the plains into Utah
and became a 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 10 years old
He entered the army which Young
dispatched TO intercept the United
States troops which were about to in
wade Utah, and performed active serv-
ice as a scout, harassing the federal
expedition until the presidents proc
lamation ended the Mormon war"
Joseph Fielding Smith was an
avowed polygamist. According to his
own testimony in the United States
senate inquiry into the case of Reed
Smoot, United States Senator from
Utah, Smith had five wives 1t is
said his children numbered forty
three.
In 1890, after the supreme court
had upheld the Edmunds-Tucker act
making polygamy unlawful in the
erritories-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 Mormons. In public adj
monitions President Smith uphelu
this manifesto, but as to his own
case, he said. before the Smoot in
quiry, that although it was contrary TO
the law of the land, he had had a
plural family for many years and he
preferred to meet the consequences
of the law rather than to abandon
his children and their mothers. He
testified that he had eleven children
born since 1880, and that all of his
wives had borne children since that
time, but he reiterated that no plural
marriages had been performed by Of
ficers of the Mormon church or sane
toned to be performed by the church
since $780,
President Smith, like a number of
his associates was at various times
subjected to prosecution and on one
occasion paid fine of $500.
He directed vast business enter
prises in connection with his admins
tration of church affairs. In the in
auiry into the Sugar Trust" he told
how the church had half million
dollars invested in sugar.
Smiths private fortune was also re-
pAted 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. 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 at
tracted wide attention.
Grant Is Successor.
Salt Lake City. Utah. Nov. 10
Heber ]. Grant, president of the
quorum of twelve apostles OF the Nor
mon church, today automatically be-
came president of the church through
the death of Joseph Fielding Smith,
which occurred early this morning.
Ratification of his succession prob
ably will not take place, however.
until the next general conference of
the church. to be held here in April
next year.
Owing to the influenza epidemic
private funeral services will be held
for the late President Smith. Final
arrangements for the funeral had not
been concluded today but Friday was
tentatively decided upon.