A meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles was held this morning.
...Brother George Albert Smith received his ordination under the hands of all present, President Smith officiating.... (1)
-- Oct 08, 1903
George Albert Smith is ordained an Apostle, replacing Brigham Young Jr., who had passed away. He becomes the first son to serve concurrently with his father (Elder John Henry Smith) in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (2)
-- Oct 8, 1903
His father, Apostle John Henry Smith, told mission presidents that he could not sustain his son as an Apostle if George Albert Smith did not accept plural marriage, and then he told his son the same thing in the Apostle's Charge. (3)
-- Oct 22,1903
[Member of the Quorum of Twelve] First Presidency and Twelve authorize purchase of twenty five acres of the original temple lot at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. Purchase is complete on 14 Apr 1904. These purchases continue throughout twentieth century. (4)
-- Thursday, Oct. 29, 1903
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Salt Lake City
All of the First Presidency and Myself, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, Matthias F. Cowley, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum and George A. Smith of the Twelve met in the Room of the presidency in the Temple. The political situation was talked over. Bro. Reed Smoot is going east in a few days.
[wife] Josephine is getting part of her outfit moved into her house. (5)
-- Thursday, Nov 12, 1903
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Salt Lake City
Myself, Wife Sarah F. and Son George A. Went to Ogden and attended the funeral of Aaron F. Farr in the Tabernacle there. The speakers were Joseph Parry, Moses Thatcher, Myself, Hyrum M., John and George Albert Smith. (5)
-- Thursday, Nov. 19, 1903
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Salt Lake City
All of the First Presidency, Myself, George Teasdale, Matthias F. Cowley, Rudger Clawson, Hyrum M. and George A. Smith and Patriarch John Smith and G. F. Gibbs [met]. We talked over the situation at Washington as also the reports of Plural Marriages. Prest. Jos. F. Smith spoke to us to say he did not endorse any sealing or marrying in plurality.... (5)
-- Thursday, Nov 19, 1903
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] Salt Lake City. Clear and cold. 10 a.m. Meeting at the temple. ... President Lund prayed, and Elder George A. Smith was mouth at the altar. The brethren disrobed and sang, "An Angel from on High."
The question arose as to how far the tokens and signs of the priesthood should be explained in a prayer circle. It was the sense of the meeting that we should go no further than an explanation of the signs. Minutes of Nov. 5th and Nov. 11th were read and approved. .... Jos. W. McAllister, recorder of St. George Temple, wanted help to the extent of $90.00 from the church to repair his two homes, which were in bad shape and leaking. It was decided to extend him a loan of $90.00 and take his note for same. If he failed to pay the obligation, it would be forgiven him.
Reports
... /Elder Teasdale said that he attended the Nebo Stake Conference last Sunday and was accompanied by Elder George A. Smith. Had a good time. David Prior was ordained a high priest and set apart as 1st counselor to Bishop [George] Hales of Spanish Fork 3rd Ward. Elder Cowley attended meeting last Sunday at the Fielding Ward, Malad Stake.....
Elder George A. Smith attended the Summit Stake Conference two weeks ago. Good attendance. Good music. Opportunity for doing much good in that stake. ... Reports and labors of the brethren approved. Meeting adjourned. Benediction by President Smith. (6)
-- Thursday, Dec. 3, 1903
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Salt Lake City
At 10 a.m. all of the First Presidency and myself met with Gov. heber M. Wells and Gen. Chas. S. Burton and talked over the [Scofield mine] strike matter.
All of the First Presidency, John Smith, George A. Smith, Hyrnm M. Smith, Reed Smoot, Rudger Clawson, Abraham O. Woodruff and I met in Council at 10 a.m.
Minutes were read. All present reported on their labors. The question of the jurisdiction of officers was discussed at some length. Reed Smoot is thinking of employing W. H. Dickson as his attorney in his case before the Senate of the United States. (5)
Footnotes:
1 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
2 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
3 - "Plural Marriages After the 1890 Manifesto" by D. Michael Quinn, 11 August 1991
4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
5 - White, Jean Bickmore, Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith
6 - Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson
LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith
Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
