George Albert Smith, May 1946

-- During May 1946
[Fawn McKay Brodie] No Man Knows My History led directly to Brodie's excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in May 1946. (1)

-- During 1946 May
President George Albert Smith became the first president of the Church to visit Mexico. While in the country, he met with Manuel Avila Camacho, president of Mexico. (2)

George Albert Smith visited Mexico and helped reunify disaffected Church members. (3)

-- Jun 21, 1946
First shipment of Welfare Plan foodstuffs and essential commodities arrives in Geneva, Switzerland for distribution to Mormons in war-devastated European cities. This aid totals eighty-five railroad freight cars. Eight months earlier First Presidency reestablished proselytizing missions in Europe. (4)

-- Jun 28, 1946
Sacrament meeting honoring Mormon pioneers-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

A sacrament meeting to be devoted to honoring Utah Mormon pioneers to be held. The Daughters and Sons of Utah Pioneers organizations were willing to cooperate in this special service. (5)

Universal compulsory military service-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

As indicated in the notes to the statement of the First Presidency of December 14, 1945, on the subject of universal compulsory military training, to which the First Presidency was opposed, this letter was written because the First Presidency had been informed that Bishops and Stake Presidents in states other than Utah (the statement of December 14, 1945, had been sent to Utah's congressional delegation) were concerned as to whether ward and stake leaders should initiate petitions or other communications with "their representatives in Congress."

June 28, 1946 Presidents of Stakes

Dear Brethren:

So far as we understand the situation, there seems still to be an intention upon the part of certain national groups to impose universal compulsory military training upon the people of the United States. As you probably know, the First Presidency issued a statement under date of December 14, 1945 covering this matter. This statement has received approving commendation from a number of sources, and we believe it fairly covers the main grounds of objection which exist against universal compulsory military training.

Some stake presidents have felt that action should be taken upon the part of their stake organizations, and in some cases on the part of ward organizations, expressing disapproval of universal compulsory military training, the action taken in such cases to be in the form of petitions or other communications to their representatives in Congress. While we are not asking ward and stake authorities to take such action as this on this matter, nevertheless we have no objections to their so doing; and we feel that if such action is taken, it should be done in a suitable way and in as effective a manner as possible.

We therefore suggest that inasmuch as frequently there is not the time at the disposal of the brethren concerned to work out a well-rounded statement, and since further it is desirable, that so far as possible the representations on the part of Church organizations should be as nearly uniform as possible, any ward or stake desiring to express themselves on the question might appropriately do so by formally endorsing the statement made by the First Presidency on this matter, and that any communication sent by the ward or stake to the Congressman or Senator involved might appropriately include a copy of the First Presidency's statement as indicating the views of the voters of the ward or stake involved.

Faithfully yours, GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1946-June 28-Original circular letter, L.D.S.} (5)

First Presidency statement against compulsory military service ("conscription" or "the draft") during peace time. This is extensive version of Presidency's earlier views and of its efforts to persuade LDS congressmen to vote against peacetime draft. (4)

-- Jul 7, 1946
Almost two years after Americans dropped atomic bomb on Hiroshima, U.S. serviceman Boyd K. Packer performs first baptism of Japanese converts in Japan. (4)

Footnotes:
1 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Fawn McKay Brodie, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/b/BRODIE%2CFAWN.html
2 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
3 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
5 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, May 1, 1946

-- May 1, 1946
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "Jos Patriarch Met Presidency." (1)

-- May 2, 1946
The First Presidency instructed local Church leaders that in meetings where the sacrament is passed, it should be passed to the presiding officer first. (2)

Purpose of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The pure of the ordinance of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is stated in this letter of instructions.

May 2, 1946 To Presidents of Stakes and Bishops of Wards

Dear Brethren:

Inquiries received at the office of the First Presidency disclose the fact that there is a divergence of opinion and varied practices among ward officers with respect to the kind of music, if any, that should be rendered during the administration of the sacrament.

Recently, this question came before the First Presidency and the Twelve who unanimously approved the recommendation that the ideal condition is to have absolute quiet during the passing of the sacrament, and that we look with disfavor upon vocal solos, duets, group singing, or instrumental music during the administration of this sacred ordinance.

There is no objection to having appropriate music during the preparation of the emblems, but after the prayer is offered, perfect silence should prevail until the bread and the water have been partaken of by the full congregation.

It was further suggested, and unitedly agreed upon, that the sacrament should be first given to the presiding authority in the meeting. This may be the bishop, perhaps one of the stake presidency, or one of the visiting General Authorities. It is the duty of the priest officiating to determine who is the presiding authority present; thus, whenever the sacrament is administered, members of the Aaronic Priesthood officiating will have a lesson in Church government.

When the sacrament is given first to the presiding authority, those officiating may pass the sacrament consecutively to members of the Church who are sitting on the rostrum and in the audience.

It was also the conclusion of the Council to recommend to the Superintendency and General Board of the Deseret Sunday School Union that local Sunday Schools be advised that the significance of partaking of the sacrament will be enhanced if no music be given at that period. Undoubtedly, there will be those who will claim that soft, appropriate music contributes to better order; but careful consideration of the institution and purpose of the sacrament will lead to the conclusion that anything which detracts the partaker's thought from the covenants he or she is making is not in accordance with the ideal condition that should exist whenever this sacred, commemorative ordinance is administered to the members of the Church.

Reverence for God and for sacred things is fundamental in pure religion. Let every boy and girl, every man and woman in the Church, manifest this principle by maintaining perfect order by self-communion whenever the sacrament is administered.

Sincerely yours, GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1946-May 2-Original circular letter, L.D.S.} (3)

-- May 3, 1946
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "In bed regretting that I am not able to keep my work up at the office." (1)

-- May 04, 1946
President George Albert Smith autographs five specially bound leather copies of the recently completed Tongan translation of the Book of Mormon for Tonga's Queen Salote, Tupou III, Prince Tupou To'a; Premier Ata; and two Tongan governors. (4)

-- May 19, 1946
[President George Albert Smith Journal] -May 31, 1946, he is in Mexico to attend Mexican Mission meetings in Mexico City (1)

-- May 25, 1946
More than a thousand Saints gather at the Irmeta Branch chapel, near Mexico City, for a two-day Mexican Mission conference. President George Albert Smith gives one of the first speeches ever made by a Church President in Mexico. (4)

-- May 26, 1946
Twenty-one people are baptized into the Church between sessions of the Mexican Mission conference. President George Albert Smith presides over the conference during his visit to Mexico. (4)

-- May 29, 1946
Five hundred former members who had been part of a group that had left the Church over a dispute regarding native leadership spread flowers along the lane leading to the chapel in Tecako, Mexico, and stand on each side, singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" as President George Albert Smith arrives to address them. He invites them back into the Church, and some twelve hundred eventually return. (4)

Footnotes:
1 - Journals of George Albert Smith
2 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
3 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
4 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, 1946 January

-- During 1946 January
The Church began sending supplies to the Saints in Europe. This continued for the next several years. (1)

-- Feb 21, 1946
Evening meeting of stake conferences to be held by the MIA-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

As of this date, the Sunday evening meetings of the stake conferences of the Church, which had been rotated among the various auxiliary organizations of the Church, are now to be held exclusively by the Young Men's and Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association. (2)

-- Feb 25, 1946
Annual drive of the American Red Cross-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

(The annual message of the American Red Cross, appealing for support funds, to be read in ward sacrament meetings on March 3, 1946.) (2)

-- Feb 26, 1946
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "Bro Browning called to report visit with Jos. F.S." (3)

-- Mar 10, 1946
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "[daughter] Emily had one of her groups at home in evening to hear [blank] talk on world condition. very interesting." (3)

-- Mar 20, 1946
Ward fast meeting not to be held on General Conference Sundays-- Salt Lake City, Utah.

Time for the monthly fast meetings in the wards of the Church to be adjusted so that they do not fall on the same Sunday as the General Conference of the Church. (2)

-- Mar 25, 1946
[Daughters of Utah Pioneers] Ground was broken for the Museum on March 25, 1946. (4)

-- Apr 6, 1946
Church Welfare Program-- The accomplishments of the Church Welfare Program, summarized in Part III of the Annual Financial Statement of the Church, as published in the Conference Report for April, 1946, pp. 10-14. Members of the Church urged to continue their "devotion to this great program." (2)

-- Apr 15, 1946
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "Le Grand Chandler of St. George come called to see me about Joseph F. Patriarch." (3)

-- Apr 19, 1946
Writers who use official Church records and sources expected to write objectively and fairly about the Church-- c. 1948, Introduction.

Joseph H. Weston was a professional journalist who came into contact with the Mormons for the first time in 1940 during a tour of military duty. He returned to Utah early in 1946 to write a book about the Mormons and applied to the First Presidency for access to official Church sources. The reply of the First Presidency states more than a simple reply to the request of one author.

April 19, 1946

Dear Mr. Weston:

We have your letter of April 9, in which you tell us of your project to write a book which shall deal at least in part with the Latter-day Saints, and in which you indicate you would like some assistance with access to sources which are available to us.

We should like to say to you that we shall be happy to give you such assistance as may be feasible and will be glad to designate someone to whom you may go to help you in connection with your work.

We hope that you will pardon our saying that some untoward experiences which we have had in the past with those who have written books, sometimes scurrilous and defamatory against us, lead us to make bold to set out the following observations, though the tone of your letter indicates that you do not fall within the class whose members have given us the unfortunate experiences in the past. We do hope you will allow us to say that while we do not expect people to come here to make studies and to write their accounts to be propagandists for us nor to violate their own convictions in order to be kind in their statements concerning us, we think we have a right to expect that they should be fair and honest and not distort the truth in order to provide sensation and thus increase the saleability of their product. We have had experiences in the past in going out of our way to be obliging and courteous to writers and to cite them to materials and we have had our confidence greatly ab
used by their after words, either to facilitate sales or to satisfy the demands of their employers, garbling facts in such a way as to give altogether false impressions.

We are returning herewith the following papers which accompanied your letter. (A long list of enclosures follows.)

(Signed) GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1946-April 19-Joseph H. Weston, These Amazing Mormons,} (2)

Footnotes:
1 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
2 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
3 - Journals of George Albert Smith
4 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/d/DAUGHTERSUTPIO.html

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, 1945

-- 1945
Church Membership at end of year: 979,454

New Converts : 25,450

Percent Change from previous year: 2.67% (1)

-- During December, 1945
Annual Christmas message-- The annual Christmas message of the First Presidency for 1945 looks back on the war years and gives consolation to loved ones whose family circle was temporarily broken by death. "May all who mourn find in Christ that peace which supplants sorrow with faith and hope." (2)

-- During 1945-1949
[BYU] The postwar influx of veterans under the presidency of Howard S. McDonald (1945-1949) put concerns of enough enrollment to rest, and the campus was soon dotted with converted war surplus buildings to accommodate an enrollment that reached 5,400 in 1947-48. (3)

-- During 1945
[David O. McKay] Sustained and set apart as second counselor to President George Albert Smith. (4)

[Ezra Taft Benson] Following the end of World War II hostilities in 1945, Benson was sent by LDS Church President George Albert Smith to Europe where he spent eight busy months coordinating relief and recovery efforts among Mormons in Europe. This experience intensified his dislike of tyranny, cruelty, and injustice. (5)

[Fawn McKay Brodie] Following her move from Chicago to Hanover, New Hampshire, and then to Washington, D.C., Fawn Brodie did the research and writing for her first biography, the life of Joseph Smith, a task that consumed her energies for seven years. It was completed in 1945 following the Brodies' move to New Haven, Connecticut, and published under the title No Man Knows My History. A widely reviewed but extremely controversial work, this biography asserted that Mormonism's founder was in some respects a conscious fraud, and that in developing the doctrines associated with his movement, he was primarily influenced by ideas and forces in his nineteenth-century American environment. (6)

Improvement Era absorbs the Liahona-Elder's Journal, which began publication in 1907. (7)

-- Jan 4, 1946
[President George Albert Smith Journal] after Statehood dedication at Tabernacle, "Edith drove car we took Nobe Warrum and Bp Hunt home." (8)

-- Jan 20, 1946
Council of Twelve recommends that all stake presidents and bishops engage in "a program of revival and motivation of the 'Home Evening' as a Church wide project." citing previously unfulfilled instructions in this regard by First Presidency in 1915. (9)

-- Jan 21, 1946
Priesthood leadership and returning servicemen-- The letter outline a program for the priesthood leadership of the Church in assuming its responsibility for the servicemen returning from World War II.

January 21, 1946 To: Stake Presidencies, Priesthood Quorum Presidents and Bishops:

Dear Brethren:

Since the ending of the war, the military authorities have conducted a program for releasing service men to civilian life. Already large numbers have been released and it is understood this program is to continue until the last man now in service has returned to his home. It is our feeling that the Church can and must play an important part in the readjustment of these men now returning from the armed forces of our country. It now becomes our task to assist our Latter-day Saint service men to bridge over the time when they return as "heroes for achievements in war" until they may resume their peace-time occupations and become "heroes in peace and peace-time occupations." Every priesthood officer in the Church is now requested to assume his responsibility in so far as it pertains to returning service men under his immediate priesthood jurisdiction. To the end that our responsibility in this matter may be properly and effectively met, this letter is sent for your study and in
struction.

Separation Centers

As now announced, the army and navy have established thirty (30) or more "separation" or demobilization centers throughout the United States, through which men now in the army and navy must pass in order to be mustered out of service. Each separation center will receive and "process" those who reside in the region in which each separation center is designed to serve. At these centers, each returning service man will receive information as to what he may expect as privileges and opportunities under the so-called "GI Bill of Rights."

It is likely that the majority of service men who are members of the Church will be mustered out of service at separation centers located on the west coast or at four of these designated centers, located as follows:

Fort Douglas, near Salt Lake City, for men whose homes are in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Nevada.

Camp Beale, near Marysville, California for men whose homes are in California.

Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington, for men whose homes are in Washington and Oregon.

Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas, for men whose homes are in Arizona, New Mexico, and the western part of Texas.

L.D.S. Service Men's Homes

During the course of the war, by direction of the First Presidency, there have been established Homes for service men of the Church in areas having the largest concentration of Church members in military service. These Homes have been established for the convenience and use of our boys while they are stationed at nearby camps, and make available suitable facilities and provide such activities from time to time as are thought essential to the best interests of Church members in military service who desire to take advantage of them. It is planned that as our boys are demobilized, overnight sleeping accommodations may be provided at these Homes as required. These Homes are located as follows:

Salt Lake City, Utah 41 North State Street (1-1/2 miles from Fort Douglas)

Laie, Oahu 4 Beretania Street Honolulu, T. H.

Marysville, California "F" Street (About 12 miles from Camp Beale)

* Oakland, California 6 Alice Street

* San Diego, California 23rd and "C" Streets

(*These are near large navy personnel concentration points)

It is likely that at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Washington, and at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, there may never be many members of the Church at any one time passing through these centers. In such cases, our men in uniform may receive from the members of the Church residing in these localities the help they might otherwise have secured at a Service Men's Home.

Where travel conditions will permit, some parents may desire to meet their sons in the city where they may be sent for separation from the service. Meetings between relatives and service men may be arranged at these Service Men's Homes.

Stake Supervision of Program for Returning L.D.S. Service Men

It is requested that the stake presidency immediately give instructions to the Stake Melchizedek Priesthood Committee and make them responsible, under the direction of the stake presidency, for the supervision and the stimulation of a program suggested in this letter for the benefit and blessing of these young men as they return home. The Stake Melchizedek Priesthood Committee is to be charged with the responsibility of interviewing the president of each Melchizedek Priesthood Quorum in the stake, the Welfare Committee Chairmen of the Quorums and also the ward bishops to discuss any facts that are pertinent to the returning service men's welfare. In some stakes where service men's committees for returning veterans are functioning, these might be invited to assist the Stake Melchizedek Priesthood Committee in this work.

The Bishop's Responsibility

It is suggested that the bishop have a private interview with each young man from his ward as he returns from military service, and if he is a young or newly-married man, an interview with the young couple together. This interview by the bishop should be in the true spirit of his calling as father of the ward with ample opportunity being given for a full discussion of problems or questions each young man or couple might wish to discuss. In wisdom the bishop should give such counsel as the Spirit of the Lord may direct. Some wards are planning suitable home-coming parties at stated intervals to show due respect and appreciation for the sacrifices made and services rendered. As soon as possible, each returning service man, if he is properly qualified, should be assigned to some Church activity.

What the Quorums Should Do

Quorum officers should see to it that each service man is visited immediately upon his return by members of the quorum presidency. If quorums have been following instructions and have been in regular correspondence with him during his absence, this home-coming contact will be undoubtedly easier and productive of much good. Quorum officers should see to it that regular correspondence is carried on with members of their quorum who are not yet released from military service. The quorum members should become "job finders" if necessary, and by cooperative effort in other ways, demonstrate their feeling of brotherhood in the rehabilitation of those who may require aid beyond that which the individual's family can provide in order that each returning service man be assisted in his efforts to become satisfactorily readjusted to civilian life. Inquiries made by quorums of Stake Welfare or Stake Agricultural Committees may reveal possibilities for those seeking business or farming op
portunities within their communities or elsewhere where land opportunities are available. Welfare projects, recreational activities, house parties, week-night study classes, and Welfare production projects of the quorum will provide splendid opportunities for the quorum to build these returning service men into the warmth of a friendship and brotherhood that will go far toward restoring shattered nerves and the reducing of tensions resulting from war.

What the Family Can Do

Those in the stakes and wards, who are assigned to the responsibility of assisting returned service men to become adjusted to home and peace conditions after their war experiences, should keep in mind the important part that must be played by the families in this work. We cannot stress too much the importance of the members of a service man's family doing all they can to assist in this readjustment. They can provide a healthful atmosphere in the home, they can go far toward assisting their returning service man to become active in the ward and in the quorum. Stake and ward officers should encourage the family to take full responsibility in this regard, realizing that a cooperative effort between the family and the Church officers will accomplish far more than a lone effort on the part of but one of these groups.

Stake Presidency The stake presidency are asked to become responsible for seeing that the suggestions contained in this letter are properly carried out and that the proposed program is successfully promoted in the interest of Church members returning from military service. We believe that the promotion of activities looking to the spiritual welfare of our thousands of young men bearing the holy priesthood, who are returning from war, is one of the greatest obligations confronting us today. We are certain that your vigilant attention to this matter will pay great dividends in the strength and character of our young manhood.

We are sending herewith sufficient copies of this letter for each member of the stake presidency, high council, ward bishops and priesthood quorum presidents in your stake. Will you please see that the necessary meetings are called as soon as possible to discuss the contents of this letter and to lay plans at once for the carrying out of these suggestions.

Ever praying the Lord's choicest blessings to attend your efforts in this great work, we are, Sincerely your brethren GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1946-January 21-Original circular letter, L.D.S. Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah; also Church News, v. 4 no. 7, February 9, 1946.} (2)

Footnotes:
1 - Wikipedia, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Membership History, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_membership_history
2 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
3 - Utah History Encyclopedia: BYU, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/b/BRIGHAMYOUUNIVER.html
4 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O McKay, Salt Lake City, Utah
5 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Ezra Taft Benson, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/b/BENSON%2CEZRA.html
6 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Fawn McKay Brodie, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/b/BRODIE%2CFAWN.html
7 - Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984
8 - Journals of George Albert Smith
9 - Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Dec 22, 1945

-- Dec 22, 1945
Having received permission from U.S. President Harry S. Truman to send aid to the Saints in war-torn Europe, the First Presidency assigns Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to go immediately to Europe to assess the spiritual and temporal needs of the thirty thousand members of the Church there. (1)

-- Dec 26, 1945
No missionary farewells on Sunday-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

A request that farewells for missionaries not be held on Sunday. When missionaries return from an honorable mission it will be appropriate to ask them to occupy time in a ward sacrament meeting to report their missionary labors. (2)

-- Dec 29, 1945
Warning against delusive spirits, questionable stock ventures, mining schemes, etc.-- The reissuance of this warning sounded by President Joseph F. Smith his counselors August 2, 1913, by President George Albert Smith and his counselors in December, 1945, can perhaps best be placed in its historical setting in 1945 by reading the Conference Report for October, 1945, particularly the address of Elder Mark E. Petersen.

Continued reports reach us of the persistence of long-standing evils against which the members were warned many years ago by the First Presidency of the Church, then composed of President Joseph F. Smith with Anthon H. Lund and Charles W. Penrose as counselors.

In order that there may be no justification for any misunderstanding by the members of the Church regarding these matters nor regarding the attitude of the First Presidency thereon, we deem it wise to reprint, as we do below, the warning issued by these brethren under the date of August 2, 1913.

"A Warning Voice

"To the officers and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

"From the day of Hiram Page (D&C, Sec. 28) at different periods there have been manifestations from delusive spirits to members of the Church. Sometimes these have come to men and women who because of transgression became easy prey to the Arch Deceiver. At other times these people who pride themselves on their strict observance of the rules and ordinances and ceremonies of the Church, are led astray by false spirits who exercise an influence so imitative of that which proceeds from a Divine source that even these persons who think they are 'the very elect' find it difficult to discern the essential difference. Satan himself has transformed himself to be apparently 'an angel of light.'

"When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions, or an extraordinary gift of inspiration conveys something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions of its constituted authorities, Latter-day Saints may know that it is not of God, no matter how plausible it may appear. Also, they should understand that directions for the guidance of the Church will come by revelation, through the head.

"All faithful members are entitled to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for themselves, their families and for those over whom they are appointed and ordained to preside. But, anything at discord with that which comes from God through the head of the Church is not to be received as authoritative or reliable. In secular as well as spiritual affairs, Saints may receive divine guidance and revelation affecting themselves, but this does not convey authority to direct others and is not to be accepted when contrary to Church covenants, doctrine or discipline, or to known facts, demonstrated truths, or good common sense.

"No person has the right to induce his fellow members of the Church to engage in speculations or take stock in ventures of any kind on the specious claim of divine revelation or vision or dream, especially when it is in opposition to the voice of recognized authority, local or general. The Lord's Church is a 'house of order.' It is not governed by individual gifts or manifestations, hut by the order and power of the Holy Priesthood as sustained by the voice and vote of the Church in its appointed conferences.

"The history of the Church records many pretended revelations by imposters or zealots who believed in the manifestations they sought to lead other persons to accept, and in every instance, disappointment, sorrow and disaster have resulted therefrom. Financial loss and sometimes utter ruin have followed.

"We feel it our duty to warn the Latter-day Saints against mining schemes which have no warrant for success beyond the professed spiritual manifestations of their projectors and the influence gained over the excited minds of their victims. We caution the Saints against investing money or property in shares of stock which bring no profit to anyone but those who issue and trade in them.

"Financial schemes to make money for the alleged purpose of 'redeeming Zion' or providing means for the 'salvation of the dead' or other seemingly worthy objects should not deceive anyone acquainted with the order of the Church, and will result only in waste of time and labor, which might be devoted now to doing something tangible and worthy and of record on earth and in heaven.

"Be not led by any spirit or influence that discredits established authority, contradicts true scientific principles and discoveries, or leads away from the direct revelations of God for the government of the Church. The Holy Ghost does not contradict its own revealings. Truth is always harmonious with itself. Piety is often the cloak of error. The counsels of the Lord through the channel he has appointed will be followed with safety, therefore, O! ye Latter-day Saints, profit by these words of warning. "Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, First Presidency."

We commend the foregoing to the careful consideration of all members of the Church at this time, many of whom are the victims of alluring representations regarding mining and other investments. GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1945-December 29-Deseret News, Church Section, December 29, 1945.} (2)

Footnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Nov 3, 1945

-- Nov 3, 1945
President George Albert Smith met with U.S. President Harry S. Truman in the White House and presented the Church's plans to use its welfare facilities to help relieve the suffering of Latter-day Saints in Europe. (1)

-- Nov 03, 1945
President George Albert Smith meets with U.S. President Harry S. Truman in Washington, D.C., to obtain permission for the Church to send food and supplies to the Saints in war-torn Europe. (2)

-- Nov 3, 1945
[President George Albert Smith Journal] he meets President Harry S. Truman (3)

-- Nov 06, 1945
A group of Mexican Saints travels to the Mesa Arizona Temple to participate in the first Spanish-language temple session. (2)

-- Nov 15, 1945
The Poem "My Father in Heaven" by Eliza R. Snow is published. This poem was eventually put to music, and became one of our popular hymns "O My Father". (4)

-- Nov 22, 1945
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "Had Mrs Arthur Gaeth & son, Hans & Mrs. Grillberger [?] to thanksgiving dinner with my family. We had a fine time. Andre Anastasiou & wife & daughter came in later. We talked about the equality of the Negro and association of races. The Lord has the last decision and if we will be fair to all he will bless us." (3)

-- Nov 29, 1945
[President George Albert Smith Journal] Attended temple mtg on Nov 29, 1945 then went home to bed with flu & sick at home until Dec 18, when when (sic) to office 4 hours. (3)

-- Dec 14, 1945
Church opposed to Universal Compulsory Military Training-- also in pamphlet form.

As early as May 30, 1945, Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio had expressed concern regarding proposals for universal compulsory military training in an address at Gettysburg National Cemetery. The title of his address, which was printed in the Congressional Record, was "Compulsory Military Training in Peacetime Will Destroy Government by the People." Hearings on this subject were held by the Military Affairs Committee of the U.S. Congress in June, 1945.

On July 2, 1945, Senate Joint Resolution No. 81 was introduced, read twice by title and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered printed as follows:

"Whereas it is proposed to enact a law forthwith which would compel all physically qualified young men to submit to 1 year of military training away from home; and whereas millions of citizens at home and in the armed services are deeply and vitally interested, and opportunity should be afforded them on this issueÃÂ. it is proposed to submit to the voters at the next Congressional election the following question:

Do you favor the passage of a law by the Congress of the United States to compel 1 year of military training for young men in time of peace? Yes_________ No__________ . . ."

On July 18, 1945, Honorable Joseph W. Martin, Jr., of Massachusetts, introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives what later came to be widely known as the Martin Resolution. This Resolution urged President Harry S. Truman, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and the personal representative of the President to the United Nations organization, Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., "to begin immediately efforts to secure an agreement by the nations of the world to abandon peacetime conscription of youth for military service." Two paragraphs of the Martin Resolution are particularly significant in light of the later letter of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the congressional delegation from the state of Utah. Paragraph four of the Martin Resolution stated:

"Whereas compulsory military service would result in greater restrictions over the lives and activities of our people, would impose heavy burdens on them, causing greater taxes and profound changes in their way of lifeÃÂ. "

Paragraph six stated in part ". . . compulsory military service has never prevented war in Europe or elsewhere.

STATEMENT BY THE FIRST PRESIDENCY REGARDING UNIVERSAL COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING

We print below a letter dated December 14, 1945, addressed by the First Presidency of the Church to each member of the Utah Congressional Delegation-Senators Thomas and Murdock and Congressmen Granger and Robinson. Word has now been received by the First Presidency from both Senators and both Congressmen expressing their approval of and belief in the sentiments, reasons, and conclusions set forth in the letter. The letter follows:

"Press reports have for some months indicated that a determined effort is in the making to establish in this country a compulsory universal military training designed to draw into military training and service the entire youth of the nation. We had hoped that mature reflection might lead the proponents of such a policy to abandon it. We have felt and still feel that such a policy would carry with it the gravest dangers to our Republic.

"It now appears that the proponents of the policy have persuaded the Administration to adopt it, in what on its face is a modified form. We deeply regret this, because we dislike to find ourselves under the necessity of opposing any policy so sponsored. However, we are so persuaded of the rightfulness of our position, and we regard the policy so threatening to the true purposes for which this Government was set up, as set forth in the great Preamble to the Constitution, that we are constrained respectfully to invite your attention to the following considerations:

"1. By taking our sons at the most impressionable age of their adolescence and putting them into army camps under rigorous military discipline, we shall seriously endanger their initiative thereby impairing one of the essential elements of American citizenship. While on its face the suggested plan might not seem to visualize the army camp training, yet there seems little doubt that our military leaders contemplate such a period, with similar recurring periods after the boys are placed in the reserves.

"2. By taking our boys from their homes, we shall deprive them of parental guidance and control at this important period of their youth, and there is no substitute for the care and love of a mother for a young son.

"3. We shall take them out of school and suffer their minds to be directed in other channels, so that very many of them after leaving the army, will never return to finish their schooling, thus over a few years materially reducing the literacy of the whole nation.

"4. We shall give opportunity to teach our sons not only the way to kill but also, in too many cases, the desire to kill, thereby increasing lawlessness and disorder to the consequent upsetting of the stability of our national society. God said at Sinai, "Thou shalt not kill."

"5. We shall take them from the refining, ennobling, character-building atmosphere of the home, and place them under a drastic discipline in an environment that is hostile to most of the finer and nobler things of home and of life.

"6. We shall make our sons the victims of systematized allurements to gamble, to drink, to smoke, to swear, to associate with lewd women, to be selfish, idle, irresponsible save under restraint of force, to be common, coarse, and vulgar, all contrary to and destructive of the American home.

"7. We shall deprive our sons of any adequate religious training and activity during their training years, for the religious element of army life is both inadequate and ineffective.

"8. We shall put them where they may be indoctrinated with a wholly un-American view of the aims and purposes of their individual lives, and of the life of the whole people and nation, which are founded on the ways of peace, whereas they will be taught to believe in the ways of war.

"9. We shall take them away from all participation in the means and measures of production to the economic loss of the whole nation.

"10. We shall lay them open to wholly erroneous ideas of their duties to themselves, to their family, and to society in the matter of independence, self-sufficiency, individual initiative, and what we have come to call American manhood.

"11. We shall subject them to encouragement in a belief that they can always live off the labors of others through the government or otherwise.

"12. We shall make possible their building into a military caste which from all human experience bodes ill for that equality and unity which must always characterize the citizenry of a republic.

"13. By creating an immense standing army, we shall create to our liberties and free institutions a threat foreseen and condemned by the founders of the Republic, and by the people of this country from that time till now. Great standing armies have always been the tools of ambitious dictators to the destruction of freedom.

"14. By the creation of a great war machine, we shall invite and tempt the waging of war against foreign countries, upon little or no provocation; for the possession of great military power always breeds thirst for domination, for empire, and for a rule by might not right.

"15. By building a huge armed establishment, we shall belie our protestations of peace and peaceful intent and force other nations to a like course of militarism, so placing upon the peoples of the earth crushing burdens of taxation that with their present tax load will hardly be bearable, and that will gravely threaten our social, economic, and governmental systems.

"16. We shall make of the whole earth one great military camp whose separate armies, headed by war-minded officers, will never rest till they are at one another's throats in what will be the most terrible contest the world has ever seen.

"17. All the advantages for the protection of the country offered by a standing army may be obtained by the National Guard system which has proved so effective in the past and which is unattended by the evils of entire mobilization.

"Responsive to the ancient wisdom, 'Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,' obedient to the divine message that heralded the birth of Jesus the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, '. . . on earth peace, good will toward men,' and knowing that our Constitution and the Government set up under it were inspired of God and should be preserved to the blessing not only of our own citizenry but, as an example, to the blessing of all the world, we have the honor respectfully to urge that you do your utmost to defeat any plan designed to bring about the compulsory military service of our citizenry. Should it be urged that our complete armament is necessary for our safety, it may be confidently replied that a proper foreign policy, implemented by an effective diplomacy, can avert the dangers that are feared. What this country needs and what the world needs, is a will for peace, not war. God will help our efforts to bring this
about.

"Respectfully submitted, GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency."

Agitation continued regarding universal compulsory military training into the year 1946. Rather than have Stake Presidents issue subsequent statements representing the views of their stake organizations in the matter, the First Presidency suggested in a letter to all Stake Presidents dated June 28, 1946, that the letter of the First Presidency of December 14, 1945, be reissued, where necessary and advisable, and sent to congressmen or senators "as indicating the views of the voters of the ward or stake involved." {1945-December 14-Improvement Era 49:76-77, February, 1946;} (5)

Footnotes:
1 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
2 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
3 - Journals of George Albert Smith
4 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php
5 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Sept 23, 1945

-- Sept 23, 1945
George Albert Smith dedicates temple at Idaho Falls, Idaho. (1)

[President George Albert Smith Journal] dedicates Idaho Falls Temple, Sept 23, 1945 (2)

-- Sep 23, 1945
Idaho Falls Idaho Temple; Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho, US; Announcement: 3 March 1937; Dedication: 23 September 1945 by George Albert Smith; Style: Modern, center spire - designed by John Fetzer, Sr. (3)

-- Sep 27, 1945
Night driving is hazardous, caution urged-- Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

All Church members cautioned to avoid "night driving which is always hazardous" and to drive defensively, especially in traveling to the coming October Conference. (4)

-- Sep 28, 1945
Solemn Assembly to sustain President George Albert Smith-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

(Instructions for admission to the Solemn Assembly at the coming October Conference for the sustaining of Elder George Albert Smith as President of the Church.) {1945-September 28-Original circular letter, L.D.S.} (4)

-- During 1945 September
The First Presidency began calling mission presidents for areas vacated during the war. This process continued through 1946. The sending of missionaries soon followed the appointment of mission presidents. By the end of 1946, 3,000 missionaries were in the field. (5)

-- Oct 2, 1945
First Presidency decides to pay expenses of LDS conscientious objectors detained in camps by U.S. government during World War II. (1)

-- Oct 5, 1945-7
The first general, unrestricted conference of the Church in four years was held in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. (During World War II, general conferences were limited to general, stake, and ward priesthood leaders.) (5)

-- Oct 11, 1945
Matthew Cowley is ordained an Apostle, replacing George Albert Smith, who had been called to the First Presidency. (6)

-- Oct 29, 1945
Apostates, unauthorized persons or dissentient members not allowed to instruct in official Church gatherings and classes-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

This warning against the dangers within the Church of allowing unauthorized persons, including dissentient members, apostates and excommunicants, to instruct members of the Church in official Church meetings takes on added significance when read in connection with a conference address of Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as it appears in the Conference Report. October, 1945, pp. 88-92.

October 29, 1945

To Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics:

Dear Brethren:

It has come to our notice that dissentient members of the Church, as well as apostates and excommunicants, come into the wards of the Church and by dissembling and ofttimes by actual misrepresentation as to their real status and beliefs, work themselves into the good graces of the ward members, the officers of ward organizations, and of priesthood quorums, and even of the bishopric. These persons having so deceived the people, are sometimes called into active service in the ward as officers or teachers or both. Having secured this recognition, they immediately set about to spread their false doctrines which, because of the positions to which they have been called, are given consideration and credence by unsuspecting and partially informed adults but particularly by the youth who are sometimes thereby led astray. These people are the tools of the father of lies. They are wolves in sheep's clothing.

To destroy as far as possible the power of these emissaries for evil, we desire that presidents of stakes and bishops of wards, use no person in any Church activity whatever, whose membership is not formally recorded in the ward in which the person is to be used, or in some ward of the stake in which such person is to work. It is in effect from this date.

Furthermore, these same persons are known sometimes to visit classes in Sunday Schools, in Mutual Improvement Associations, and even in priesthood quorum meetings. Presiding officers of the auxiliary organizations and of priesthood quorums, will, if alert, readily detect these persons. They should immediately report them to the bishop, who will thereupon investigate their standing and membership, with a view to curtailing as to such individuals the privileges of class membership.

We should like presidents of stakes and bishoprics to regard the foregoing requests as mandatory and immediately effective.

Faithfully yours, GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1945-October 29-Original circular letter, L.D.S.} (4)

Footnotes:
1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Journals of George Albert Smith
3 - Wikipedia, List of Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#List_of_temples
4 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
5 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
6 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Jun 1945

-- Jun 1945
[Utah] Improvement Era states: "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done." This is the ward teacher's message to all members for the month. To an inquiring Unitarian minister, George Albert Smith writes that "not a few members of the Church have been upset in their feelings, and General Authorities have been embarrassed" by above statement. "Even to imply that members of the Church are not to do their own thinking is grossly to misrepresent the true ideal of the Church," he continues. However, church president's retraction reaches one non-Mormon, while original statement reaches entire LDS population without similar retraction. (1)

-- Jun 16, 1945
George Albert Smith rules against LDS meeting houses being used "for meetings to prevent Negroes from becoming neighbors." (2)

-- June 16, 1945
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "Talked to Pres Clark & Nicholas [G.Smith?] about use of meeting houses for meetings to prevent Negroes from becoming neighbors." (3)

-- June 27, 1945
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "Too weary to accompany Genl Authorities to temple Martyrdom day." (3)

-- Jul 16, 1945
The First Presidency authorized monthly priesthood and auxiliary leadership meetings if they could be held without violating government restrictions concerning use of gas and rubber. (4)

Regional and union meetings of Church resume-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Liberalization of gasoline rationing regulations now permitted the Church to resume some of its union and regional meetings. "A recent ruling by the Office of Price Administration increasing the amount of gasoline for 'A' coupons seems to point to such a relaxation with regard to the use of gasoline as will permit additional travel." (5)

-- Aug 18, 1945
Special day of fasting and prayer-- All Latter-day Saints urged to make Sunday, August 19, a day of fasting and prayer in accord with a proclamation of Harry S. Truman, President of the United States. The surrender of Japan had come on August 14, 1945. (5)

-- Sep 8, 1945
Dedication of Idaho Falls Temple-- Dedication of Idaho Falls Temple to be held September 23, 24, 25, 1945. Attendance limited to members of stakes in Idaho Falls Temple District. (5)

-- Sept 15, 1945
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "Up at 745 at Office 945 21 letters to open & read Jos Anderson [illegible word] to mean hour from Temples of the Lord Dictated Leaders." (3)
Footnotes:
1 - 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
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - Journals of George Albert Smith
4 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
5 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith
Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Nov 9, 1943

-- Nov 9, 1943
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "R R Lyman called to my attention. Shocked." (1)

-- Nov 12, 1943
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Went to Temple at 2 10 of 12 Present Including R.R.L. Callis & Benson absent. Charges admitted by Richard A sad occasion He made no defense admitted more than known before. I am shocked and grieved. R.R. seemed not to realize his wrong. All brethren in tears. Excommunicated R.R. Decided to publish notice in News." (1)

-- Feb 14, 1944
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Met with 8 of Twelve on the Case of Anna Jacobson (R.R. Lyman) - admitted guilt." (1)

-- Feb 25, 1944
Annual American Red Cross drive-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Annually the American Red Cross prepared a statement for publicity on its drive for funds and support. The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints usually responded to their appeal by quoting from the statements of the American Red Cross in an annual letter sent to the Bishops of the Church along with a request that the statement he read in a ward sacrament meeting on a designated Sunday. This became standard Church procedure and continued through the administration of Heber J. Grant as President and extended through the administration of George Albert Smith ... (2)

-- Aug 30, 1944
First Presidency authorizes stake president and bishops to join "AS INDIVIDUALS a civic organizaton whose purpose is to restrict and control negro settlement in his stake" (emphasis in original) (3)

-- May 7, 1945
Germany surrenders. (4)

-- May 14, 1945
Death of Heber J. Grant, who is also last surviving member of the theocratic Council of Fifty. As his funeral procession passes Roman catholic Cathedral of the Madeleine, its bells toll and assembled priests bow in respect. Grant is succeeded by as president by George Albert Smith who is the first LDS president never to have practiced polygamy. (3)

President Heber J. Grant passes away in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age eighty-eight, having served for more than sixty-two years as a General Authority. (5)

-- May 21, 1945
Conference sustains George Albert Smith as church president with J. Reuben Clark and David O. McKay as counselors. He is "set apart" (not ordained) by Apostle George F. Richards, who is also a patriarch. Smith is only unmarried man to become LDS church president an only one who has no marital companion during his entire presidency. He remains unmarried widower last fourteen years of his life. (3)

[President George Albert Smith Journal] sustained by Apostles as President of the Church on May 21, 1945, and set apart, George F. Richards being voice (1)

Footnotes:
1 - Journals of George Albert Smith
2 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984
5 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Apr 21, 1942

-- Apr 21, 1942
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] George Albert Smith called at my office. He is going down to Las Vegas to have an interview with Owen Woodruff to try to get him to quit going with the woman he is running with and stop trying to get a divorce from his wife. I had a long talk with him. We shall look forward to George's return. (1)

-- May 19, 1942
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Fred Ballif called and I had a long talk with him regarding Owen Woodruff. President David O. McKay and George Albert Smith were with me during the interview. We all felt that Evelyn Ballif Woodruff should get a divorce and that Owen should be cut off the Church. We decided that there was nothing for Fred's sister who married Owen to do but get a divorce and to be sure and get it under the laws of California instead of Nevada. Brother Judd will write a letter for me to sign to Owen's wife. (1)

-- Jun 20, 1942
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] George Albert Smith called on me at the office this morning and read a long letter from Owen Woodruff. Owen has got married at last to the girl with whom he associated without being married. I learned from a letter from the President of Moapa Stake that she is liable to have a baby in three of (sic) four months. He wants one of his young children sent to him. I never felt more outraged in my life than that a man who is really an adulterer should think we would be foolish enough to send a child to him to take care of. I wrote a letter to the President of the stake which I have not yet sent and I do not know just when I will sned (sic) it as I want to cool off a little before I do so. (1)

-- Oct 1, 1942
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] [After Geroge Albert Smith returned to Salt Lake City on September 29 from "a trip east":] At 9 o'clock met George Albert Smith at his home. George was sick abed, he has developed quite a bad cold and was unable to attend our Council meeting. I had a chat with him and he heartily approved of Joseph F. Smith, Hyrum M. Smith's son as Patriarch to the Church. That makes the unanimous vote of all of the Apostles for this young man, for which I am grateful. (1)

-- Oct 8, 1942 - 6 October 1946
[Change in Presiding Church Patriarch Office] Joseph Fielding Smith

Great-grandson of Hyrum Smith; not a descendant of previous Presiding Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith; released by President George Albert Smith amid reports of homosexual activity. Restored to "priesthood status" in 1957. (2)

-- Dec 5, 1942
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] At 1 o'clock had dinner at home. Evelyn Woodruff and three of her children were our guests. I feel very sorry of course for the terrible way Owen has treated his wife, and I rejoice that she has a comfortable home and has her divorce. He should be cut off the Church immediately because he lived with a woman before he got the divorce and it was only a few months after his marriage to her that she had a baby. I hear that the first month after his divorce he sent $50.00 to Evelyn. He never did much for her while she was his wife. He certainly has no right to be in the Church. I honestly feel from a letter he has written to George Albert Smith that he gave me the privilege of reading, that his mind is affected. To my mind no man with a sound mind would write a letter as he did telling of his marriage, etc., convicting himself in his letter. (1)

-- Jan 29, 1943
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] George Albert Smith called and I found no action had been taken on the Owen Woodruff case and I felt very much annoyed. He should have been cut of the Church long ago. George Albert said he would bring me a letter. (1)

-- Mar 1-Mar 4, 1943
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] he is in Mexican settlements (3)

-- Jun 21, 1943
[Quorum of Twelve] Rudger Clawson dies. George Albert Smith becomes President of the Quorum. (4)

-- July 8, 1943
[George Albert Smith] He served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve from July 8, 1943 to May 21, 1945. (5)

Footnotes:
1 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Presiding Patriarchs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presiding_Patriarch#Chronology_of_the_Presiding_Patriarchs_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
3 - Journals of George Albert Smith
4 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles_(LDS_Church)
5 - LDSIndex.com

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Sep 22, 1936

-- Sep 22, 1936
Apostle George Albert Smith, historian Andrew Jenson, Wilford C. Wood and John D. Giles of the Utah Trails and Landmark Association visited Nauvoo and inspected the Nauvoo Temple site, apparently with intention of investigating the purchase of the property. . (1)

-- Oct 29, 1936
[Blacks] Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency: Letter read from President W. Francis Bailey of the Hawaiian Mission, stating that Brother William Pakale, a priest, and Brother John L. Pea, who have recently been discovered to be one-eighth negro, have heretofore officiated in performing some baptisms and other ordinances. President Bailey asks for a ruling as to what should be done in such cases.

After some discussion of the matter, Elder Stephen L. Richards moved that the matter be referred to Elder George Albert Smith, who will attend the approaching Oahu Stake Conference, with instructions that in the event he should find that a considerable number of people are involved, we assuming the authority was given to those brethren to officiate in these ordinances, that ratification of their acts be authorized. In the event he should discover that there are only one or two affected, and that the matter can be readily taken care of, it may be advisable to have re-baptism performed.

Motion seconded by Brother [Melvin J.] Ballard and unanimously approved.

(Adam S. Bennion Papers) (2)

-- Nov 2, 1936
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] he departs SLC for the Hawaiian Islands, South Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Australia, returning to SLC on July 15. (3)

-- Feb 8, 1937
Apostle George F. Richards and Seventy's president Antoine R. Ivins begin seven days of meetings with disaffected LDS Mexicans who demand ethnic Mexican mission president. These nationalist Mexican Mormons hold first meeting of their "Third Convention" on Apr 26, 1936. After failure of this general authority effort at reconciliation, church leaders on May 6 begin excommunicating dissidents. Third Conventionists foster successful schismatic movement until 1946, when visit of LDS president George Albert Smith to Mexico begins process of reconciliation. Third Convention is first schismatic LDS movement based primarily on ethnic and national pride. (4)

-- During 1937
(George Albert Smith) At twelve, George attended the Brigham Young Academy for a year under Karl G. Maeser, returning home when his father left on a mission to England. At eighteen, he attended the University of Utah, but left after a year to work as a sales clerk at ZCMI.

In 1892 he married Lucy Emily Woodruff, a grand-daughter of Wilford Woodruff; they had three children. She died in 1937. He never remarried. (5)

-- Jan 8, 1938
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] This evening at 6:30 I was at the Lion House at a banquet given in honor of George Albert Smith. ... I made brief remarks and told the joke about the two drunkards at the time George Albert Smith was sustained an apostle, one drunkard asked the other if he would like to know his opinion of the new apostle, and he said Yes, and the answer was "There are too d----d many Smiths." The other said "Do you want my opinion of your opinion: Well, it is my opinion of your opinion that the Lord doesn't give a damn for your opinion." (6)

-- Jan 22, 1939
Elder George Albert Smith ordains and sets apart Moroni Timbimboo, the first Native American Indian to serve as a bishop in the Church, as the presiding officer of the Washakie Ward, in Box Elder County, Utah. (7)

-- Oct 13, 1939
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] We then visited the grand-daughter, or daughter-in-law (I have forgotten which) of Patriarch John Smith, the great grandfather of George Albert Smith, and at one time Acting Patriarch. She has a cane which it is claimed was presented to her grandfather by Colonel Kane.'-at St. George, Utah (6)

-- Mar 29, 1940
[Quorum of Twelve] First Presidency asks Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith to chair "Literature Censorship Committee authorized by Quorum of the Twelve last Thursday." Results of a poll conducted in BYU theology classes is published in the "Y NEWS." It finds, that, despite frequent warnings by the Honor Tradition Committee, at least 20 percent of the student body continued to cheat on graded homework. (8)

Footnotes:
1 - Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple
2 - Marquardt, H. Michael, Mormon Central: Excerpts From Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency, 1879-1947 http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/chorg2.htm
3 - Journals of George Albert Smith
4 - Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower
5 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
6 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
7 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
8 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, May 31, 1934

-- May 31, 1934
The Boy Scouts of America awards Elder George Albert Smith the Silver Buffalo, the highest honor awarded by the BSA. Elder Smith is the first Latter-day Saint leader to be so honored. (1)

-- Sept 20, 1934
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Thursday Sep 20 Met with the Council at Temple President Ivins urged strongly that we withold (Sic) judgment in all cases until the evidence is all in." (2)

-- 1934. September 23
(Anthony W. Ivins) : Died of a heart attack at his home at 519 B. Street, Salt Lake City, at the age of eighty-two. Buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. (3)

-- During 1934
[George Albert Smith] In 1934, he received the Silver Buffalo Award, the highest award given to a scouter in the United States. (4)

-- Jan 3, 1935
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Thursday Jan 3. 35. At office early Met in Council at Temple. Changes of importance to the Church were intimated by the President." (2)

-- Jan 10, 1935
In a change of policy, members of the Quorum of the Twelve were released from auxiliary leadership positions as presiding officers and general board members. (5)

[Quorum of Twelve] In a change of policy, members of the Quorum of the Twelve were released from auxiliary leadership positions as presiding officers and general board members. (5)

-- Jan 18, 1935
Quorum of Twelve Members Released from Auxiliary Organization Positions-- 935-January 18 Improvement Era 38:134, March, 1935.

This letter of release is dated January 18, 1935. The actual release of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the Superintendency of the Y.M.M.I.A. took place on January 10th, as indicated in the letter.

This action constituted another step in reorganization of the pattern of Church government. According to this letter, "It has been seventeen years since one of the First Presidency so officiated" as the Superintendent of the Y.M.M.I.A. Now it became necessary to release members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from so presiding and place the responsibility on other shoulders, leaving the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles free to perform their prime functions as outlined in the revelations.

January 18, 1935. Elders George Albert Smith, General Superintendent, Richard R. Lyman, First Assistant, Melvin J. Ballard, Second Assistant, and members of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association.

Dear Brethren:

For some time past it has been evident that the growth of the Church and the ever-increasing demands upon the time and strength of the General Authorities would make imperative the releasing of members of the First Presidency and of the Council of the Twelve from the direct responsibility of presiding over the general boards of the auxiliary organizations. It has been seventeen years since one of the First Presidency so officiated.

It is now deemed advisable, indeed absolutely necessary, to relieve members of the Twelve of their duties not only as presiding officers, but also as members of the general boards. The duties of the Apostleship, as well as the health of the individuals, demand that this action be taken without further delay.

Accordingly, at the regular weekly meeting of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve held in the Salt Lake Temple, Thursday, January 10, Elders George Albert Smith, Richard R. Lyman, and Melvin J. Ballard, were honorably released as Superintendent, First Assistant, and Second Assistant Superintendent, respectively, of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of the Church. This action was accompanied by a keen and heartfelt appreciation of the able and untiring devotion of these brethren to a great and noble cause. Under their leadership the M.I.A. work has achieved high and worthy distinction. Most truly their accomplishments should bring to their souls the satisfaction and peace that come from successful achievement.

With the consideration of the necessity of relieving the Twelve, there has been associated also the advisability of reorganizing all of the general boards of the auxiliary organizations. Such a course seems to possess much merit; first, because to require persons to contribute so much of their time to what might, without occasional changes, grow to be considered a lifelong position is hardly fair; and secondly, because of the personal development acquired, others should be given an equal opportunity with their associates to serve in these responsible positions of leadership.

This policy to reorganize the auxiliary boards has been unanimously approved by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve.

It is recommended, therefore, that with the retiring Superintendency the members of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association also be, and are, hereby honorably released from their respective positions. This action will give the newly appointed General Superintendency free and open field from which to select the new Board.

Evidently, some of the present members if they again be called, should be willing to renew their labors as officers and members of the General Board; for none of the accomplishments, nor the mighty impetus given to the cause of Mutual work should be lost, which might be the case if all the experience and ability acquired through years of intelligent thought and devotion were replaced by entirely new representatives. Let us retain all present worthy achievements that they may be an inspiration to the new members to climb to yet greater heights. To this end the new Superintendency will be requested and urged to consult freely Elders Smith, Lyman and Ballard, with respect to the reorganization of the new Board.

In extending this honorable release to the Superintendency and members we cannot refrain from expressing our highest commendation for your willing and unselfish service to the welfare of young men and young women of the Church. Nor have your efforts been confined alone to Church members. Like a light that throws its rays in all directions, your influence has radiated into the lives of unnumbered thousands who otherwise, perhaps, would not have been guided into the paths of truth as revealed in the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. As "echoes roll from soul to soul and go forever and forever," so will your worthy efforts continue to live in the lives of those whom you have inspired and blessed.

Twenty years ago the membership of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association was 33,506; today it is 65,000. Yet this remarkable increase in enrollment is but a slight indication of the great growth during the period. The careful management of the Era, its increasing influence for good, books and pamphlets published and circulated, reading courses promulgated, increased efficiency in classwork and leadership, new and effective organization in the Scouts, Vanguard, M Men, Senior and Adult Departments, the excellency of conventions, and the far-reaching and uplifting influence that have led tens of thousands of men and women into wholesome activity in cultural, social and spiritual realms-these and other achievements unmentioned will stand as everlasting monuments to your integrity, devotion and unselfish service.

As you now enter into other fields of equally worthy and high endeavor, may God's choicest blessings attend you, and the guiding influence of His holy Spirit be your constant companion. Sincerely your brethren, HEBER J. GRANT, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1935-1951} (6)

Footnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - Journals of George Albert Smith
3 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
4 - LDSIndex.com
5 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
6 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Apr 5, 1933

-- Apr 5, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] John F. Bennett and Bishop Sylvester Q. Cannon called and I explained to them the program I intended to follow out concerning the directors of Z.C.M.I., which they approved, namely, that Ashby Snow and J. Reuben Clark Jr. be nominated in place of A.H. Woolley and George Albert Smith as members of the Board. (1)

-- Apr 25, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Brother George F. Richards called and we discussed temple matters and also with regard to the committee of which he is chairman that is trying to settle the troubles between daughter and Sister Vilate Raille and the Pirmary (sic) Board. He asked for more time, thought that George Albert was going to settle it himself. We expressed the hope that he would. (1)

-- Jun 30, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] George Albert Smith brought into the office Frederick M. Smith, President of the Reorganized Church. President Smith expresses a perfect willingness to have the Relief Society place a marker on property owned by the Reorganized Church in Nauvoo. (1)

-- Aug 7, 1933
Wesley P. Lloyd, later dean of BYU graduate school, writes in his journal of a three-and-a-half-hour conversation with his former Mission President B. H. Roberts: "The conversation then drifted to the Book of Mormon and this surprising story he related to me.... a Logan man by the name of Riter persuaded a scholarly friend who was a student in Washington to read thru and to criticize the Book of Mormon.... Riter sent the letter to Dr Talmage who studied it over and during a trip east ask Brother Roberts to make a careful investigation and study and to get an answer for the letter. "Roberts went to work and investigated it from every angle but could not answer it satisfactorily to himself. At his request Pres. Grant called a meeting of the Twelve Apostles and Bro. Roberts presented the matter, told them frankly that he was stumped and ask for their aide in the explanation. In answer, they merely one by one stood up and bore testimony to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.
George Albert Smith in tears testified that his faith in the Book had not been shaken by the question.... No answer was available. Bro Roberts could not criticize them for not being able to answer it or to assist him, but said that in a Church which claimed continuous revelation, a crisis had arisen where revelation was necessary. After the meeting he wrote Pres. Grant expressing his disappointment at the failure... It was mentioned at the meeting by Bro Roberts that there were other Book of Mormon problems that needed special attention. "Richard R. Lyman spoke up and ask if they were things that would help our prestige and when Bro Roberts answered no, he said then why discuss them. This attitude was too much for the historically minded Roberts... "After this Bro Roberts made a special Book of Mormon study. Treated the problem systematically and historically and in a 400 type written page thesis set forth a revolutionary article on the origin of the Book of Mormon and sent
it to Pres Grant. Its an article far too strong for the average Church member but for the intellectual group he considers it a contribution to assist in explaining Mormonism. "He swings to a psychological explanation of the Book of Mormon and shows that the plates were not objective but subjective with Joseph Smith, that his exceptional imagination qualified him psychologically for the experience which he had in presenting to the word the Book of Mormon and that the plates with the Urim and Thummim were not objective. "He explained certain literary difficulties in the Book... "These are some of the things which has made Bro Roberts shift his base on the Book of Mormon. Instead of regarding it as the strongest evidence we have of Church Divinity, he regards it as the one which needs the most bolstering." (2)

-- During 1933
In 1933, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., was chosen as a counselor to President Heber J. Grant of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Clark subsequently served as a counselor to succeeding church presidents George Albert Smith and David O. McKay. As a member of the First Presidency of the Mormon Church for twenty-eight years, Clark had a profound influence on the church. He was instrumental in developing the renowned church welfare system and in improving church finances and administration. He was a forceful and inspirational speaker on both religious and governmental topics. He also authored a number of religious books. (3)

-- Jan 9, 1934
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] At 10:15 I met George Albert Smith and John Wells and discussed officers for the organization for the blind. Brother James E. Talmage was formerly the president and George Albert Smith the vice-president. I suggested that George be made the president and that Brother Samuel O. Bennion be added to their board of directors. (1)

Footnotes:
1 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - Utah History Encyclopedia: J. Reuben Clark, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/c/CLARK%2CJ.REUBEN.html

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, 21 Jan 1933

-- 21 Jan 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (1)

-- 2 Feb 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Met with Council in temple. Was much distressed at the attitude of President Grant with reference to Vilate Raile and my daughter Emily. I feel that the mistake that has been made should be corrected and the girls vindicated. My nerves are all frayed out with anxiety." (1)

-- Feb 2, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Had a talk with David O. McKay and Richard R. Lyman regarding Emily Smith Stewart [daughter] and Vilate Schofield Raille's complaints against Sister May Anderson [primary president]. (2)

-- 3 Feb 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (1)

-- Feb 3, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] This morning had a chat with David O. McKay and Richard R. Lyman about Emily Smith Stewart [daughter] and Vilate S. Raille's troubles. I feel that Brothers George Albert Smith and Richard R. Lyman are all wrong in their attempt to belittle May Anderson [primary president], that it is a very great mistake. The matter had been decided by Brother McKay and Bihsop (sic) Sylvester Q. Cannon; and if the father and husband and relatives would tell these girls to behave themselves and quit talking it would be a great blessing. I fear serious consequences if they do not do it. (2)

-- 4 Feb 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (1)

-- 13 Feb 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] [illegible words] (1)

-- Mar 21, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] I had a long talk this morning with Nicholas G. Smith regarding the trouble that George Albert's daughter and Sister Vilate Raile are making and he agreed with me that Brother Smith's daughter is not reliable and that George's position in defending her is simply the love of a parent for his child and not very wise. (2)

-- Mar 23, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] I called Winslow Farr Smith this morning and asked him to be ready to go to my office at eight o'clock and to notify his brother Nicholas G. Smith to be there also. We discussed the troubles we are having over the tendering of resignations to Sister Vilate Raile and daughter, and we are a perfect unit that George was making the mistake of his life in defending his daughter who is not reliable. They both agreed that she is not reliable, and I am sure she is not, from all I have heard and from my own personal investigations. A committee has been appointed to investigate the matter, and up to date George does not seem to be willing to listen to the committee; and they agreed that he was wrong and so did I. We all three love George Albert Smith dearly and we all feel that he is on the wrong path, and that he must repent, and that he must accept the decision of the brethren. I told his brothers that I would talk to brother George F. Richards, who i
s the head of the committee to investigate the matter and that I would let them know later just what action I was going to take. I told them I felt almost as though I didn't want to join in a prayer circle with Brother George Albert while he takes the position that he does. I know how hard it is for parents to judge of their own. (2)

-- Apr 1, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] I had a long talk this morning with George Albert Smith and his brother Nicholas G. Smith. I explained to George that I was convinced that his defense of his daughter was all wrong and that were was only one thing to do, in my judgment, and that was to stop as far as possible agitation by his daughter and Sister Raille. I hope and pray that George will stop sustaining his daughter. The interview lasted nearly two hours and we went into great detail. I love George Albert Smith and have from the time he was a little boy. I think he is one of the kindest, finest men that ever lived, and his father before him, but he is blind to the faults of his daughter. (2)

Footnotes:
1 - Journals of George Albert Smith
2 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, 1932

-- During 1932
(George Albert Smith) Smith was a long-time supporter of visual-handicap societies, serving as president of the Society for the Aid of the Sightless for sixteen years. As a teenager his own sight was permanently impaired while working in the desert glare near Green River, Utah, with a railroad surveying crew.

His own words best sum up his philosophy of benevolent Christianity: "I plead with you, my brothers and sisters, let us be generous with one another. Let us be as patient with one another as we would like others to be with us. Let us see the virtues, not find fault and criticize. If we will do that, we will radiate sunshine, and those who know us best will love us." (1)

-- 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] entries are short and make frequent references to his ill health but after the first months of 1933, the entries become longer and are less concerned with is health (2)

-- Jan 2, 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] - with wife's (?) illness, "My nerves are nearly gone but am holding on the best I know how (2)

-- Jan 3, 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

-- Jan 6, 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "I was appointed to Alpine Stake Conference but my nerves are trembling so I have been excused." (2)

-- 8 Jan 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

-- 9 Jan 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

-- 10 Jan 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "My nerves are trembly." (2)

-- 16 Jan 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

-- 20 Jan 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

Footnotes:
1 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Journals of George Albert Smith

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, 18 Mar 1932

-- 18 Mar 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (1)

-- 3 May 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Met with brethren in temple Primary and [daughter] Emily & Vilate Raile discussed. My nerves very much unstrung." (1)

-- Jun 21, 1932
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] At 11:30 Brother Nicholas G. Smith called with his brother, George Albert Smith, and we blessed Brother Nicholas and ordained him a patriarch and set him apart to officiate in the Salt Lake Stake and to give blessings to outgoing missionaries and people from the missions and other places where there is no patriarch. (2)

-- 1932. July 29
(George H. Brimhall) :After several months of ill health, Brimhall became depressed. "His restless spirit chafed under the long seige which had sapped his strength." While his wife was out of the house on a short shopping trip, Brimhall killed himself with a hunting rifle. Apostles George Albert Smith, Richard R. Lyman, and Melvin J. Ballard participated at his funeral program. He was buried in Provo Cemetery. (3)

-- Aug 19, 1932
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] I went upstairs and submitted to Elders James E. Talmage, Richard R. Lyman, George Albert Smith and Rugger (sic) Clawson, an editorial that Joseph J. Cannon had written and submitted for approval, to be published in the Deseret News. We felt it would be a mistake to publish the editorial. It was suggesting what resolutions should be passed by the Republican Convention. ... (2)

-- Oct 22-Oct 31, 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] he is in Eastern Canada (1)

-- Nov 17, 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "At Temple with Council. Am sad to know there is so much misunderstanding (OVER) among some of our leaders." (1)

-- Dec 30, 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Had a long visit with David O. McKay. I fear he doesn't realize the attitude he assumes may be wrong." (1)

-- Dec 31, 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Met with David O. McKay and Br. Cannon (?). Regret inability to make them feel further responsibility." (1)

-- During 1932
(George Albert Smith) A long-time advocate of the Boy Scout movement in the Church, Smith was awarded the Silver Buffaloâ€"the highest award in American Scouting. His citation read, "George Albert Smith: Business executive, religious leader, former President of the International Irrigation Congress and International Farm Congress, Federal Receiver of Public Moneys and Special Disbursing Agent for the State of Utah. Member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and General Superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of the Church. Organizer and President of the Utah Pioneer Trails and Land-Marks Association. Member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Program Divisional Committee on Relationships and of its Region Twelve Executive Committee, and identified with its local activities since its organization. He has been indefatigable in serving the cause of scouting and to his enthusiasm fo
r its program must be largely traced the fact that Utah stands above all other states in the percentage of boys who are Scouts." (3)

Footnotes:
1 - Journals of George Albert Smith
2 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/

George Albert Smith, Jan 15, 1932

-- Jan 15, 1932
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] George Albert Smith, Richard R. Lyman and Melvin J. Ballard called, and they were very much worked up over the unfair treatment that had been extended, so they claimed, to George Albert's daughter and Vilate S. Raile. We told the brethren that some of the statements they made we were sure were not correct, that they had been misinformed. (1)

-- Jan 19, 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] -talks w/ McKay /Ballard & Cannon (?) RE: Primary Problem "until my nerves were seen done." (2)

-- 24 Jan 1932, 28 Jan
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

-- Feb 4, 1932-1934
[Change in Presiding Church Patriarch Office] Nicholas G. Smith

(de facto Acting Presiding Patriarch) [Brother to George Albert Smith], Son of Apostle John Henry Smith; grandson of Apostle George [Albert] Smith; great-grandson of former Presiding Patriarch "Uncle" John Smith; was never officially called, set apart, or sustained as the Acting Presiding Patriarch, but carried out the functions of the office (3)

-- 8 Feb 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

-- 12 Feb 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

-- Feb 22, 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] he delivers an address about the birth of George Washington at Springfield, Illinois, to the Patriotic Societies, sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution, about which he comments, "It seemed to me to be a cause of rejoicing that a member of the quorum of Twelve of the LDS Church should be asked to be the speaker on the 2 hundredth anniversary of the birth of our first President. And a member of the Smith family too to be so favored." (2)

-- 7 Mar 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Why am I so nervous?" (2)

-- 11 Mar 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "weary & nervous" (2)

-- 12 Mar 1932
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] <empty entry> (2)

Footnotes:
1 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Journals of George Albert Smith
3 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Presiding Patriarchs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presiding_Patriarch#Chronology_of_the_Presiding_Patriarchs_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints

LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith

Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/