[President George Albert Smith Journal] "Ernest L. Wilkinson of Washington, D.C. stopped by for a few minutes and he told me of a plan that he [is] working on at the present time to turn over a fee which may be forthcoming to him to the B.Y.U. He is one his way to Montana to handle a case for the Crow Indians against the United States Government. If he is successful, and he believes that he has a good chance, he will receive one-third of the net proceeds as his fee which should amount to a half million dollars for him. He prefers to have the B.Y.U. receive this amount, since he feels that he does not need it. He has discussed this matter with President Clark and President McKay and they concur in my feeling that it will be all right to go ahead provided first that an advance ruling is obtained from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Washington, D.C. to ascertain whether or not such a procedure will be entirely proper." (1)
-- During October 1949
[Media] The 120th Semi-annual General Conference was the first televised General Conference of the LDS Church. (2)
-- Nov 28, 1949
All persons to be members of ward in which their residence is located-- Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is the policy of the Church that all persons shall be members of record in the ward in which their residence is located, and affiliate themselves with that ward in all Church activities. (Excerpt.) (3)
-- Dec 14, 1949
Annual Christmas greeting-- (The annual Christmas message of the First Presidency.) (3)
-- Dec 27, 1949
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "At 5:00 President Clark came in to say that he was holding two or three important matters which he wished to go over with me for my opinion." (1)
-- 1949
Church Membership at end of year: 1,078,671
New Converts : 36,701
Percent Change from previous year: 3.52% (4)
-- Dec 31, 1949
[President George Albert Smith Journal] "At eleven Wilford Wood came in, and we discussed a number of matters particularly having reference to some of his activities in the east and in and around Nauvoo. He has been active again this year in securing various houses and properties having historical significance so far as the Church is concerned." (1)
-- During December, 1949
Christmas greeting from President George Albert Smith-- (A Christmas greeting from President George Albert Smith.) {1949-December-Improvement Era 52:801, 831, December, 1949.} (3)
-- During 1949
[Black History] First Presidency statement issued stating that the Church-s position is a result of revelation, "The attitude of the Church with reference to the Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time." No specific revelation is cited. (5)
(George Albert Smith) Shortly after World War II, President Smith visited Harry Truman to "'ascertain from you, Mr. President, what your attitude will be if the Latter-day Saints are prepared to ship food and clothing and bedding to Europe.' He smiled and looked at me, and said: 'Well, what do you want to ship it over there for? Their money isn't any good …. ' 'We would give it to them. They are our brothers and sisters and are in distress. God has blessed us with a surplus, and we will be glad to send it if we can have the cooperation of the government.' 'How long will it take you to get this ready?' I said: 'It's all ready.'"
President Smith served as a director of Utah Savings and Trust, Utah-Idaho Sugar, ZCMI, Heber J. Grant Company, Mutual Creamery, Utah National Bank, Salt Lake Theatre, and Decker Wholesale Jewelry Company. He was also president of Libby Investment Company. (6)
Footnotes:
1 - Journals of George Albert Smith
2 - The Mormon Channel: The Broadcast and Media History of the LDS Church Timeline, http://radio.lds.org/eng/about/media-timeline
3 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
4 - 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
5 - Crapo, Richley, Chronology Pertaining to Blacks and the LDS Priesthood, http://www.mormonsocialscience.org/node/62
6 - 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/
