-- Dec 10, 1899
[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] I look upon Elder George F. Richards as the most faithful and worthy son of Apostle Franklin D. Richards. Should President Snow feel to have a son of President Franklin D. Richards in our quorum, my choice would be Brother George F. (1)
-- Tuesday, Dec 12, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] Salt Lake City. Cool and snowing. At 12 noon took the D. and R. G. [Denver and Rio Grande] train for Ogden to attend the funeral of Pres. Franklin D. Richards, arriving at 1 o'clock. A large number of visitors came up from Salt Lake on the same train.
The services began at 1:30 p.m. at the Ogden Tabernacle, which was crowded to suffocation. There were present on the stand: Presidents Lorenzo Snow, Geo. Q. Cannon, Jos. F. Smith, and Apostles B. Young, Jr., F. M. Lyman, J. H. Smith, Geo. Teasdale, J. W. Taylor, A. H. Lund, H. J. Grant, M. F. Cowley, and myself, the stake presidency, Bp. Robt. McQuarrie of Ogden 2nd Ward, Bp. Wm. B. Preston, Elders S[eymour] B. Young, R[ulon] S. Wells, Jos. W. McMurrin, Geo. Reynolds, Pres. Angus M. Cannon of the Salt Lake Stake, and Counselors Jos. E. Taylor, Chas. W. Penrose, Bp. O[rson]. F. Whitney, Pres. Wm. Budge, and others. The meeting was called to order by Bp. Robt. McQuarrie.
The speakers were Pres. L. W. Shurtliff, Bp. Robt. McQuarrie, Elder D. H. Peery, Apostle B. Young, Jr., Presidents Lorenzo Snow, Geo. Cannon, and Jos. F. Smith. Topics treated. L. W. S[hurtliff]. Said he felt that all Israel will mourn the death of the noble Apostle. He will be missed in the Weber Stake of Zion, where he has lived so many years.
Bp. McQuarrie. Could hardly realize what had happened. The longer he had known him, the more he loved him. He was a man of fine example--full of love and kindness to all associated with him. Related an incident showing the esteem in which he was held by the people of Great Britain.
D. H. P[eery]. Had known a large number of great men, but he placed Pres. Franklin D. Richards at the top. Said he was a great worker. There was no man, he said, but could speak a good word for Franklin D. Richards. Felt that Weber County was greatly in advance of what it would have been had he not lived here. Invoked the blessings of God upon his family.
B. Y[oung], Jr. Felt, he said, as he did at the death of his father--he had been so intimately associated with Pres. Richards. He was a good man, a great man, a bold man, a father, and a friend. Felt to mourn with his family in the loss sustained, but rejoiced with the people in the great work of his life. Felt thankful that he had been associated with Franklin D. Richards. Congratulated the people of the Weber Stake in having had him to live in their midst.
L. S[now]. Said his acquaintance with Franklin D. Richards had been very intimate. Over 50 years ago Pres. Richards and himself, he said, were ordained to the apostleship. There were 4 vacancies in the quorum at the time, and they were filled by Elders C. C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards. Pres. Richards had out-lived four presidents of the church, and his life was filled up with good works. All that the breth[ren] have said concerning him is true. All that needs to be said about him, perhaps, is this: did he accomplish the work given him to do before he came into the world? The speaker doubted not, he said, that those who knew him would feel that he had accomplished that work. He has returned to the spirit world covered with eternal and everlasting glory. His family have before them the example of a great and good man. Invoked the blessings of the Lord upon the family of Pres. F. D. Richards. The people of the world, who are disposed to
persecute us, did they know us as the Lord knows us, and as we know ourselves, would know that we are their best friends. Related an incident that occurred in the days of the [Mormon] reformation when some thought that the priesthood should be taken from a great many men in the church. Brother Franklin D. Richards and himself went to Pres. Young and tendered to him their priesthood, if he felt they had not magnified it. Pres. Young replied: "Brother Lorenzo and Franklin, you have magnified your priesthood to the satisfaction of the Lord. God bless you."
G. Q. C[annon]. Said he was ordained an apostle after Brother Franklin D. Richards--some years later--and was afterwards called into the First Presidency, which made his relationship with the deceased, peculiar. He did not remember, he said, an instance where Brother Franklin did not show respect for his position and calling. Never heard him indulge in criticism of his brethren; never heard him find fault with his associates. It was a lovely feature of his character. Never saw him out of temper. He was very urban[e] and kind in manner. Though not an aggressive man, if his priesthood was attacked, he could assert himself with great vigor. Brother Franklin D. Richards will share in the glory and authority of the Celestial Kingdom.
J. F. S[mith]. To say that the Lord loved Pres. F. D. Richards would be but to speak what you all know. Did not see how it could be possible for any man who knew him not to love him. Had always received the greatest consideration at his hands. No man had so won his confidence as Brother Richards; no man was truer to the Prophet Joseph than he. Had been blessed by the example of Pres. Richards, who, while passing under the rod, humbly submitted to the providences of the Lord. No matter what difficulties he had to meet, he was for Zion and the building up of Zion. Invoked the blessings of the Lord upon his family.
A large number of carriages followed the casket to the grave, which was dedicated by Apostle Geo. Teasdale. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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