Raining

Arrived in Salt Lake from Cedar [page break] at 7:35 A.M., 1hr 20m late. I went home & had breakfast, wrote up my journal &c before going to the Temple. Spent the evening at home. We had at dinner my son LeGrand, Geo L. & Nerva & Kenneth, Mamie and Lucena and their children.

Beautiful day.

I went to the Temple as usual. Attended to the living sealings and sealed up a number of children to parents in the Gill family.

President Heber J. Grant by phone requested me to give to him two names of persons whom I think would make a good presiding Bishop to fill the vacancy caused by the choosing of Bp C. W. Nibley last week to fill the vacancy in the First Presidency. I thought ought and wrote him a letter a copy of which is recorded on the next sheet so that I can remove it if thought advisable at anytime. I dated it June 3d as I do not intend to deliver it until tomorrow. Spent 12 hours in the Temple.

Stormy day.

I went to the Temple soon after 7:00 o’clock and was the speaker at the Temple meeting. There were 41 marriages in the 9: o’clock session and about six to ten before and after. Jos. Fielding Smith assisted me by sealing 22 couples.

I sealed Charles W. Penrose and his four sisters to their parents to-day. Attended my Circle &c. [page break]

Salt Lake City, Utah

June 3, 1925

Dear President Grant:

In considering the names of two persons from whom to choose a Presiding Bishop, as per your request, I am reminded of a remark made by you in the Council meeting of last week, that you thought a certain action that had been taken would please President Jos. F. Smith. If that element were to enter into this selection, I feel sure it would indicate Bishop David A. Smith as the man. To me he seems to be the logical man from point of succession and promotion, and if he be not selected for the position of Presiding Bishop, the whole family, will regard it as a slight. But, if he is not regarded as being big enough for the job, that fact would be sufficient justification for the selection of a man of greater capacity, in which event, I would suggest the name of Elias A. Smith as a man capable of doing big things in a business like manner; a man of capacity and of business experience; a man whose judgment would command respectful attention; a man of quick perception, and of frank expression, having a pleasing manner, an intelligent address and a fine personality, congenial withall, a man among men, one who would dignify the office, and with Bishop’s Smith and Wells as counselors, would insure a successful administration, and meet with the approval of the Saints generally. Respectfully submitted with prayers for your guidance.

Affectionately your brother

Geo. F. Richards [page break]

P.S. while the above is my estimate of Brother Elias A., it is quite possible that I have over rated him, as my acquaintance and association with him has been but limited. G.F.R.

Thu. June 4th 8:00 A.M. Pres. Grant called upon me at the Temple and explained why the two persons above named were not eligible for the position named.

Later in the day in Council meeting the name of Silvester Q. Cannon was presented and it was gloriously received. [page break] [3/4 page blank]

I went to the temple before eight o’clock and had a busy day. Attended weekly council meeting from 10 A.M. to 12:30 when I got excused to attend to the sealing. I sealed thirty four couples and 36 children. Had many important matters in hand. At 4:30 held an investigation of the discourteousness of some of our temple employees and administered my disapproval of some things that have been said and done.

I spent twelve hours in the Temple to-day.

Still stormy & cold. I attended to my duties at the Temple as usual. Wrote to Oliver. Spent the evening at home.

I arose before 5:00 A.M. and after having my usual morning bath &c I took the first car 6:20 for my work at the Temple. We obtained approval of the Presidency to release temple workers who at present are not able to assist us and we took steps looking to the release a number of this class.

Mother & I took Hugh & Sarah to the Wilks in the afternoon and we took Geo & Joel & their wives to the Empress in the evening, also Ruby & Ray.

Ruby came from Cornish this afternoon to attend Conference. We found LeGrand & Ina at the evening performance at the Paramount Empress. [page break]

I attended the morning and afternoon Conference meetings in the Tabernacle. I went with Orin & Nina down to Sugar House to see how the house they are building is progressing & called at my daughter Mamie’s. We were a little late for evening meeting and expecting the proceedings to be broadcasted, I remained home with my family but we were disappointed in that the proceedings were not broadcasted.

I attended the Conjoint Mutual Officer’s meeting in the Assembly Hall of three hours duration. 9 to 12 o’clock. I attended to some business matters. Phoned Meninas Browning of Ogden & other direction of U.I.V. Co of which I am president and arranged a meeting for 2:30 P.M. tomorrow. I went through the Implement house inspecting the stock &c.

I went to the Temple and prepared releases for twenty-four of our Temple workers who are not assisting us with the work. In the evening I went to the Pagent in the Tabernacle. Mother and Ruby went with me.

Warm weather.

I spent the forenoon at the Temple and the afternoon in attending two meetings of the Directors of the U.I.V. C—. In the evening my daughter Nina accompanied me to the Tabernacle where we witnessed the [illegible]. [page break]

I married a couple at the Temple in the morning.

Warm day.

I went to the Temple in the morning & notwithstanding the Temple was closed for endowment work there were 6 or 8 couples sealed who had previously had their endowments. Bros Whitney & Ballard each sealed a couple.

I rode with my wife, Elders Clawson & Whitney & their wives in Car No. 3 in the Jubilee Parade which was made up of YM & YLMIA members estimated 12,000 strong. The parade & the number of viewing it which made a double line 11 blocks in length made it one of the most wonderful ever had in Salt Lake if not the Greatest.

Mother & I took supper with Nerva & family & we took them to the American in the evening.

Mother & I went to the Temple as usual. We had more in attendance than we could seat. Bro Alfred Petersen was the Speaker. We had about sixty marriages. The Patriarch sealed about 22 and I the others besides about 30 or 40 children. It was a big day.

Our invitation, Mother & I accompanied our so Joel & wife to the American Wilks after eight o’clock P.M. This was a box party, the closing of the season for that company W. Ralph Cloninger Co.

Our little Dorothy Woodbury got run over this afternoon by a Ford car [page break] while playing in the street near Mamie’s. The car ran over her legs. A doctor was called and her legs were bandaged and how seriously she was hurt remains to be seen.

Mother & I went to the Temple as usual. This day I bought a straw hat for which I paid 7.00 at Grey’s.

My appointment was changed from Star Valley Stake to St. George Stake, to accompany Pres. Grant. A president is to be set apart for the St. George Temple and the Stake Presidency is to be reorganized. We are to leave for Cedar at 7:15 P.M. today, thence by auto to St. George.

Am well.

Pres. Grant, Pres. Ed. H. Snow of St. George Stake and I left Salt Lake last evening on Ry train at 7:15 o’clock. We arrived in Cedar at 7:00 A.M. and went to the Hotel and got breakfast & left by stage care for St. George at 7:55 and arrived in St. George at 9:55, in time for the opening of the Stake Conference A good attendance and and a spirit were evidenced and good instructions given. I was one of the speakers and occupied 25 min. with good liberty. Spoke of my visit one year ago when the conference was held in Hurricane ward. Referred to Pres. Cannon of the St. George Temple who has since passed away. Spoke of the interest the authorities of the Church feel for the people and the mutual prayers for one another, the people & the authorities. Our [page break] interest in the people leads us to not only pray for them but to plead with them to walk in paths that are straight so as to have the Kingdom of God the K. of peace within. Deal justly & honestly and thus inspire confidence & love and find peace & make peace for others.

At the afternoon meeting I was one of the speakers and occupied about 35 min. Subject. Thy will be done and applied to the Word of Wisdom, support of the Des News by subscriptions, &c. I took dinner & supper at Bro. Thos. B. Cottam’s where I stayed at night.

During the day it was decided to make Bro. Thos. Cottam President of the St. George Temple and Geo. F. Whitehead his assistant. At the close of a H. Council meeting held at 5:00 P.M. Bro. Cottam, Whitehead and I repaired to the Temple & looked it over and while there conversed upon the subject of Temple work &c. We left the Temple after 8:00 P.M. Later we met President Grant & Ed. H. Snow on the latters lawn and I presented to the President a number of recommendations pertaining to Temple repairs &c and the allowances of Presidency &c changes in appointment of individuals which was pretty generally accepted. It was decided during the day to make Bro. [blank] Reynolds President of the Stake to succeed Pres. Edward H. Snow who has accepted a state position as Chairman of the State Bd. Of Equalization. Bro. Reynolds selected as his Counselors Bros. [blank]

This is [illegible] birth day anniversary. Weather warm. [page break]

I arose in good time and after breakfast wrote up my journal for the yesterday. In the 10 A.M. meeting, I occupied 20 min addressing parents & children on their proper bringing up. In their future the parents, the Church & the state is country are [interested?].

In 2: P.M. meeting I occupied 12 minutes subject Repentance as applied to L.D.S. Commendation of the people, the stake retiring presidency and hope of the Success of the new.

We set apart officers and after meeting left for Cedar. It required less than 2 hours. Took supper at the Hotel & left for home on the 8:00 P.M. train.

Arrived in Salt Lake at 6:20 A.M. from St. George. Yesterday Franklin met with quite a serious accident. Riding his bicycle & holding to his father’s car he fell and the car ran over his right hand.

I spent part of the day at the Temple and in the evening I took Mother Lucena & Nina to the Victory.

I had distress of the Stomach all night, a very unusual thing for me so that my sleep was much broken. Rec’d $100. from E. J. Wood on land sale.

I went to the Temple as usual where I spent most all day. Attended quarterly meeting of the Twelve, and attended a missionary meeting and set apart four missionaries. I ordered [page break] ten tons of coal from Master Coal Co put in the basement for $9.25 per ton payable $10.00 per mo. after the coal is delivered. Should there be a drop in the price, I am to receive the benefits of same.

I spent the evening at home.

Mother & I went to the Temple as usual where we had a busy day. Many June brides. I sealed some thing more than 30 couples and there were about 18 or 20 sealed by others. I attended my circle meeting at night and later attended a farewell reception tendered Hugh J. Cannon & family, held in the LDS Gymnazium.

Mother and I went to the Temple as usual in the morning. Presided at the 8:30 Temple meeting as usual and always when not out of Town. Attended the weekly Council meeting from 10:00 A.M. until 12:45 P.M. when I got excused to attend to the sealing work of the living. I wrote to my son Oliver in Germany and to my daughter Ruby in Cornish. In the evening leaving the temple at 7:20 P.M. Mother and I took Clarence & Mamie & Charles & Edna to the American Theater.

Mother & I went to the Temple as usual in the morning. I attended to my duties there as usual. A busy day. [page break]

Not well.

I took 7:55 train for Price. Attended 2 P.M. meeting and occupied about 45 min. What is expected of us as members of the Church and the reward awaiting us if faithful. Attended a meeting of the Stake Presidency in the evening and laid before them a plan of division of work & responsibility among the members of the Stake Presidency & H Council, work for H. Priests Quorums & Seventies Quorums &c.

My stomach trouble became intense about this time and continued through the night. I suffered very greatly. This is like the spell I had while visiting Los Angeles & the other time when in Millard Stake. I turned yellow.

I left Price on 7:20 A.M. train an hr & 10 min. late and arrived in Salt Lake about 1:40 P.M. I had considerable pain on the train but kept about all day and at night my pains came on and I suffered intensely all night.

My suffering was continuous until about 1 p.m. when Dr. R. T. came and gave me a hypo and I soon got relief and slept most of the afternoon. I had no severe pains again but my stomach was very weak and sore. I used only hot water. [page break]

Dr. Snow called to see me in the morning. I rested in bed comfortably except for weakness and some pain in my back. I the evening I got some ginger ale and that seemed to be what I needed. I had a good night.

I got up early and had a bath and a shave and had some toast & milk and was able to take care of it. A little later I wrote to Oliver, wrote up my journal from last Friday &c.

At about 3:50 P.M. my daughter Alice Minerva Tate gave birth to a 9 lb. baby boy. While she had feared serious trouble it proved to be an unusually easy time. We all rejoice exceedingly. I am coming back so as to be observable and free from the excruciating pains I have experienced.

Weather normal.

I feel much better to-day. Went to the Temple and did some sealing & some desk work &c. and at 2:30 filled an appointment with Dr. R. T. at the Salt Lake Clinic. Went home early and spent the remainder of the day & evening at home. Alice’s Sister Sarah came from Ogden where she has been spending some time with her son Lionel. Mother took her and her sisters Annie & Estella to the show in the late evening.

I am much im[page break]proved. I arose early and took my usual morning bath in cold water. Went to the Temple where I presided as usual. Elder Geo. Albert Smith was speaker. I sealed between fifteen and twenty couples and a number of children to parents. By invitation or suggestion of Pres. Grant I went to the President’s office and assisted Presidents Grant and Nibley in setting apart Hugh J. Cannon, his wife and two daughters Connie & Zonnie missionaries to the Swiss & German Mission. Hugh was set apart to preside over a division of the Swiss & German mission and by Pres Grant. I set apart Sarah, his wife, my daughter, as a missionary to assist her husband &c. Bro Nibley set Connie apart & President set Zonnie apart. Mother & I made a purse for them and I made a little talk to them and made the presentations $25 each to Hugh & Sarah, $5.00 each to Connie & Zonnie and $1.00 each to Geo, Alice & Max. Am sorry that Mother was not with us but she was preparing to go to Farmington with her three sisters and let the opportunity pass. I set apart the New Bishopric of the Park City ward assisted by Jno. E. Johnson of the Summit Stake as follows:

Zachariah James Oblad, ordained a Bishop and set apart to preside over the Park City Ward.

John Chase Gleason set apart, First Counselor to Bp. Oblad. Horace Frederic Egan ordained a H. Priest and set apart second Counselor to Bp. Oblad.

Horace Frederic Egan, ordained a H. Priest and set apart second Counselor to Bp Oblad. [page break]

Warm day.

This is the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch Joseph & Hyrum Smith. I went to the Temple in the morning, calling at the barbers, With Chas E. Gouldbransen, the Cleaner and painter and with the Recorder & the Janitor I inspected the Temple and its approaches and together we determined what renovating is in need of being done and that we will do.

I wrote to Jas. H. Wilcox & Family a letter of sympathy and condolence on account of the accidental electrocution of their Son Joseph.

My daughter Sarah & her husband and unmarried children were to have left for Germany on the 1:00 P.M. train but it was 5:00 P.M. when the train pulled out. It was belated between Los Angeles and here. We had arranged for Hugh & Sarah and her children to take dinner with us at 11:30 A.M.. It was after 12:30 when they came due in part to the report in train departure, delayed. They stayed with us until time to go to the train, and we saw them off, but it took most all day. Afterward, Mother & I went in Orin’s car down to Sugar House and called on our daughter Mamie & family and on our way [page break] back we called on our daughter Nerva & family. Nervay is in bed with the new babe born June 24th. The warm weather and the excitement having so many people about & such confusion along with Sarahs going away nearly used us up.

I spent some time in the early morning writing a thesis.

I am improving

I went to the Temple as usual. Attended to my desk work & correspondence.

Received a letter from the Presidency of the Alpine Stake extending an invitation to the Temple workers, General Authorities and Genealogical workers to spend a day with them in American Fork some day during our summer vacation. It is our intention to accept this invitation with the approval of the First Presidency. I wrote Pres. Chipman & Counselors accordingly. I had a busy day leaving the Temple at 6:00 P.M. Mother & I accepted invitation of our son Ray to attend Paramount with him in the evening.

Am feeling well.

Mother and I went to the Temple where we had a busy day. Elder Whitney was speaker. I spent 10 hours in the Temple. Sealed about 15 couples living & some dead and a number of children to parents. In the evening I listened to the [page break] Oratorio, “The Creation” rendered on the U of U grounds and broadcasted by radio. Charles & Edna spent the evening with us. Rained at night.