Called by Ezra Taft Benson

Ezra Taft Benson was a political conservative and often gave talks as a voice of warning against the sins of the world and against godless communism as an apostle. When he became prophet, his message more focussed on love and on a renewed emphasis in studying the Book of Mormon. This attitude was evident in the men he called to be Apostles. He was prophet for nine years, but the last four of them, his health problems were such that he was rarely seen in public.

First Presidency in 1985:
Ezra Taft Benson
Gordon B. Hinckley
Thomas S. Monson

Quorum of the Twelve in 1985:
Marion G. Romney, Howard W. Hunter,
Boyd K. Packer, Marvin J. Ashton,
L. Tom Perry, David B. Haight,
James E. Faust, Neal A. Maxwell,
Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks,
M. Russell Ballard...

Called to be Apostles by Ezra Taft Benson:
Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales

JOSEPH B. WIRTHLIN
(June 11, 1917 - December 1, 2008)

Apostle - October 4, 1986

Wirthlin was a first cousin to Gordon B. Hinckley and they grew up in the same ward. He served a mission in Europe (1936-1939) and played running back at the University of Utah. He married Elisa Rogers in 1941 and had eight children.

He served as a stake presidency counselor and on a stake high council. He served as a bishop at the same time his father Joseph L. Wirthlin was the Presiding Bishop of the church. He was the last person to be called as an assistant to the Q12 before the position was eliminated. He then became a member of the Presidency of the Seventy.

Upon Pres. Kimball's death, Wirthlin was the first Apostle that the new Pres. Benson called. He often focussed on improving spirituality, with talks like "The Virtue of Kindness" and "Seeking the Good." He died at age 91. He is the most recent Apostle to die; all others called after him are still alive.

RICHARD G. SCOTT
(November 7, 1928 - )

Apostle - October 1, 1988

Richard's father Kenneth Scott was not a member of the LDS church when he went to work for Ezra Taft Benson in the US Department of Agriculture. Benson helped convert him to the Gospel, and thirty years later, Benson was able to call Kenneth's son as an Apostle.

Richard wasn't very active until he started dating Jeanine Watkins, daughter of Senator Arthur Watkins. Jeanine said she'd only marry a returned missionary, so he went on a mission to Uruguay and married her when he returned.

He worked as a nuclear engineer. He helped develop the first commercial nuclear power plant.

He was called to be an Apostle at age 59. He can speak Spanish and Portugese and he will record his talks in those two languages before each General Conference so those listening to translators while they watch live will hear his voice. He's known for his compassion and empathy in his talks.

ROBERT D. HALES
(August 24, 1932 - )

Apostle - April 2, 1994

Hales was born in New York City, raised in Queens. He was a pilot in the US Air Force and made his living in high executive positions at many different companies.

He was the Presiding Bishop for nine years before being called to be an Apostle. A few years ago he had two heart attacks and several surgeries, and while it appeared he might not have much longer, he's been able to fully perform his duties the past few years. He's currently 82.

Called by Spencer W. Kimball

Spencer W. Kimball was a small, soft-spoken man, but he was able to guide the church to stability after his two predecessors' combined service was less than four years. He preached for church members to do better, do more, just "do it." In his 12 years as prophet, church membership went from 3.3 to 5.9 million. He had the chance to call seven Apostles during his tenure and you can see the variety in the selections.

First Presidency in 1973:
Spencer W. Kimball
N. Eldon Tanner
Marion G. Romney

Quorum of the Twelve in 1973:
Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen,
Delbert L. Stapley, LeGrand Richards,
Hugh B. Brown, Howard W. Hunter,
Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson,
Boyd K. Packer, Marvin J. Ashton,
Bruce R. McConkie...

Called to be Apostles by Spencer W. Kimball:
L. Tom Perry, David B. Haight,
James E. Faust, Neal A. Maxwell,
Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks,
M. Russell Ballard

L. TOM PERRY
(August 5, 1922 - )

Apostle - April 11, 1974

Perry was born and raised in Logan, Utah. He got his degree in finance from the future Utah State University in Logan. His father was the bishop of their ward his entire eighteen years of childhood.

He served a mission in the Northern States, and afterwards went right into the US Marine Corps. He was in the Battle of Saipan in 1944. He remained stationed on that island for a year, even built an LDS chapel while he was there. He also helped occupy Nagasaki after the Japanese surrender to officially end WWII.

He married Virginia Lee in 1947 and they had three children. She died in 1974 and he remarried to Barbara Dayton in 1976.

Perry was 51 when called to be an Apostle and he is currency the oldest member of the Q12, at age 92.

DAVID B. HAIGHT
(September 2, 1906 - July 31, 2004)

Apostle - January 8, 1976

Haight was born in Idaho. He joined the Navy and was a WWII vet. After the war he moved to Palo Alto, California, to run a hardware store. He became mayor of Palo Alto but resigned when he was called to president of the Scotland mission.

He's the father-in-law of philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr. and the grandfather of former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr.

Haight has the record for being the oldest Apostle in this dispensation, dying less than five weeks before his 99th birthday. He and Neal A. Maxwell died less than two weeks apart.

JAMES E. FAUST
(July 31, 1920 - August 10, 2007)

Apostle - October 1, 1978
Second Counselor - March 12, 1995

Faust was born in Delta, Utah, but moved to south Salt Lake before his high school years. he played football and ran track. He ran track at the University of Utah as well. He served in the Army during WWII. He married his wife Ruth Wright in 1943 while on leave.

After graduating the U of U, he worked as a lawyer and became president of the Utah Bar Association. He served a term in the Utah legislature as a Democrat and became chair of the Utah Democratic Party.

While as a seventy he was called to preside over the Brazil area. The San Paolo Brazil temple was announced while he was there and he later became an honorary citizen of Brazil.

He became an Apostle at age 58, and upon the death of Pres. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley called him to be part of his First Presidency. The twelve years of Hinckley, Monson and Faust were the longest a First Presidency (http://jerlsguy.blogspot.com/2014/08/lds-first-presidency-chronology.html)  had ever gone without a change. He died at age 87.

NEAL A. MAXWELL
(July 6, 1926 - July 21, 2004)

Apostle - July 23, 1981

Maxwell was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, shortly after his parents had moved there and joined the church. Like many called around his age, he was a WWII veteran; he served in the Army and was at Okinawa. After the war, he served a mission to Canada. He then married Colleen Hinckley (cousin of Gordon).

He graduated from the University of Utah in political science and later worked there as a professor while serving as bishop of a student ward. In 1970, Pres. Lee called him to be commissioner of the Church Eucational System.

He was called to be an Apostle when Gordon B. Hinckley was made a counselor in Kimball's First Presidency. He was poetic and insightful in his talks. Some of them felt like they could be extra chapters of Proverbs or Eccleciastes.

He was first diagnosed with leukemia in 1996 but he managed to hang on until 2004, dying at age 78.

RUSSELL M. NELSON
(September 9, 1924 - )

Apostle - April 7, 1984

Nelson made his living as a heart surgeon. he was part of the team that made the first heart-lung machine. He was the first doctor in Utah to successfully perform open-heart surgery using the machine. He was also the first surgeon in Utah to perform a cardiopulmonary bypass.

Nelson served in a M*A*S*H* unit during the Korean War and was later stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He married Dantzel White, and they had nine daughters and one son.

In 1972, he performed open-heart surgery on then-apostle Spencer W. Kimball. Before the surgery he received a witness that it would be successful, that Kimball would go on to be president of the church (which seemed unlikely given his age and health compared to Lee's).

When Mark E. Petersen and LeGrand Richard both died, Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks were called the same day to the Q12, but Oaks couldn't be ordained for another month as he wrapped up aspects of his public life.

Nelson's wife died in 2005, and in 2006 he married BYU professor Wendy Watson. He turned 90 earlier this month.

DALLIN H. OAKS
(August 12, 1932 - )

Apostle - May 3, 1984

Dallin was born in Provo, but his father died when he was just seven years old. Afterwards his mother pursued her graduate degree at Columbia University and moved back to Utah to become the first woman to serve on the Provo City Council.

He was in the National Guard during the Korean War but was never called up.

He studied the law, and he clerked with US Supreme Court justice Earl Warren. He practiced law in Chicago before becoming a professor at University of Chicago Law School. He left there when he was appointed to be the next president of BYU. After nine years there, he was then appointed to the Utah Supreme Court. He served there until his resignation, when he'd been called to be an Apostle. he and Nelson were sustained the same day, but Oaks was actually ordained a month later while he wrapped up some judiciary commitments. He would've been behind Nelson in seniority anyway, being eight years younger.

His law background comes through in his talks, as he often tackles the details of different gospel aspects. At age 82, he's the most senior apostle that is still younger than 87-year-old Pres. Monson.

M. RUSSELL BALLARD
(October 8, 1928 - )

Apostle - October 6, 1985

Both of Ballard's grandfathers are former Apostles - Melvin J. Ballard (who died when he was 11) and Hyrum M. Smith (who died before he was born). This makes Ballard the great-grandson of Joseph F. Smith and the great-great-grandson of Hyrum Smith, Joseph's brother.

Ballard was born in Salt Lake City and served his mission in England. He later served as president of the Canada Toronto Mission.

He didn't know he was going to be an Apostle until the morning of General Conference, when Pres. Hinckley called him to his office (on behalf of Pres. Kimball).

Ballard has made missionary service one of his main themes, often giving talks to missionaries and to member on how to better help the missionaries spread the Gospel. He turns 86 next month.

Side Note:
When Neal A. Maxwell died on July 21, 2004, and David B. Haight died on July 31, 2004, it was a rough time for me. My daughter died on July 22, 2004, and whenever I'd see how much publicity and outpouring they'd receive, part of me would get jealous. People would say "I pray for their families" and I wanted to say "Yeah, but they had full lives! Taleah didn't see her 4th birthday!" Since then, I've just been able to appreciate their lives, and in her own way, Taleah lives on.

Called by Harold B. Lee

Harold B. Lee was relatively young when he took over as President of the LDS Church at age 73. Most people thought he'd be in charge for the next 15-20 years, but he was in charge for less than 18 months before his sudden death. Therefore he only had the opportunity to call one Apostle.

BRUCE R. McCONKIE
(July 29, 1915 - April 19, 1985)

Apostle - October 12, 1972

McConkie was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He served his mission in the Eastern States and married Amelia Smith, daughter of Joseph Fielding Smith, while the two fo them were at the University of Utah. He was a WWII vet, working for military intelligence.

After the war he worked as a city attorney and as a reporter for the Deseret News. He was called to be a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy at age 31 by Pres. George Albert Smith.

In 1958 he wrote Mormon Doctrine, which tried to serve as a one-volume encyclopedia about the doctrines of the LDS church. Many of the Brethren were unhappy with its publication, since it wasn't authorized and had some errors and an overall harsh tone. The 1996 version had some revisions but it's since gone out of print.

When McConkie was called to be an Apostle after the death of his father-in-law, he said he'd known for some time that this calling would come. He was seen as one of the more authoritative voices in the Q12. He was quoted in 1980 saying to an LDS scholar: "It is my province to teach to the Church what the doctrine is. It is your province to echo what I say or to remain silent."

His final testimony at the April 1985 General Conference, when he knew he was dying from cancer, was a powerful one about the Savior. He died less than two weeks later.

Called by Joseph Fielding Smith

Joseph Fielding Smith was the grandson of Hyrum Smith, killed 134 years before Joseph became prophet. Joseph was the oldest to ever assume the office of President of the LDS Church, at age 93. Despite his advanced age he was able to travel the world and speak at every General Conference.

First Presidency in 1970:
Joseph Fielding Smith
Harold B. Lee
N. Eldon Tanner

Quorum of the Twelve in 1970:
Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson,
Mark E. Petersen, Delbert L. Stapley,
Marion G. Romney, LeGrand Richards,
Richard L. Evans, Hugh B. Brown,
Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley,
Thomas S. Monson...

Called to be Apostles by Joseph Fielding Smith:
Boyd K. Packer, Marvin J. Ashton

BOYD K. PACKER
(September 10, 1924 - )

Apostle - April 9, 1970
President of Q12 - February 3, 2008

Packer was a pilot in the US Air Force, and he flew many bombing missions in the Pacific during World War II. After the war he married his wife Donna and they had 10 children together. He became a teacher, and he worked his way up the Church Educational System.

He was only 45 when David O. McKay died and Pres. Smith called him to be an Apostle.

He acted as an advisor to the Genesis Group before and after the 1978 lifting of the priesthood ban. He was fourth in seniority when Pres. Hunter became prophet, but he was Acting President of the Q12 since the other three were all in the First Presidency.

He drew controversy in the 1980's when he cautioned LDS historians to not promote history which would harm the Church. He's generally seen as one of the Q12's more hardline Apostles. Most of the September Six who were excommunicated in 1993 have said they believe Packer was instrumental in chasing them out of the church.

His health has been in decline, and although he hasn't been able to stand at General Conference for a few years now, his mind is fine and he can still speak at every one. He turned 90 earlier this month, and if Pres. Monson died today, Packer would be in line as the next prophet.

MARVIN J. ASHTON
(May 6, 1915 - February 25, 1994)

Apostle - December 2, 1971

Ashton was the son of a general authority, born and raised in Salt Lake City. He served a mission in Great Britain, and Hugh B. Brown was his president.

He worked in several business, including Deseret Book, and he served four years in the Utah Senate. He was an assistant to the Q12 for two years before he was called to be an Apostle upon the death of Richard L. Evans.

He was known to speak up for the poor and downtrodden. He managed the Church Social Services. He died from illness at age 78.

Called by David O. McKay

David O. McKay was the prophet who really brought The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into the modern era, and if you look at who he called, he's done a lot to shape where we are today. Three of the men he called went on to be prophet, including Thomas S. Monson, who's been the head of the church from 2008 to present day.

First Presidency in 1951:
David O. McKay
Stephen L. Richards
J. Reuben Clark

Quorum of the Twelve in 1951:
Joseph Fielding Smith, John A. Widtsoe,
Joseph F. Merrill, Albert E. Bowen,
Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball,
Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen,
Matthew Cowley, Henry D. Moyle,
Delbert L. Stapley...

Called to be Apostles by David O. McKay:
Marion G. Romney, LeGrand Richards,
Adam S. Bennion, Richard L. Evans,
George Q. Morris, Hugh B. Brown,
Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley,
N. Eldon Tanner, Thomas S. Monson,
(Thorpe B. Isaacson), Alvin R. Dyer

MARION G. ROMNEY
(September, 19, 1897 - May 20, 1988)

Apostle - October 11, 1951
Second Counselor - July 7, 1972
First Counselor - December 2, 1982
President of Q12 - November 10, 1985

Romney was born in Juarez, Mexico, living in a small community the Romneys and other families occupied when many polygamists had fled south of the border to avoid US prosecution. He and his family moved to the US in 1912 as violence from the Mexican Revolution spread. He was first cousin to Michigan governor George Romney (and uncle of Mitt).

He made his living as a prosecutor and served in the Utah legislature (as a Democrat). He was called to be an Apostle at age 54. He served over the Mexico mission and did a lot to help build the church there.

He served in the First Presidencies of Harold B. Lee and Spencer W. Kimball. His health declined in the 1980's, and he rarely appeared in public for his final years.

LEGRAND RICHARDS
(February 6, 1886 - January 11, 1983)

Apostle - April 6, 1952

LeGrand was the son of Apostle George F. Richards and grandson of Apostle Franklin D. Richards. LeGrand was serving as Presiding Bishop when his father died.

He served as bishop, stake president and mission president in his time. He wrote 1950's A Marvelous Work and a Wonder to help missionaries spread the Gospel. He wound up be the second-oldest Apostle in church history when he died at age 96 (behind only 98-year-old David B. Haight).

ADAM S. BENNION
(December 2, 1886 - February 11, 1958)

Apostle - April 9, 1953

Bennion earned his masters degree at Columbia University before getting his job as an English professor at the Univeristy of Utah. He later became president of Utah Power & Light, and then the director of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.

He wound up serving less than five years as an Apostle, dying at age 71.

RICHARD L. EVANS
(March 23, 1906 - November 1, 1971)

Apostle - October 8, 1953

Evans was the youngest of nine children, and his father died a few weeks after he was born. His widowed mother raised all of them herself.  He served his mission in Great Britain from 1926-1929, and while there worked as an associate editor for the Millenial Star under James E. Talmage and John A. Widtsoe.

He was best known for hosting the weekly radio program Music & the Spoken Word, featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He was only 23 for its first episode (just months after he'd returned home from his mission), and he hosted it until his death. He did voice-over work for many church productions, as well as outside endeavors, such as Bing Crosby's annual Christmas radio specials.

He was the youngest Apostle when he was ordained, but he died at only 65 years old.

GEORGE Q. MORRIS
(February 20, 1874 - April 23, 1962)

Apostle - April 8, 1954

Morris is the oldest to have ever been called to be an Apostle, at age 80. As such, he only served a few years. Before, he'd been serving as an assistant to the Q12, a position that existed from 1941-1976.

HUGH B. BROWN
(October 24, 1883 - December 2, 1975)

Apostle - April 10, 1958
Third Counselor - June 22, 1961
Second Counselor - October 12, 1961
First Counselor - October 4, 1963

The "B." in Hugh B. Brown stands for Brown, as it was his mother's maiden name, though his parents weren't blood-related. Brown was born in Granger, Utah, but his family moved to Canada in his teen years. After marrying Zina Card, six of his eight children were born in Canada until they moved to Utah. Brown actually served in the Canadian military during WWI. He achieved the rank of major but was told he'd receive no further promotions because he was Mormon.

He worked as a lawyer in Canada, and upon moving to Utah, he joined the same law firm that employed J. Reuben Clark and Albert E. Bowen. He aligned with the Democratic party and ran for U.S. Senator in 1932 but did not win.

He served over the British mission when WWII broke out, and he and his missionaries returned home under the direction of Pres. Grant in 1940. His son Hugh C. Brown volunteered in the British Air Corps and was killed in action in 1942.

Brown was called to be an assistant to the Q12 before joining it as an Apostle in 1958. A few years later, he joined the First Presidency. Once Pres. McKay died in 1970, he returned to the Q12. He died at age 92.

HOWARD W. HUNTER
(November 14, 1907 - March 3, 1995)

Apostle - October 10, 1959
President of Q12 - May 20, 1988
Prophet/president - June 5, 1994

Hunter's father was a non-member and wouldn't let him get baptized until he was 12. He was a skilled musician and could play several instruments, including the piano, violin and trumpet. He had polio when he was 4, and although he avoided paralysis, he had back pain his entire life.

He made his living as a banker until he was able to complete law school, then worked as a lawyer. He became an Apostle at age 51. He was made Acting President of the Q12 when Pres. Benson became prophet, as the next senior Apostle - Marion G. Romney - was too ill to function as President. Hunter became the actual President of the Q12 in 1988.

He suffered significant health problems in his later years, and he was not in good shape when he became prophet in 1994. Nevertheless he was able to do the talking and traveling. He had the shorture tenure as prophet in the modern days (only nine months) and he was the first LDS Church President born in the 20th century. He drafted "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" but died before it could be presented to the church. He was 87.

GORDON B. HINCKLEY
(June 23, 1910 - January 27, 2008)

Apostle - October 5, 1961
Counselor - July 23, 1981
Second Counselor - December 2, 1982
First Counselor - November 10, 1985
President of Q12 - June 5, 1994
Prophet/president - March 12, 1995

Gordon was the nephew of Apostle Alonzo Hinckley. His father Bryant was an LDS writer. He served his mission in England (where Apostle Joseph Merrill was his mission president) and he spent his last few months there preaching in Europe, including France and Germany.

He studied journalism in college, and he was employed by the LDS church to develop their radio and communications departments. He acted as the church's liaison to Deseret Book (where he worked with Thomas S. Monson) and wrote for the Church News.

He became an Apostle at age 51. In 1981, when the health of all three members of the First Presidency was poor, he was called to be an additional counselor. When N. Eldon Tanner died in 1982, he became 2nd counselor, and when Ezra Taft Benson became prophet, he called Gordon to be his 1st counselor. He served as 1st counselor for Pres. Hunter as well. Nine months later, he became the 15th President of the LDS church.

His background in media made him comfortable in interviews and he became a prominent international figure. He increased temple building and church membership went from 9.5 to 13.5 million members. It was during his tenure that church membership outside the US surpassed membership within the US. He was the oldest prophet in this dispensation, dying at age 97.

N. ELDON TANNER
(May 9, 1898 - November 27, 1982)

Apostle - October 11, 1962
Second Counselor (DOM, JFS) - October 4, 1963
First Counselor (HBL, SWK) - July 7, 1972

Tanner was born in Utah but his family moved to Alberta, Canada, shortly thereafter. He ran a general store as a young man and also became a teacher. He held many government positions, first on the town council, then in the Alberta legislature. He wound up becoming Speaker of the Alberta legislature and then was appointed to serve in the national Cabinet in 1937. He won hs re-elections and served until 1952.

He was only an Apostle for a year when David O. McKay called him to be in the First Presidency due to the death of Henry D. Moyle. He served in the First Presidencies of four prophets before dying at age 84.

THOMAS S. MONSON
(August 21, 1927 - )

Apostle - October 4, 1963
Second Counselor - November 10, 1985
First Counselor - March 12, 1995
President of Q12 - March 12, 1995
Prophet/president - February 3, 2008

Monson was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He joined the US Naval Reserve in 1945 but WWII ended before he was ever sent overseas. He graduated the U of Utah in business management and became an ad executive at the Deseret News. He later became the general manager of the Deseret News Press.

He didn't serve a full-time mission but became a bishop at age 22. He was a counselor in a stake presidency at age 27 and mission president of Canada at age 31. After serving there, he returned to work at the Deseret News until he was called to be an Apostle at age 36, the youngest in over 50 years.

When Ezra Taft Benson became prophet, he selected Monson as his 2nd counselor, and he remained in the First Presidency under Hunter and Hinckley until he became prophet 5 1/2 years ago.

THORPE B. ISAACSON
(September 6, 1898 - November 9, 1970)

Counselor - October 28, 1965

Isaacson was an assistant to the Q12 when he was called to be a counselor in David O. McKay's First Presidency. He was never ordained an Apostle. Joseph Fielding Smith was made a counselor at the same time.

Isaacson suffered a stroke in 1966 which severely limited his abilities to serve. When Pres. McKay died in 1970, Isaacson returned to his calling as assistant to the Q12, but he died a few months later.

ALVIN R. DYER
(January 1, 1903 - March 6, 1977)

Apostle - October 5, 1967
Counselor - April 6, 1968

Dyer was an assistant to the Q12 when he was called to be an Apostle, but he was not added to the Quorum of the Twelve. He soon became another counselor in McKay's FIrst Presidency. When McKay died, he returned to being an assistant to the Q12, and when that position was eliminated in 1976, he became a member of the First Quorum of Seventy, the only man in history to join that Quorum after being ordained an Apostle.

He suffered a stroke in 1972 and was limited in what he could do until he died at age 74.

Called by George Albert Smith

After Pres. Grant had been in poor health in his final years, Smith brought a jolt of energy. He had his own health problems with lupus, but he was able to stay visible for the church. He kept Grant's same counselors and only had the chance to call three Apostles before his own death at age 81.

Called to be Apostles by George Albert Smith:
Matthew Cowley, Henry D. Moyle, Delbert L.Stapley

MATTHEW COWLEY
(August 2, 1897 - December 13, 1953)

Apostle - October 11, 1945

Matthew's father Matthias F. Cowley was called to be an apostle the year he was born. When matthew was eight, his father resigned from the Q12 over polygamy, and even after his father's priesthood was suspended, Matthew stayed strong in the church.

He served a mission in New Zealand and helped with corrections to the Maori translation of the Book of Mormon. He later became president of the New Zealand mission. He and his wife stayed in NZ for seven years, during all of World War II. The very next General Conference he was called to be an Apostle. He spent most of his time presiding over the Pacific Islands and was key in getting a temple built in New Zealand.

He was a popular writer and speaker, but died suddenly at age 56.

HENRY D. MOYLE
(April 22, 1889 - September 18, 1963)

Apostle - April 10, 1947
Second Counselor - June 12, 1959
First Counselor - October 12, 1961

Moyle was a WWI vet, a cattle rancher, and a prominent lawyer in Utah until he was called to be an Apostle after the death of Charles Callis.

Moyle eventually joined the First Presidency under David O. McKay. He helped purchase and grow a large cattle ranch in Florida for the church, where the beef could be used as part of the Church Welfare Program.

He was one who taught missionaries to never "coast on their spiritual laurels" from their mission service, but they should strive to grow and serve throughout their lives. He died of heart disease at age 74.


DELBERT L. STAPLEY
(December 11, 1896 - August 19, 1978)

Apostle - October 5, 1950

Stapley was a proficient high-school and college baseball player, but he turned down a chance to jump to the MLB to serve his mission, and due to the fact he'd have to work on so many Sabbaths. He was serving as a stake president when he was called to be an Apostle.

Stapley was said to be the Apostle in 1964 to urge Michigan governor George Romney to back down on his position on civil rights, which just made Romney campaign more for them. Stapley was in the hospital when he gave his endorsement to Pres. Kimball's 1978 revelation on the priesthood, and he died less than three months later.

Called by Heber J. Grant

Heber J. Grant became the President of the LDS Church as World War I was ending, and he served as such until World War II was ending. His was the second-longest reign as prophet in this dispensation, behind only Brigham Young. Grant himself was a businessman and there seemed to be a greater emphasis on calling men who'd been successful in education and economics. Makes it easier for them to take the lifelong call of Apostle when they have a decent retirement account. But Grant was also sensitive to keeping the church in the black, ensuring church funds were well-managed and smartly distributed. He was also less inclined to go for relatives of other Apostles. Some were relatives, but it was a much lower percentage than his predecessor. Three of the men Grant called went on to be prophets.

Called to be Apostles by Heber J. Grant:
Melvin J. Ballard, John A. Widtsoe,
Joseph F. Merrill, Charles A. Callis,
J. Reuben Clark, Alonzo Hinckley,
Albert E. Bowen, Sylvester Q. Cannon,
Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball,
Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen

MELVIN J. BALLARD
(February 9, 1873 - July 30, 1939)

Apostle - January 19, 1919

Ballard's patriarchal blessing said he would become an Apostle. He served a mission in the Eastern States and was companions at one point with B.H. Roberts.

After Joseph F. Smith died, Heber J. Grant reorganized the First Presidency and had every intention of calling his friend Richard W. Young (a grandson of Brigham) to the Quorum of the Twelve, but when gathered with the other Apostles, it came to him that, no, it should be Melvin J. Ballard to receive the calling. Pres. Grant used that as a lesson to make sure each Apostle he would call was done after much contemplation, and he knew each one would be revealed to him by the Spirit. (Incidentally, Young died less than a year later from appendicitis.)

Ballard die of leukemia at age 66.

JOHN A. WIDTSOE
(January 31, 1872 - November 29, 1952)

Apostle - March 17, 1921

Widtsoe was born in Norway. His widowed mother converted to the church and migrated with her two sons to Utah in 1883. Widtsoe was baptized the following year.

Widtsoe was a Harvard graduate. He married Leah Dunford (a granddaughter of Brigham Young) and he used his expertise in agriculture to teach men how to farm while she used her expertise in home economics to helps the wives get the most from their farms.

While he was a seventy serving in Germany, he got his PhD from the University of Gottingen. He became an agricultural professor at BYU and later was the president of the University of Utah, leaving that position after he was called to be an Apostle.

Like Talmage, Widtsoe was an author as well as academic. He wrote biographies of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young as well as his own autobiography.

CHARLES W. NIBLEY
(February 5, 1849 - December 11, 1931)

Second Counselor - May 28, 1925

Nibley was born in Scotland, but he and his family moved to the US when he was six years old. He started a lumber company with David Eccles and was able to parlay his success from that into many other businesses, until he became a multimillionaire.

He was a polygamist and had 24 children by 3 wives.

He was the Presiding Bishop of the church when Grant called him to be a counselor in the First Presidency. He was never ordained an Apostle. His son Preston Nibley authored many LDS books, and his grandson Hugh (by his son Alexander) became a noted BYU professor and apologist.

JOSEPH F. MERRILL
(August 24, 1868 - February 3, 1952)

Apostle - October 8, 1931

The son of Apostle Marriner W. Merrill, Joseph received his PhD from Johns Hopkins Universtity. He ran the engineering department of the University of Utah. Merrill was instrumental in creating the seminary program.

Merrill left the U of U to run the LDS Institute program, and he was also in charge of helping convert many of the church-owned colleges into state school, including Weber, Dixie and Snow. They tried to transition Ricks College but the idaho legislature rejected it.

Merrill became an Apostle during the Great Depression, and he oversaw cuts in spending in church education and other areas. He served as president of the European mission in 1933. One of his missionaries was future prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.

Merrill, along with Widtsoe, provided a wing in the Q12 that continued the tradition set by Talmage to value academia, education, and harmonizing the relationship between science and religion. He died at age 83.

CHARLES A. CALLIS
(May 4, 1865 - January 21, 1947)

Apostle - October 12, 1933

Callis is the only Apostle to have been born in Ireland. His family migrated to Utah when he was 10. As a teenager, he moved to Coalville in Summit County and worked as a coal miner. He wound up serving three missions within a few years of each other, first to Wyoming, then to Great Britain, and then to Iowa.

He served in the Utah legislature, first as a representative and then as a state senator.

After he was married, Callis and his wife Grace were called to be missionaries in Florida. While there, he passed the bar in Florida and would defend LDS missionaries in legal cases. He became president of the Southern States mission and his family lived in South Carolina until he was called to be an Apostle.

He died of a heart attack at age 81, three months after the death of his wife.

J. REUBEN CLARK JR.
(September 1, 1871 - October 6, 1961)

Secon Counselor (HJG) - April 6, 1933
First Counselor (HJG, GS) - October 6, 1934
Apostle - October 11, 1934
Second Counselor (DOM) - April 9, 1951
First Counselor (DOM) - June 12, 1959

Clark was the oldest of ten children, and his greatest fortune that shaped the rest of his life was attending LDS University when James E. Talmage was principal. Talmage hired Clark to be assistant curator of the Deseret Museum, and later he'd work as Talmage's lab assistant. Talmage considered Clark to be his brightest student.

Clark graduated from the University of Utah while Talmage was its president. He eventually went to Columbia University to pursue law. He got a job as an assistant soliticitor in the State Department during Theodore Roosevelt's administration. he also worked as an associate professor at George Washington University. He was promoted to solicitor in Taft's State Department in 1910.  After running his own DC law office for a few years, he was made UnderSecretary of State by Calvin Coolidge. Two years later, he was appointed be the US Ambassador to Mexico.

After the death of Charles Nibley in 1931, Pres. Grant went over a year with only one counselor (Ivins). He called J. Reuben Clark to be his second counselor in 1933. It was considered highly unusual since Clark had never been a bishop, stake president or general authority. In 1934, after Ivins died, Clark was made 1st counselor, and he was also ordained as an Apostle. This put him in line for seniority, but he served the remainer of his church days in the First Presidency, under HJ Grant, GA Smith, and finally David O. McKay.

While in the First Presidency, he was commissioned by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt to help recover defaulted bonds for the US during the Great Depression. Clark was instrumental in reforming the Church Welfare System, and in balancing the budgets of the church.

Clark served 28 years in the First Presidency in one capacity or another, the longest of any man who was never prophet. He died at age 90.

ALONZO A. HINCKLEY
(April 23, 1870 - December 22, 1936)

Apostle - October 11, 1934

Alonzo was born in Cove Fort, Utah, soon after his family had moved there, commissioned by Brigham Young to settle the area. He served a mission in the Netherlands and came home to serve as stake president in Millard County for 27 years.

He was called to be an Apostle the same day as J. Reuben Clark, though Clark had already been serving in the First Presidency. Hinckley would've had seniority but he died of stomach cancer two years later at age 66. He was uncle to future prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.

ALBERT E. BOWEN
(October 31, 1875 - July 15, 1953)

Apostle - April 8, 1937

Bowen was born in Idaho and served his mission in Switzerland and Germany from 1902-1904. He studied law at BYU and then Chicago University.

His first wife Aletha he married in 1902, and after she gave birth two sons, she died in 1906. He married Emma Gates (granddaughter of Brigham Young) in 1916.

He worked as the Cache County attorney and later set up practice in Salt Lake City. He was called to be an Apostle after the death of Alonzo Hinckley. He died of arteriosclerosis at age 77.

SYLVESTER Q. CANNON
(June 10, 1877 - May 29, 1943)

Apostle - April 6, 1938

Cannon was the son of Apostle George Q. Cannon. He studied at the U of U and MIT. He served a mission in Belgium in 1899, and the next year became the mission president.

Cannon was made an Apostle in 1938, but there were already twelve in the Q12. He officially joined the Quorum a year later after the death of Melvin J. Ballard. he only served a few years, as he died from encephalomalacia at age 65.

HAROLD B. LEE
(March 28, 1899 - December 26, 1973)

Apostle - April 10, 1941
First Counselor - January 23, 1970
President of Q12 - January 23, 1970
Prophet/President - July 7, 1972

Lee was born and raised in Clinton, Idaho, and he studied education. He became a principal shortly after his high school graduation. He served a mission to the Western US from 1920-1922. He married Fern Tanner, a sister missionary, after the conclusion of their missions.

Lee was a stake president during the Great Depression, when half of hsi take was unemployed. His welfare program for his stake became the model for the worldwide church.

Up to this point, Pres. Grant had called a few men in a row to the Q12 who were already in their 60's, but then he went younger when he called Lee to be an Apostle at the age of 42. Lee was 20 years younger than anyone else in the Q12 at that time.

While Pres. McKay was unable to perform his duties in his last years, some of the Apostles, led by Hugh B. Brown, pushed for a change in the priesthood racial ban in 1969. Lee was one of the main hold-outs, insisting that they required revelation on the matter, and so the ban would remain in place another nine years.

Lee was First Counselor and President of the Q12 under Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith. He was the youngest man to take office as prophet in 40 years, but his administration was one of the church's briefest, as he died from a pulmonary hemorrhage at 74.

SPENCER W. KIMBALL
(March 28, 1895 - November 5, 1985)

Apostle - October 7, 1943
President of Q12 - July 7, 1972
Prophet/president - December 30, 1973

Spencer was Heber C. Kimball's grandson, though he was born decades after Heber had died. He was also a nephew by marriage to Orson F. Whitney. Another uncle, John Woolley, founded the FLDS movement after the LDS church's ban on polygamy.

Kimball grew up in Arizona and made his living as a teacher, a banker, and an insurance salesman. He married Camilla Eyring, which made him uncle to future Apostle Henry B. Eyring.

At the deaths of Rudger Clawson and Sylvestor Q. Cannon, Kimball and Ezra Taft Benson were called. Kimball was four years older and had seniority, and they with Lee would mean that Pres. Grant called three future prophets in a row.

America was in the middle of World War II when Kimball was called. All three of his sons served in the US Navy during the war.

Kimball suffered from throat cancer in the 1950's and had several surgeries, damaging his vocal chords. He was known afterwards for his raspy voice. he had health problems throughout his life and was privately confident he would never be prophet, as Lee was four years younger than him and much healthier. After Lee's untimely death, Kimball became prophet at age 78. Less than five years later, Kimball would lift the priesthood racial ban.

Kimball's health all but incapacitated him the final three years of his presidency, and he ultimately died at age 90.

EZRA TAFT BENSON
(August 4, 1899 - May 30, 1994)

Apostle - October 7, 1943
President of Q12 - December 30, 1973
Prophet/president - November 10, 1985

Born in Idaho, Benson was the great-grandson of previous Apostle Ezra T. Benson. After getting his Masters from Iowa State University he focussed on his family farm and became an agricultural agent. This led to a job at DC as Executive Secretary on the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. He also served as a stake president while living in DC.

After becoming an Apostle, he was appointed by Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower to be the Secretary of Agriculture and served in that capacity for Eisenhower's full two terms.

Benson became prophet at age 86. His was another First Presidency where he had to rely on his counselors during his later years due to poor health.

MARK E. PETERSEN
(November 7, 1900 - January 11, 1984)

Apostle - April 20, 1944

Petersen spent most of his life as a newspaperman, as a carrier, then reporter, then editor, then manager, and finally Chairman of the Board at the Deseret News. After Richard Lyman was excommunicated, Peterson was called to fill the vacancy in the Q12.

Petersen served for 40 years as an Apostle and was third in seniority when the priesthood ban was lifted. He wound up dying on cancer at age 83.

Called by Joseph F. Smith

Joseph F. Smith followed in the tradition of Brigham Young, John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff in naming one or more of his sons to be Apostles. In fact, the majority of Apostles he called were related to him or other previous Apostles. Three of those he called went on to become prophet.

Called to be Apostles by Joseph F. Smith:
Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith,
Charles W. Penrose, Orson F. Whitney,
George F. Richards, David O. McKay,
Anthony W. Ivins, Joseph Fielding Smith,
James E. Talmage, Stephen L. Richards,
Richard R. Lyman

JOHN R. WINDER
(December 11, 1821 - March 27, 1910)

Second Counselor - October 17, 1901

Winder was born and raised in England. He heard about the church while working at a shoe store. He and his wife were baptized and moved to Utah in 1853. he was able to set up a franchise of successful tanneries. He was renowned as a successful businessman in every profession he tried. He was a business mentor to Heber J. Grant.

During the polygamy raids of the 1880's, members would put all their money under Winder's name so it couldn't be confiscated. He had a reputation of being trustworthy and financially sound. He was also involved with many charities.

Winder was called into the First Presidency but he was never ordained an Apostle. Having him in the First Presidency may have aided members in trusting the church with their tithing money, knowing that it would be put to good use.

HYRUM M. SMITH
(March 21, 1872 - January 23, 1918)

Apostle - October 24, 1901

Hyrum was the eldest son of Joseph F. Smith, and the first Apostle called when Joseph F. took over as prophet. He then served as president of the European mission from 1913-1916, but activities for that mission had to be suspended due to World War I.

A few months before his father died, Hyrum died from a ruptured appendix at the young age of 45. His grandson M. Russell Ballard is one of the current members of the Quorum of the Twelve. (In fact, both of M. Russell Ballard's grandfathers were Apostles).

GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
(April 4, 1870 - April 4, 1951)

Apostle - October 8, 1903
President of Q12 - June 21, 1943
Prophet/President - May 21, 1945

George was the son of Apostle John Henry Smith, grandson of Apostle George A. Smith, therefore a second cousin once removed to Joseph F. Smith. John Henry Smith was still an Apostle when George was called to join him in the Q12.

George graduated from what would later be known as BYU and also got a degree from the future University of Utah. He was active in Republican politics and campaigned for William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

He married Lucy Woodruff, granddaughter of Wilford, in 1892. They both then served in the Southern states mission. He made his living as a salesman at ZCMI and became an Apostle at age 33.

He became the 8th President of the LDS church right as World War II was winding down. He made it a priority to send aid to the wore-torn areas in Europe. He emphasized missionary work and spreading the Gospel.

He was plagued by health problems throughout his life. He received permanent damage to his vision from the sun's glare while he worked as a surveyor. He had bouts of depression, and he was diagnosed with lupus. He ultimately died from the effects of lupus on his 81st birthday.

CHARLES W. PENROSE
(February 4, 1832 - May 16, 1925)

Apostle - July 7, 1904
Second Counselor (JFS, HJG) - December 7, 1911
First Counselor - March 10, 1921

Penrose was another Englishman, born and raised in London. He only had one wife, Lucetta, but they had 15 children together. He joined the church when he was 18 and wound serving a six-year mission, preaching all over the United Kingdom. In 1861, he and his family migrated to Utah.

He served in the Utah legislature, and he introduced the bill in 1880 that allowed women to serve in any public office. He was a talented writer and wrote the lyrics for a few of the hymns, including "God of Our Fathers."  He was a BYU professor of theology.

He was called to be an Apostle after the sudden death of Abraham Woodruff, and seven years later, he became part of Joseph F. Smith's First Presidency. When Smith died, the new prophet Heber J. Grant retained him as 2nd counselor, and he made him 1st counselor when Anthon H. Lund died in 1921.

ORSON F. WHITNEY
(July 1, 1855 - May 16, 1931)

Apostle - April 9, 1906

Orson was the son of Horace Whitney and Helen Kimball. Helen was the daughter of Heber C. Kimball, and she became a plural wife to Joseph Smith. After Joseph died, the 16-year-old widow was soon courted by Horace.

Orson made his living as a reporter and editor for the Deseret News, and he later taught English and Theology at the college in Logan that eventually become Utah State University. He served as assistant Church Historian until he was called to be an Apostle.

After Matthias F. Cowley and John W. Taylor resigned from the Q12 over polygamy issues, and Marriner W. Merrill died, there were three vacancies in the Quroum. Orson, George F. Richards, and David O. McKay were called the same day, but Orson had seniority.

Orson was a writer and a poet. He wrote a biography of his grandfather Heber C. Kimball and wrote the lyrics for tsome of the hymns including "Savior Redeemer of My Soul." He died from the flu at age 75.

GEORGE F. RICHARDS
(February 23, 1861 - August 8, 1950)

Apostle - April 9, 1906
President of Q12 - May 21, 1945

George was the son of Apostle Franklin D. Richards, great-nephew to Apostle Willard Richards, and he'd later be the father of Apostle LeGrand Richards. There are three instances of three generations being in the Quroum of the Twelve - George A., John Henry, and George Albert Smith; Amasa, Francis M., and Richard Lyman; and Franklin D., George F., and LeGrand Richards.

George worked as a railway clerk, farmer and school board member. He did a term in the Utah Legislature in 1899.

He was one of the three called to be an Apostle at the April 1906 General Conference. While an Apostle, he also served as the Salt Lake City Temple president. After Heber J. Grant became prophet, and he instructed the church to remove all references to vengeance and retaliation from church sermons, hymns and litertaure, Richards was the key in implementing the changes in the temple ceremony.

Richards was known as a practical man in his sermons, using every-day events to illustrate larger Gospel principles. He became President of the Quorum of the Twelve when Pres. Grant died and George Albert Smith was made prophet, but he died the year before Smith.

DAVID O. McKAY
(September 8, 1873 - January 18, 1970)

Apostle - April 9, 1906
Second Counselor (HJG, GS) - October 11, 1934
President of Q12 - August 8, 1950
Prophet/President - April 9, 1951

McKay was only 32 when he was ordained an Apostle, and at almost 64 years, he was an Apostle or First Presidency member longer than anyone in LDS Church history.

McKay was the son of a Scottish immigrant and Welsh immigrant, born in Utah. He worked as a principal at LDS Weber Stake Academy and taught religion and literature classes. He was the youngest of the three Apostles called at the April 1906 General Conference. He toured the world and dedicated a few countries (including China) for missionary work.

In 1934, after the death Anthony W, Ivins, McKay was called into the First Presidency. He served in that capacity under Presidents Heber J. Grant and George Albert Smith.

McKay became prophet in 1951 and is largely credited for bring the LDS church into the modern era. He oversaw the Priesthood correlation program to ensure the structure in every ward was the same worldwide. He would grant national interviews and build coalitions with other religious groups. He was consulted on 1954's The Ten Commandments. He coined the phrase "Every member a missionary." In his 19 years, the church grew from 1.1 to 2.9 million members. He was an outspoken opponent of communism.

ANTHONY W. IVINS
(September 16, 1852 - September 23, 1934)

Apostle - October 6, 1907
Second Counselor - March 10, 1921
First Counselor - May 25, 1925

I'm noticing a lot of relatives being called in this era. Ivins was a first cousin to fellow Apostle Heber J. Grant when Pres. Smith called him. He was also the son-in-law of Erastus Snow.

He served his mission in Mexico and then became active in the Democratic party. He served exploratory missions to help colonize areas in Arizona and New Mexico. He was the first stake president of Juarez, Mexico.

He was 55 when he was called to be an Apostle and later served in Grant's First Presidency. He died at age 82.

JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
(July 19, 1876 - July 2, 1972)

Apostle - April 7, 1910
President of Q12 - April 9, 1951
Counselor - October 29, 1965
Prophet/president - January 23, 1970

Joseph F. Smith called two of his sons to be Apostles, the second being Joseph Fielding Smith. JFS was the first son by his father's second wife, and due to the polygamy prosecutions in the 1880's, JFS wouldn't see his parents for years at a time and was raised mostly by his sisters and his father's other wives. JFS and Hyrum M. Smith were the first set of brothers to serve in the Q12 since Luke & Lyman Johnson.

JFS married Emyla Shurtliff in 1898, and they had two daughters, but Emyla died from complications with her third pregnancy in 1908. A few months later he married Ethel Reynolds, and at age 33, he was called to be an Apostle. He had nine more children with Ethel, but she died from a cerebral hemorrage in 1937. A few months later, he married Jessie Evans, who died the year before he died.

JFS became President of the Q12 when McKay became prophet, and he served in that capacity the next 19 years. He was also made an additional counselor in the First Presidency when McKay and his counselors were getting older and suffering health problems and couldn't fully perform all of their duties.

JFS was the oldest person in church history to become prophet, at age 93. He was able to serve for 2 1/2 years before his own death.

JAMES E. TALMAGE
(September 21, 1862 - July 27, 1933)

Apostle - December 8, 1911

Talmage was born in England, making him the third Englishman that Joseph F. Smith called into the Q12 or First Presidency. Talmage was baptized at age 10, and he and his family moved to Utah in 1877.

Talmage was an academic and specialized in chemistry, geology and received the first diploma from BYU's science department. He wound up getting a PhD from llinois Wesleyan. He was a science professor at BYU and went on to be president of the future University of Utah. He wrote several religious books, including The Articles of Faith (1899) and Jesus the Christ (1915).

He brought a real cerebral, academic approach to the Gospel when called to be an Apostle at age 49. He died at only age 70.

STEPHEN L. RICHARDS
(June 18, 1879 - May 19, 1959)

Apostle - January 18, 1917
First Counselor - April 9, 1951

Stephen was the grandson of Willard Richards, who'd served in Brigham Young's First Presidency, but Willard died before Stephen was born. More relatives in the Q12. Stephen also married George A. Smith's granddaughter Irene Smith Merrill.

Stephen worked as a law professor at the University of Utah when he was called to be an Apostle, and when Pres. McKay became prophet, Stephen was his first counselor. He died at age 79.

RICHARD R. LYMAN
(November 23, 1870 - December 31, 1963)

Apostle - April 7, 1918
Excommunicated - November 12, 1943
Rebaptized - 1954

After Pres. Smith son Hyrum died, he called Richard Lyman, son of Apostle Francis Lyman. His grandmother was George A. Smith's sister. Pres. Smith himself ordained Richard an elder when he was 21, and Pres. Smith married Richard to hs wife Amy Brown. Richard was the last Apostle Pres. Smith called before he died. Amy Brown Lyman would eventually become President of the General Relief Society.

Around 1925, he entered a secret polygamous relationship with Anne Hegsted. They were able to keep their relationship secret until 1943. Richard didn't feel like he'd done anything wrong, but he was excommunicated for adultery. Not even his wife was aware of the relationship. He's the last Apostle to ever get excommunicated from the LDS church. Sis. Lyman eventually asked to be released from her calling.

He was rebaptized in 1954 but his full Priesthood blessings were only restored posthumously.

Called by Lorenzo Snow

Lorenzo Snow was 30 when the prophet Joseph Smith was killed. He was 34 when Brigham Young called him to be an Apostle. He was 84 when he became the 5th President of the LDS Church. He established immediate reorganization of the First Presidency upon the death of the prophet. He also emphasized tithing as a hallmark for membership. The Church was deep in debt when he took over, largely due to financial hardships from all the legal troubles over polygamy. Within a few short years after the tithing emphasis, the Church was debt-free.

Called to be Apostles by Lorenzo Snow:
Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot

RUDGER CLAWSON
(March 12, 1857 - June 21, 1943)

Apostle - October 10, 1898
Second Counselor - October 6, 1901
President of the Q12 - March 17, 1921

Clawson was born in Salt Lake City and raised in the church. He served his mission in the Eastern US, and while he was in Georgia, an angry anti-Mormon mob surrounded him and his companion Joseph Standing. Standing was shot and killed. When the mob pointed their guns at Clawson, he folded his arms and told them to shoot, but the mob ran away instead. He accompanied Standing's body back to Utah.

Clawson was the first polygamist convicted under the Edmunds Act in 1882. Twelve non-Mormons jurors found him guilty and the non-Mormon judge gave him the maximum sentence of 42 months in prison and a $1500 fine. He appealed all the way to the Supreme Court and lost. After serving 38 months, President Grover Cleveland pardoned him. A year later, he was an Apostle.

After Anthon H. Lund died, Lorenzo Snow called Clawson to be in the First Presidency, but four days later, Snow died. The new president, Joseph F. Smith, selected different counselors, so Clawson returned to the Q12. He became the Quorum's Acting President in 1918, but the actual Q12 President in 1921. He's the longest serving President of the Q12 (21 years) to not actually go on to become prophet. He died of pneumonia at age 86.

REED SMOOT
(January 10, 1862 - February 9, 1941)

Apostle - April 8, 1900

It may be unseemly now, but since the days of Joseph Smith, the LDS church and its leaders had no problem engaging in local political affairs. Smith ran for US president while prophet; Brigham Young served as governor while prophet; and Apostles were regularly elected to the Utah legislature. Upon the death of Franklin D. Richards, Smoot became an Apostle at age 38, and a couple years later, he was elected as a US Senator, and he would serve as one for thirty years.

When he was first elected, it caused a nationwide scandal over whether a Mormon Apostle should be allowed to serve in the Senate at all. Even though Smoot wasn't a polygamist, there were still some members secretly continuing plural marriage well after the 1890 Manifesto. It was during the Smoot hearings that Pres. Joseph F. Smith re-emphasized the end of polygamy to the point that two Apostles resigned from the Quorum over the issue. Smoot was finally allowed to take his seat in the Senate in 1907.

He sponsored the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in 1930, which raised tariffs on several goods. Pres. Hoover signed it into law, and it's largely credited for making the Great Depression worse. Smoot ran for a sixth term in 1932 and lost, so he dedicated the remainder of his days solely on his duties as an Apostle. He was third in line in seniority when he died at age 79.

Quote for the Day - 9/17/14

"The great and spacious building has many stories." - Me

Called by Wilford Woodruff

Wilford Woodruff's presidency is marked by reform. Primarily there was the Manifesto, which ended the practice of polygamy, but there were other doctrinal elements he helped clarify. He ended the Law of Adoption and helped better define the ordinances within the temple. He discouraged the act of rebaptism to showed renewed commitment and emphasized the important of the sacrament for covenant renewal.

Called by Wilford Woodruff to be Apostles:
Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund,
Abraham H. Cannon, Matthias F. Cowley,
Abraham O. Woodruff

MARRINER W. MERRILL
(September 25, 1832 - February 6, 1906)

Apostle - October 7, 1889

Soon after Albert Carrington was excommunicated, Pres. John Taylor died, and before the First Presidency was reorganized, Erastus Snow died. So once Wilford Woodruff became the next prophet, he called three Apostles. Marriner W. Merrill at age 57 was the oldest of the three.

Merrill was born in New Brunswick, Canada. He joined the LDS church at age 19, and afterwards learned his mother had been baptized several years previous. (His father never joined the church.) Merrill moved to the Salt Lake Valley in 1853. He became very successful in argiculture and real estate.

He practiced polygamy, having 8 wives and 43 children. He'd hide for weeks at a time in the Logan Temple to avoid arrest for unlawful cohabitation. He was President of the Logan Temple when he was called to be an Apostle. While an Apostle, he also served as president of the Cache Valley stake. (Find anyone with the last name of Merrill in northern Utah, and they probably descend from him.) He died from kidney disease at age 73. His son Joseph was later called to be an Apostle.

ANTHON H. LUND
(May 15, 1844 - March 2, 1921)

Apostle - October 7, 1889
Second Counselor - October 17, 1901
First Counselor - April 7, 1910
President of Q12 - November 23, 1918

Lund was born in Denmark, making him one of the rare Apostles born in a non-English country. His parents were unmarried, and he was three when his mother died. His father was in the Danish army and was away for years at a time so Lund was primarily raised by his maternal grandmother. He was baptized into the LDS church on his 12th birthday. he became a branch president at age 16. He migrated with his grandmother to the US when he was 18.

He was called to be mission president of Scandinavia at age 40. When he was called to be an Apostle, he was the only monogamist in the Q12.

He served as European mission president and he organized the Turkish mission. He gave a talk in General Conference in 1899 where he encouraged members - rather than migrate to the Western US - to build up Zions in their own homelands.

After Joseph F. Smith became prophet in 1901, he called Lund to be the First Presidency as 2nd counselor. He became 1st counselor after John R. Winder died.

When Heber J. Grant became prophet, Lund served as 1st Counselor and President of the Q12. It became policy at this time that if the President of the Q12 was in the First Presidency, then next senior Apostle would be called as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve. Lund died from the effects of an ulcer at the age of 76.

ABRAHAM H. CANNON
(March 12, 1859 - July 19, 1896)

Apostle - October 7, 1889

Son of apostle George Q. Cannon, Abraham was only 30 when he was called to the Q12. (George was serving as 1st Counselor at the time.) Abraham had previously served in the European mission. He and his brother John took over as editors of the Deseret News in 1892, increasing the rivalry between them and the then anti-Mormon Salt Lake Tribune.

He had four wives. He suffered from headaches and had surgeries to help with ear troubles, but he died from inflammation at only 37 years old. His younger brother Sylvester would later become an Apostle.

MATTHIAS F. COWLEY
(August 25, 1858 - June 16, 1940)

Apostle - October 7, 1896
Removed from Q12 - October 28, 1905

Cowley was known to have an excellent memory, and he used that to memorize most of the scriptures, and he'd be able to give detailed sermons on the scriptures.

He was also a curious choice for Apostle, as he continued to marry additional wives after the 1890 Manifesto. He believed it was for political expediency in the US but believed polygamy shoul dstill be fine in other countries. He could not accept Pres. Joseph F. Smith's insistance that polygamy was over everywhere, and he and fellow apostle John W. Taylore resigned from the Q12 in 1905.

As word got back to the First Presidency that Cowley was still presiding over plural marriage ceremonies, they suspended his priesthood in 1911. He had it unsuspended in 1936. His son Matthew was later called to be an Apostle.

ABRAHAM O. WOODRUFF
(November 23, 1872 - June 20, 1904)

Apostle - October 7, 1896

Cowley and Woodruff were called the same day, as Thatcher was dropped from the Q12 and Abraham Cannon died shortly afterwards. Woodruff was only 23 when ordained.

Woodruff was the son of Wilford Woodruff. He married Helen in 1896, and he took a second wife, Eliza, in 1900, ten years after the Manifesto. While he and Helen were visiting the Saints in Mexico, they contracted smallpox. Helen died a couple weeks before he did, at age 31.

Called by John Taylor

I've gone over those called by Joseph Smith here, here and here. I would argue that in some cases, Joseph was naive with some of the men he put in important positions, and he saw some of them turn into bitter enemies. Brigham Young's callings went out to those who'd shown a little more steadiness, men who'd gone through a little more of the refiner's fire. Also, he made sure each one was okay with polygamy.

So if Joseph's main call was to restore the Gospel, and Brigham's main call was to organize the church and ensure its survival, Taylor's call was to transition the church to have the institution as Christ's church be more important than any one man. Joseph and Brigham both had cults of personality, which allowed them to be beloved by some, reviled by others. Taylor brought a real kindness and diplomacy to his time as leader of the church, even though persecution due to polygamy increased greatly during his tenure.

So as far as restocking the Quorum of the Twelve, how did he do?

Called by John Taylor to be Apostles:
Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman,
John Henry Smith, George Teasdale,
Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor

MOSES THATCHER
(February 2, 1842 - August 21, 1909)

Apostle - April 9, 1879
Dropped from Q12 - April 6, 1896

It was explained that John Willard Young and Daniel H. Wells did not join the Quorum of the Twelve upon Brigham Young's death due to an excess of Apostles, but after Orson Hyde died, John Taylor called Thatcher. Taylor didn't reorganize the First Presidency until 1880, so Thatcher became #12 while Young and Wells were still outside.

Thatcher's parents joined the church when he was one year old. He grew up mostly in California, but his family moved back to Utah in 1857 when Brigham was calling most of the California Saints to move back to Utah. Thatcher served two different missions for the church and later served as a mission president in Mexico.

He was called to be an Apostle at age 37, but in 1896, when Wilford Woodruff was president, Woodruff issued a new policy that stated LDS church officers had to get approval from their church leaders before running for or holding political office. The other Apostles signed on to it, but Thatcher refused, believing it went against the church's policy of political neutrality. He was dropped from the Quorum of the Twelve, but he retained the office of Apostle and remained active and in good standing with the church for the remainder of his days.

FRANCIS M. LYMAN
(January 12, 1840 - November 18, 1916)

Apostle - October 27, 1880
President of Q12 - October 6, 1903

Francis was the oldest son of Amasa Lyman, who became an Apostle when Francis was two years old. When he was 11, he moved with his dad and Charles C. Rich to settle San Bernadino, CA. he was called on a mission to Great Britain in 1857, but it was delayed so he could help move Saints from California to Utah during the Utah War. After he got married to Australia native Rhoda Taylor and had a child, he left for his mission in 1860.

When he returned, he was directed by Brigham Young to settle Fillmore, Utah. He was serving in Fillmore's High Council when his father was excommunicated. Francis took on a second wife in 1869, George A. Smith's niece Clara Callister. He would eventually marry Clara's sister Sarah as well.

He served a European mission in the 1870's, proselyting in the United Kingom, France, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark. Upon his return home he was called to move to Tooele and preside over its stake. He also got into politics as a member of the People's Party, while the county was dominated by the Liberal Party. In the county races of 1878, the Liberal Party refused to count the votes and declared themselves the winner, but Francis headed up pushing the matter through state and district court, and the People's Party was declared the winner in 1879.

When John Taylor reorganized the First Presidency in 1880, he called Francis (age 50) and John Henry Smith (age 42) as apostles. Francis was older and therefore took his place in senority line.

He spent his early years as an Apostle proselyting among the Native American tribes of the West. He also served as president of the European mission. He was President of the Quorum of the Twelve in 1903 under Pres. Joseph F. Smith and was therefore next in line to be prophet until he died of pneumonia at age 76.

JOHN HENRY SMITH
(September 18, 1848 - October 13, 1911)

Apostle - October 27, 1880
Second Counselor - April 7, 1911

John was the son of apostle George A. Smith and the father of future prophet George Albert Smith. He served his mission in England, and he had nineteen children by two wives. He was called to be an Apostle in 1880.

He took over as president of the European mission in 1882 and was the one who discovered the infidelities that eventually got fellow apostle Albert Carrington excommunicated.

He was a Republican and active in politics, and he was a key figure in helping Utah become a state in 1895. He and George Albert were the only father-son combination in church history to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve at the same time. John became second counselor in Joseph F. Smith's presidency after John R. Winder died, and he served there until he died from a pulmonary hemorrhage at age 63.

GEORGE TEASDALE
(December 8, 1831 - June 9, 1907)

Apostle - October 16, 1882

When Lyman and Smith were called to be Apostles in 1880, there were still only 11 members in the Q12. After Orson Pratt died in 1881 (the last original member of the Q12 called by Joseph Smith), there were only 10 members, and a few months later, Teasdale and Heber J. Grant were called.

Teasdale, like Taylor, was born and raised in England. He joined the church at the age of 20 and served in many church leadership positions there until he moved to Utah in 1861. He would later go back to England and other countries in Europe as a missionary. He also served in the Southern US mission. By profession he was a teacher, so between missions he'd find employment in different school districts.

He was 50 when he was called to be an Apostle, and soon he'd preside over the Mexico mission. He died at age 75 from an "intestinal obstruction."

HEBER J. GRANT
(November 22, 1856 - May 14, 1945)

Apostle - October 16, 1882
President of Q12 - November 18, 1916
Prophet/President - November 23, 1918

Heber was only nine days old when his father Jedidiah, 2nd counselor in the First Presidency, died. His mother Rachel Ivins remarried to Jed's brother George, but he was an alcoholic so she left him and raised Heber on her own. She refused to take church assistance and made money from renting rooms in their house. Growing up poor, Heber was determined to be successful in business.

He married lifelong friend Lucy Stringham in 1877. It was a long courtship, as he'd been dating Emily Wells (daughter of Daniel H. Wells) for a time, and Lucy wanted to make sure she wasn't just a replacement for Emily. Heber married Emily in 1884, as well as Augusta Winters. he was the last prophet of the LDS church to practice polygamy, but by the time he became prophet in 1918, only one of his wives was still alive.

Heber started many businesses before and after becoming an Apostle at age 25. He used his business acumen to help get church finances under control.

He organized a mission in Japan in 1901 and served as its first mission president. He was immediately called in 1903 to serve as mission president of the European mission, and then the British mission until 1905.

When he became prophet and President of the LDS church at age 62, he was the first one to have been born after the death of Joseph Smith. He was instrumental in the building and dedication of temples outside of Utah, and in making sure the last of the polygamy holdouts gave up the practice. When he excommunicated a stake in Arizona in 1935 for refusing to give up polygamy, it led to the formation of what would become the FLDS church.

He was a Democrat, but often disagreed with FDR and he fought against the repeal of Prohibition. He was mortified when Utah agreed to end Prohibition. His service as prophet was the second-longest reign in church history, behind only Brigham Young.

JOHN W. TAYLOR
(May 15, 1858 - October 10, 1916)

Apostle - May 15, 1884
Removed from Q12 - April 1905
Excommunicated - 1911

Taylor lived most of his life in Idaho and had six wives. After Charles C. Rich died, Pres. John Taylor called his own son to fill the vacancy in the Q12. John W. was ordained on his 26th birthday. As an Apostle he spent a lot of time helping build the church in Canada.

After Pres. Woodruff issued the 1890 Manifesto, John W. continued to take wives in secret. He and Matthias F. Cowley (who became an Apostle in 1896) were removed (or resigned) from the Q12 in 1905 over their refusal to comply with the end of polygamy. He was eventually excommunicated and died of stomach cancer at age 58. His Apostleship was posthumously restored in 1965.