John Taylor dies on "the Underground." Because of his wounds in Carthage Jail and his death in exile, counselors George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith write: "To-day he occupies the place of a double martyr. PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR has been killed by the cruelty of officials who have, in this Territory, misrepresented the government of the United States . . . who, with insensate hate, have offered rewards for his arrest and hounded him to the grave." After conversation with senior apostle Wilford Woodruff, apostle Heber J. Grant [while still unaware of President Taylor's death] writes: "Prest. Woodruff said he would be willing to have [junior apostle] Joseph F. Smith made Prest of the Church provided the quorum of the apostles should wish it but as near as I could judge he had no idea that such a thing would be done. . . .I know that some of the members of our quorum are of the opinion that in case of the reorganization of the First Presidency after the death of Pres[iden]t Teylor and before the death of Pres[iden]t Woodruff that Bro[ther] Woodruff must be made the President. I have no such a feeling. I feel that Pres[iden]t Joseph F. Smith will succeed Pres[iden]t Taylor if the First Presidency is reorganized."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
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