45 years ago today - Jan 23, 1970

Quorum of Twelve Apostles ordains Joseph Fielding Smith as church president. Some apostles consider by-passing this ninety-three-year-old apostle for the vigorous Harold B. Lee. Smith promised to make Lee his first counselor if he would support automatic succession of elderly apostle. Both keep their promises, and N. Eldon Tanner remains second counselor. Smith is oldest man to become LDS church president.