[Heber J. Grant]
[At apostles' meeting] Erastus Snow reported the condition of our land matters in Chihuahua, Mexico, ... The law of Mexico do not recognize any marriage unless it is a civil one. Catholic or Protestant marriages are not legal. Bro. Snow did not think that there was one in ten of the present marriages being performed that were legal. ...
Moses Thatcher said he had never known of any policy on Mexican matters although he did know that he had crossed the line [probably performed plural marriages] 13 times.
John Henry Smith had never been able to find out what the policy was regarding Mexican matters. Wanted to know what we wished to accomplish and the he was on hand to sustain the brethren. ...
George Q. Cannon did not know of any particular policy on Mexican matters. Prest. Taylor had never favored selling the lands in Mexico to our people, but he wanted them retained in the hands of Companies and thus prevent the lands from being occupied for improper purposes. Felt that when we were being crowded with so much energy in Utah by the government officials, that if we had pushed the Mexican land matters and shown the government that our people could find other places in which to locate that his course would have brought us relief. Favored the organization of a company to hold our lands in Mexico. ...
I had a long talk after our meeting with Joseph F. Smith and F. M. Lyman, John Henry Smith and Erastus Snow were Present, a portion of the time during talk, I expressed my lack of confidence in George Q. Cannon in plain terms and my regrets that Jos. F. had not sustained my proposition to place the Savings Bank upon a firm and honest foundation. ...
I went all over a number of points why I lacked confidence in Brother Cannon. I am convinced that Brother Jos F. Smith is as firm for the right as he has always been from his youth. There is no man in the Church that has shown more moral courage all his life or who has stood up with more firmness for the right than Bro. Smith.
I was glad indeed to have a free and frank talk with brother Smith and my confidence in him is as perfect as it can be.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
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