Senator Smoot Passed Over For Church Promotion - 1925

POLITICAL NOTES

Time Magazine
June 15, 1925

Apostle Reed Smoot of the Mormon Church was passed by. Recently, First Counsellor Charles W. Penrose of the Church died. The place was filled by Bishop Charles W. Nibley, multimillionaire, the wealthiest Mormon in the world. It had been anticipated that Rudger Clawson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, might be made Counsellor. In that event, Reed Smoot, ranking Apostle, would have been made President of the Quorum, would thus have been in direct line to the succession as President of the Mormon Church. But the spiritual duties of being President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would have required Apostle Smoot to give up the time which he now devotes to being senior U. S. Senator from Utah.