Anthony W. Ivins - Church Service

Church Service

In 1875 Ivins was part of an exploratory mission that found many sites in New Mexico and Arizona which were later colonized by the Mormons. In 1877 he served a mission to New Mexico, where he focused much of his attention on the Native Americans, but also preached to people of Mexican descent for the first time.

In the years immediately after his marriage, he served as a member of the Stake High Council in St. George. In 1882 Ivins was called on a mission to Mexico City, where he served for about the next two years. He next served as the first stake president in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua. The Juárez Stake was the first stake in Mexico. He served in this position until his call to the Quorum of the Twelve in 1907.

Ivins was ordained an apostle and joined the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 6, 1907, after the death of George Teasdale. In 1921, Ivins was called as second counselor to Heber J. Grant in the First Presidency, and was replaced in the Quorum of the Twelve by Alonzo A. Hinckley. In 1925, Ivins became the first counselor to Grant in the First Presidency, and he served in this position until his death.