Biographical Note Missionary, public official, LDS apostle.

Anthony Woodward Ivins was born in Toms River, New Jersey in 1852, the son of Israel and Anna Lowrie Ivins. While he was still a baby, the family, recent converts to Mormonism, migrated to Salt Lake Valley where Israel Ivins worked at a variety of jobs, including fishing on Utah Lake. In 1861 Israel was one of a group called by Brigham Young to settle southern Utah at the present site of St. George. Israel, in fact, completed the original survey of that city in addition to serving the colony as physician. Anthony grew up in St. George where he developed what would become lifelong interests in hunting, fishing, and the Indians.

In 1875 Ivins was called by officials of the LDS Church to participate in an exploring mission to Arizona and New Mexico. On this first mission, Ivins traveled 2,400 miles and assumed the role of hunter for the expedition. A result of this exploration was the subsequent establishment of several Mormon colonies in the area. Ivins approached the mission enthusiastically and began the first of his diaries, a habit which continued to his death. He wrote in an interesting manner, with much attention paid to details. His entry for 22 December 1875, illustrates his style and also indicates his continuing fascination with the Indians:

Traveled from Sulphur Springs to Apache Pass a distance of 26 miles. This is the place where the Apaches concentrated their forces and for a long time held the U.S. troops at defiance. The ground for miles around has been moistened by the blood of their victims. There is a military post here at present which holds them in partial control but they have never been conquered.

On his return from this mission, Ivins was appointed constable of St. George -- the first of a series of public positions he held. Shortly thereafter he was called on another mission to preach to the Indians and Mexicans in New Mexico. In 1878 he married Elizabeth Ashby Snow, also from St. George, whom he first met when they were both children traveling to southern Utah. She was the daughter of Erastus Snow, one of the foremost missionaries and colonizers of the early Mormon period, as well as an apostle of the church. Anthony and Elizabeth Ivins were the parents of nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity: Antoine R., H. Grant, Stanley S., Mrs. Anna Wilson, Mrs. Florence Hyde, Mrs. Leah Cardon, Mrs. Fulvia Sloan, and Mrs. Augusta Wells.

By 1882 Ivins was a prominent figure both politically and ecclesiastically in St. George, having been elected prosecuting attorney of Washington County and member of the St. George City Council while serving also on the St. George LDS Stake High Council. However, once again Ivins was called on a mission, this time to Mexico City. To finance the mission, the people of St. George gave a benefit performance of "The False Friend" with romantic leads taken by Josephine Snow and Anthony W. Ivins. This performance provided Ivins with $109.95 which, with $56.25 in contributions from other sources enabled him to leave for a two-year stay in Mexico. This experience provided the background for later, lengthy associations with that country. Ivins learned Spanish during this period; so well that his fluency was admired frequently by native Spanish speakers, including President Porforio Diaz of Mexico, who told Ivins that he spoke as well as a Castilian.

After Ivins' return from the Mexican Mission in 1884, he once more settled in St. George; again was active in local politics; and became a rancher. He was the manager of the Mojave Land and Cattle Company and one of the owners of the Kaibab Cattle Company, the two largest owners of cattle on the Arizona Strip.

A side effect of this expansion into Arizona was Ivins' appointment as county assessor of Mohave County, Arizona. In 1888 Ivins helped organize the "Sagebrush Democrats" in a technique designed to move away from the local People's and Liberal parties to new political divisions along national party lines. Over the years he gained in political popularity and influence, serving in a number of elected positions, as well as Special Indian Agent for the Shivwits Indians. He was elected to two terms in the Utah Territorial Legislature and, in 1894, was chosen as a representative to the Utah State Constitutional Convention. In that body, Ivins made a strong impression. He copied the following, from the Argus, into his journal:

Tony, as almost everybody calls him, is one of the most popular Democrats in the territory, is broadminded, fair and honest, and would be a strong candidate for any office within his party.

His name became one of those mentioned frequently as candidate for the first governor of the state of Utah. But another event intervened which permanently halted any political aspirations.

In 1895 Ivins was asked by President Wilford Woodruff of the LDS Church to go to Mexico to aid in the establishment of a series of Mormon colonies, to be used particularly by those polygamous members who sought sanctuary from what was, in their eyes, unnecessary harassment and persecution for personal religious convictions. Ivins comments on this development in his journal (p. 212), "I answered the letter rec'd from Presidency telling them that I would go to Mexico as soon as possible. I did not want to go to Mexico. . . ." He then lists and supports his reasons for being reluctant -- ranching and other business interests, a bright future in politics, an affection for the people of St. George and his aging parents. Then he writes, "I immediately commenced to make preparation to dispose of my property and go to Mexico." Ivins' first cousin, Apostle Heber J. Grant, wrote him a letter congratulating him on his new assignment.

The letter which you wrote to them [First Presidency of the LDS Church] is just such a letter as I should have expected from you, and if you had written any other kind of letter I should have been greatly surprised as well as disappointed. I feel sure that the day will come when you will thank the Lord that you have been selected by His inspiration to preside in Mexico. . . .(HJG to AWI, 8/25/95)

Ivins would spend the next twelve years in Mexico with his headquarters at Colonial Juarez, Chihuahua. He was president of the Juarez LDS Stake and vice-president and general manager of the Mexican Colonization and Agricultural Company, under which auspices the Mormon colonies were founded. He was, therefore, the final word in the running of the eight Mormon colonies in the states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Even after he left Mexico in 1907 to become a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church, he continued to take some responsibility for the administration of the Mexican colonies. In 1913 when the colonists were being forced out of Mexico by the effects of revolutionary activity, Ivins wrote to Joseph C. Bentley, one of the colony leaders, "The snow is falling, it is ideal Christmas weather. Were I not worried and harassed over Mexican affairs I would be happy." (AWI to JCB, 12/28/13)

After his return from Mexico, Ivins devoted all his energy to the Church. While he participated in many different areas -- president, Utah Savings & Trust Company; president, Board of Trustees, Utah State Agricultural College; member, National Boy Scout Committee; etc. -- they were all related to his official church position. In 1921 Ivins was chosen to be second counselor in the First Presidency under his cousin Heber J. Grant. In 1925 he was named first counselor, the position he held until his death in September 1934, one week after his eight-second birthday.

Anthony Ivins was interested in a broad range of areas, including hunting and fishing, Mexico, archaeology, Indians, horses, missionary work, and the LDS Church generally. When he died, sympathy was extended to his family by prominent people of all religions and political persuasions. The funeral was held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle while the Piute Indians held a separate tribal ceremony also in his honor.

Although it would seem unlikely, Ivins was, from all appearances, universally loved. He was evidently a good, kind, and competent man with a broad range of interests. His appeal may best be expressed by a message in beadwork on an Indian leather vest sent him in 1932 which read, "Tony Ivins, he no cheat."

1907 Chosen as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (to 1921)

1921 Chosen as second counselor to Heber J. Grant, president of the LDS Church (to 1925)