Junius Free Wells (June 1, 1854 – April 15, 1930)[1] was the first head of theYoung Men's Mutual Improvement Association, an organization that today is theYoung Men organization ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He also was a magazine founder, an author, and the chief organizer of the LDS Church's efforts to build several historical monuments in the early 1900s.
Born inSalt Lake City,Utah Territory, Wells was the son of LDS Church leaderDaniel H. Wells and his fourth wife, Hannah Corrilla Free. He studied at theUniversity of Deseret.
On 17 June 1879 Wells married Helena Middleton Fobes.[2]
In 1875,church presidentBrigham Young organized the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. The first implementation of the organization was in theSalt Lake 13thWard, with Junius F. Wells as president.[3] Among his counselors wasHeber J. Grant.
In 1876, Young selected Wells to lead the organization throughout the church. In 1880,John Taylor released Wells from his duties and revised the leadership of the YMMIA, appointingWilford Woodruff as the general superintendent. After Wells's release, the church's organization for young men would be led bygeneral authorities of the church until 1935.
Wells was also the founding editor and publisher ofThe Contributor, an independent publication that sought to represent the YMMIA and thechurch's equivalent organization for young women. Wells continued in these roles until 1892, when the magazine was purchased by the Cannon family andAbraham H. Cannon became the editor and publisher.The Contributor ceased publication in 1896.
Wells was also the author of eleven biographies, including those ofJohn C. Frémont,Thomas L. Kane,Charles C. Rich,James A. Garfield, andOrson Pratt.[4] He also authored numerous articles and short stories, the majority of which appeared inThe Contributor.
In 1884, Wells visited the birthplace of church founderJoseph Smith inSharon, Vermont, and conceived a plan to build a monument to theMormon prophet.[5] Under the direction ofJoseph F. Smith, Wells oversaw the construction of theJoseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in 1905. The monument was dedicated by Smith on December 23, 1905, the 100th anniversary of Joseph Smith's birth.[6] Wells also was the chief organizer in having a monument erected by the church to theThree Witnesses inRichmond, Missouri, in 1911.[7]
Other works created by Wells included the Hyrum Smith monument created in Salt Lake City in 1918.
From 1921 to 1930 Wells was an Assistant Church historian. Among other works in this position, he arranged for the purchase of the glass plate negatives of George Edward Anderson's work.
In 2005, theMormon Historic Sites Foundation created theJunius F. Wells Award, to be awarded to individuals who promote the purposes of the Foundation.
As of 1919 Wells was serving as the chief assistant toGeorge Albert Smith in running the British and European missions.[13] He also served another mission to Britain.
Wells died in theHotel Utah inSalt Lake City, Utah, at age 75.[1]
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| First | Superintendent of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association 1876–1880 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
