130 years ago today - Jul 7, 1887

[Heber J. Grant]
During our meeting this morning when only Prest Cannon and the Apostles were present Prest Cannon spoke freely regarding the poor health of Prest Taylor and read a letter that had been written to Erastus Snow on the subject of suggesting to him that he turn his footsteps in the direction of home. Prest Cannon stated that the other Apostles had been written to. I spoke up and said that in consideration of the Presidents condition that Prest Joseph F. Smith should be home. Prest Cannon seemed, to me, to be very much annoyed at my remark. He spoke up and said he had written to Prest Smith as plain as he knew how to write ...

I sincerely hope so but for the life of me I can't see why the simple mention of Prest Smith's return should annoy Prest Cannon. ... For fear I was in error & had been mistaken in my opinion that Prest Cannon was annoyed, about half an hour after my remark I asked brother Moses Thatcher if he had noticed it and he answered yes that he had noticed it very plainly.

I wish I could feel that Prest Cannon is not jealous of Prest Smith and that he did not like to have him away, but would sooner have him at home but for the life of me I can't get away from such a feeling. For the past three years or nearly so Prest Smith has been buried on the Sandwich Islands and I have felt Prest Cannon like to have him there or some other place away from Prest Taylor so that he (Cannon) might stand a better chance of getting everything done to please him. It may be my own feelings and not the Spirits impressions but I do not feel it strongly that George Q. Cannon after the death of Prest Taylor will never see the day that he will be as big a man with the people of God or have as much influence with them as Joseph F. Smith. Tomorrow I shall write a letter to Prest Joseph F. Smith, telling him of the remarks of Prest Cannon ...

[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]