Wikipedia Biographical Summary:

"...Heber Jeddy Grant (November 22, 1856 – May 14, 1945) was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale. Grant served as church president from November 23, 1918 to his death in 1945, which makes him the longest-serving church president during the twentieth century..."

"...Grant was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, the son of Rachel Ridgeway (née Ivins) and Jedediah Morgan Grant. Jedediah was a counselor in the first presidency to Brigham Young. Rachel was a native of New Jersey where she had converted to The Church of Jesus Christ at about age 20. Her cousin and later brother-in-law (he married her older sister Anna) Israel Ivins was the first person baptized a Latter-day Saint in New Jersey.

Jedediah Grant died when Heber was nine days old. After Jedediah's death, Rachael married Jedediah's brother George Grant, but he fell into alcoholism so she divorced him..."

"...In 1901, Grant was sent to Japan to open the Japanese Mission of the LDS Church, and he served as its president until 1903 when he returned home but was almost immediately sent to preside over the British and European Missions of the church. Grant in his early years as an apostle, c. 1880-1889

Grant succeeded Joseph F. Smith as president of the LDS Church in November 1918...."

"...One of Grant's greatest legacies as president is the welfare program of the LDS Church, which he instituted in 1936. He said:

"Our primary purpose was to set up, insofar as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self-respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people help themselves."

"...Grant died in Salt Lake City, Utah from cardiac failure as a result of arteriosclerosis..."

"...Grant was the last of the LDS Church presidents to practice "plural marriage". He married a first time in 1877 and then twice more in 1884..."

"...Grant married Lucy Stringham (1858–1893) on November 1, 1877. She was a daughter of Briant Stringham, one of those who came to Utah with Brigham Young in 1847..."

"...He married Hulda Augusta Winters (1856–1952) on May 26, 1884. Augusta bore him one daughter. She accompanied Grant to Japan when Grant was sent to open the Japanese Mission in 1901. She remained with Grant until his death in 1945; she followed in 1952..."

"...Grant married Emily Harris Wells (1857–1908) on May 27, 1884. She was a daughter of Daniel H. Wells. Emily bore Grant 5 children before she died in 1908. She accompanied Grant during his time presiding over the British and European Mission in 1903...

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Heber J. Grant', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 February 2011, 19:08 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heber_J._Grant&oldid=413345301> [accessed 18 March 2011]