The death here this week of Anthony W. Ivins, member of the First, or Supreme, Presidency of the Mormon Church and next in authority to President Haber J. Grant, served to recall his staunch friendship for the Jews, manifested on many occasions.
Dr. Ivins was 82 years old and had been active in his duties almost to the day of his death. President Roosevelt and other notables joined in tributes to him recently on the occasion of his birthday.
Dr. Ivins believed the American Indians, with whom he had been closely associated during his lifetime in the West, were descendants of the Jews — a doctrine taught by the Book of Mormon.
In an interview with the Jewish Daily Bulletin correspondent some years ago, he ridiculed the claims of “Nordic” superiority and contended that, had the Jews not been of the finest blood, they could never have maintained their racial integrity with their enemies so numerous and powerful.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
