Estimated income available for supporting five establishments: $75,000
Corporations, banks and factories of which Joseph F. Smith is a director: 20
The only Mormon Apostle who surpasses the record of President Smith is M. W. Merrill, with 8 wives, 45 children, and 156 grandchildren.—Collier's for March 26, 1894 [1904].
* * * * *
While in Utah I was informed that your father's first wife died broken hearted and insane. God and civilization know that a woman who loved her husband from youth up has enough to break her heart and send her insane when her husband will marry two other women, both sisters, in one day.
Perhaps you will be assisted to view the matter as I do, should you read the following in the Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:6, 7. Here it is stated, in consequence of polygamy, "ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives." Does this make the prophet an asperser or a scandalmonger?
I have answered your letter as it appeared in the Toronto Star as fully as space would permit.
Respectfully,
R. C. Evans.
Toronto, Ontario, March 1, 1905.[9]