John R. Winder

Who was John R. Winder?

John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to church president Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well known for his business abilities, and influenced Heber J. Grant. He was also active in politics and the militia, participating in the Utah War and the Black Hawk War. When the church came under heavy government pressure for its practice of plural marriage, Wonder held the church's assets to keep them from being seized by the federal government. He was a polygamist having four wives and twenty children.