the modern methods and uses of the temple were largely instituted. Baptisms for health and ordinations of the sick were discontinued in the temple, and endowment sessions starting at night were begun. Acting Presiding Patriarch In 1937, Richards was asked by church president Heber J. Grant to assume the duties that would normally be carried out by the church's Presiding Patriarch. Richards accepted, and served in this capacity until 1942, when Grant called Joseph Fielding Smith to be the church's Presiding Patriarch. Richards was called, sustained, and set apart as the Acting Presiding Patriarch to the LDS Church because he was not a direct descendant of the first Latter Day Saint patriarch, Joseph Smith, Sr. During his tenure as Acting Presiding Patriarch, Richards remained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and retained his seniority within that body. President of the Twelve With the death of LDS Church president Heber J. Grant, Richards became the second-most senior apostle in the church and thus the President of the Quorum of the Twelve on May 21, 1945, a position which he held until his death. He is the only person in the church's history to have been both the Presiding Patriarch and the President of the Quorum of the Twelve. Death Richards died in Salt Lake City of coronary thrombosis. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery. After Richards's death, Delbert L. Stapley was called in the October general conference of that year to fill the vacancy, and David O. McKay became President of the Quorum. See also Phrenology and the Latter Day Saint Movement Notes External links Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: George F. Richards 1861 births 1950 deaths American Mormon missionaries in the United Kingdom American Mormon missionaries in the United States American general authorities (LDS Church) Apostles (LDS Church) Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery Latter Day Saints from Utah Members of the Utah House of Representatives Mission presidents (LDS Church) People from Farmington, Utah People from Tooele, Utah Presidents of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church) Presiding Patriarchs (LDS Church) Richards–Young family Temple presidents and matrons (LDS Church) University of Utah alumni