Background
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, Wells was the son of Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) Church leader Daniel H. Wells and his fourth wife, Hannah Corrilla Free.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, Wells was the son of Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) Church leader Daniel H. Wells and his fourth wife, Hannah Corrilla Free.
In 1875, church president Brigham Young organized the Young Men"s Mutual Improvement Association. The first implementation of the organization was in the Salt Lake 13th Ward, with Junius F. Wells was president Among his counselors were Heber J. Grant.
In 1876, Young selected Wells to lead the organization throughout the church.
In 1880, John Taylor released Wells from his duties and revised the leadership of the YMMIA, appointing Wilford Woodruff as the general superintendent. After Wells"s release, the church"s organization for young men would be led by general authorities of the church until 1935.
Under the direction of Joseph F. Smith, Wells oversaw the construction of the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in 1905. The monument was dedicated by Smith December 23, 1905, the 100th anniversary of Joseph Smith"s birth.
Wells also was the chief organizer in having a monument erected by the church to the Three Witnesses in Richmond, Missouri in 1911.
Junius F. Wells Award
= Award recipients 2005: Gordon B. Hinckley
2006: Karl Ricks Anderson and Richard Lloyd Anderson
2007: M. Russell Ballard
2010: Florence South. Jacobsen
Wells died in the Hotel Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah at age 75.