on april 12, 1897, at a general conference of the rlds church, evans was made an apostle and a member of the council of twelve apostles. on april 20, 1902, evans became a counselor in the first presidency to joseph smith iii, the prophet–president of the rlds church. in 1909, evans was released from the first presidency and was ordained to the office of bishop. as a bishop, evans was given a specific jurisdiction over the church in canada. evans had been upset considerably when smith designated his son, frederick m. smith, as the foreordained successor to the church presidency in 1906. when joseph smith iii died in 1914 and frederick smith took control of the church, evans' frustration over being overlooked as a worthy successor continued to grow.