Orson F. Whitney
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2016) |
Orson F. Whitney | |
---|---|
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
April 9, 1906 | – May 16, 1931|
LDS Church Apostle | |
April 9, 1906 | – May 16, 1931|
Reason | Resignation of Matthias F. Cowley and John W. Taylor from the Quorum of the Twelve; death of Marriner W. Merrill[1] |
Reorganization at end of term | Joseph F. Merrill ordained |
Personal details | |
Born | Orson Ferguson Whitney July 1, 1855 Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States |
Died | May 16, 1931 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | (aged 75)
Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W |
Spouse(s) | Zina Beal Smoot May Wells, July 1888 |
Children | Horace Newel Heber Kimball Emily Helen Mar Margaret Charles Byron Murray Wells Albert Owen Wendell Webb Paul Van Colt Virginia Clayton[2] |
Signature | |
Orson Ferguson Whitney (1 July 1855 – 16 May 1931) born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1906 until his death.
Early life
Whitney was the son of Horace K. Whitney and Helen Mar Kimball. Whitney's father, Horace, had set type for the original publication of the Deseret News[3] and worked as a printer with the newspaper for 21 years.[4]
Background
Whitney was a politician, journalist, poet, historian and academic. In 1878, as a young man, Whitney began a career in writing with the business office of the Deseret News, later becoming a reporter and the city editor. During a mission in Europe for the LDS Church from 1881 to 1883, he acted as editor of the church publication Millennial Star. In 1896 and 1897, Whitney taught English and Theology at Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah.
In 1899, Whitney accepted the position of Assistant Church Historian and served in that position until he was called as an apostle.
Whitney was also involved in the politics of Salt Lake City and Utah. He served on the Salt Lake City Council in 1880, acted as City Treasurer from 1884 to 1890, and served as a State Senator in 1898, and again in 1901.
Writing
Whitney produced the lyrics to several LDS Church hymns, including "The Wintry Day, Descending to Its Close" (music composed by Edward P. Kimball) and "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" (music by Harry A. Dean); these hymns appear as numbers 37 and 112, respectively, in the current edition of the LDS Church hymnal.
Whitney's historical works, although detailed, well researched and presented, are written from a Mormon perspective;[5][6] one 21st-century historian has commented that they are "locked in the ironclad orthodoxy" of Mormonism.[7]
In June 1888 (and published the following month in The Contributor), Whitney delivered a speech entitled "Home Literature"; the speech is widely credited with proving both permission and impetus for Mormon literature and is the source of the sentence, "We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own."
Publications include:
- The Life of Heber C. Kimball (1888)[8]
- Poetical Writings (1889–90)
- History of Utah (4 Volumes)[9][10][11]
- Elias: An Epic of the Ages (1904)[12]
- Love and the Light: An Idyll of the Westland (1918)
Calling
In 1905, two members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles resigned over a dispute regarding the 1890 Manifesto, which prohibited any further plural marriages within the church. John W. Taylor disagreed with the Manifesto entirely; Matthias F. Cowley felt that it should apply only to the United States. In February of the next year, Marriner W. Merrill died, which left three vacancies in the quorum.
At a general conference of the church on April 8, 1906, Whitney was called as an apostle, along with George F. Richards and David O. McKay.
Death and legacy
Whitney died in Salt Lake City after being hospitalized for influenza.[13] He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.[14] Whitney is the namesake of the community of Whitney, Idaho.[15]
Published works
- Life of Heber C. Kimball, an Apostle (1888)
- Elias: An Epic for the Ages (1914)
See also
References
- ^ George F. Richards and David O. McKay were called at the same time as Whitney to fill the three vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve.
- ^ Entry on GAPages.com
- ^ Andrew Jenson. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, vol. 4, p. 722.
- ^ "Horace Kimball Whitney (1823 - 1884) - Genealogy". Geni.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ Whitney, Orson. Life of Heber C. Kimball (online).
{{cite book}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Whitney, Orson (November 1888). Life of Heber C. Kimball. Preface: Zion's Camp Books.
- ^ Gary Topping, Utah Historians and the Reconstruction of Western History, (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 2005 ISBN 0-8061-3561-1) p. 8.
- ^ "Life of Heber C. Kimball: The Father and Founder of the British Mission : Orson Ferguson Whitney : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ "History of Utah: Comprising Preliminary Chapters on the Previous History of Her Founders ... : Orson Ferguson Whitney : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ "History of Utah, comprising preliminary chapters on the previous history of her founders accounts of early Spanish and American explorations in the Rocky Mountain region, the advent of the Mormon pioneers, the establishment and dissolution of the provisional government of the state of Deseret, and the subsequent creation and development of the territory : Whitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson), 1855-1931 : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ "History of Utah: Comprising Preliminary Chapters on the Previous History of Her Founders ... : Orson Ferguson Whitney : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ Orson Ferguson Whitney. "Elias: An Epic of the Ages". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ "State of Utah Death Certificate" (JPG). Images.archives.utah.gov. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ "Orson Ferguson Whitney (1855 - 1931) - Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ Lund, Anthon Henrik (1922). The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine. Geneal. Society of Utah. p. 41.
External links
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Orson F. Whitney
- Works by Orson F. Whitney at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about Orson F. Whitney at the Internet Archive
- Orson F. Whitney papers, MSS 15 at L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University
- Orson F. Whitney Diaries, MSS 1825; Diaries; 20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts; L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.
- 1855 births
- 1931 deaths
- 19th-century Mormon missionaries
- American general authorities (LDS Church)
- American Latter Day Saint hymnwriters
- American Latter Day Saint writers
- American Mormon missionaries in the United Kingdom
- 19th-century American poets
- American male poets
- Apostles (LDS Church)
- Brigham Young College faculty
- Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery
- Deaths from influenza
- Editors of Latter Day Saint publications
- Infectious disease deaths in Utah
- Kimball–Snow–Woolley family
- Latter Day Saint poets
- Mormon missionaries in Europe
- Official historians of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Writers from Salt Lake City
- People of Utah Territory
- People's Party (Utah) politicians
- Utah Democrats
- Utah state senators
- 19th-century male writers
- Latter Day Saints from Utah