Charles W. Penrose

For the comedic performer, see Charles Penrose.

Charles W. Penrose
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First Counselor in the First Presidency
March 10, 1921 (1921-03-10) – May 16, 1925 (1925-05-16)
Called by	Heber J. Grant
Second Counselor in the First Presidency
December 7, 1911 (1911-12-07) – March 10, 1921 (1921-03-10)
Called by	Joseph F. Smith
End reason	Called as First Counselor in the First Presidency
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
July 7, 1904 (1904-07-07) – December 7, 1911 (1911-12-07)
Called by	Joseph F. Smith
End reason	Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency
LDS Church Apostle
July 7, 1904 (1904-07-07) – May 16, 1925 (1925-05-16)
Called by	Joseph F. Smith
Reason	Death of Abraham O. Woodruff
Reorganization at end of term	No apostles ordained[1]
Personal details
Born	Charles William Penrose February 4, 1832(1832-02-04) London, England
Died	May 16, 1925(1925-05-16) (aged 93) Salt Lake City, Utah
Resting place	Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772°N 111.858°W / 40.7772; -111.858
Nationality	English

Charles William Penrose (4 February 1832 – 16 May 1925) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from July 7, 1904. Penrose was also a member of the First Presidency of the church under Church Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant from 1911 until his death.

Penrose was born in London, England; the name "Penrose" is of Cornish origin.^[2] It is said that he learned to read the scriptures by the age of four. He was introduced to the church and baptized at the age of eighteen on May 14, 1850 in London. He also met and married his wife Lucetta Stratford there. The couple had three children.

After joining the church, Penrose was called to a mission of seven years, preaching throughout England. In 1861, he emigrated to Utah. After arriving, he was called on yet another mission to England. Upon his return, he settled in Ogden, Utah. There he became involved in newspaper publishing, eventually becoming the editor of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City. Penrose was known for his writing, including missionary tracts and for penning lyrics for LDS hymns, including God of Our Fathers, O Ye Mountains High, and Up, Awake, Ye Defenders of Zion.

Some claim that Penrose, with the assistance of a few others, wrote the 1890 Manifesto. However, this claim has been refuted. George Reynolds testified in the Smoot Hearings before the U.S. Senate that he, Charles W. Penrose, and John R. Winder edited the manifesto that President Wilford Woodruff delivered, preparing it for publication.

Penrose was a professor of theology at Brigham Young Academy from 1897 to 1899 and again in 1901 and 1902.^[3]

Penrose was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and ordained an apostle on July 7, 1904 after the passing of Elder Abraham O. Woodruff. After John Henry Smith (the Second Counselor to President Joseph F. Smith) died, he was called and set apart as Second Counselor in his stead on December 7, 1911. James E. Talmage filled the vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve caused by President John Henry Smith's death and Charles W. Penrose's call as Second Counselor. He also served as Second Counselor for President Heber J. Grant when the First Presidency was reorganized on November 23, 1918 after the death of President Joseph F. Smith. On March 10, 1921, he was set apart as First Counselor in the same presidency to replace President Anthon H. Lund who had died eight days earlier. He served there until his death, four years later in Salt Lake City from chronic prostatitis.^[4] He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Hymns

Some of Penrose poems were put to music and became LDS hymns. "Up, Awake, Ye Defenders of Zion", originally a militant hymn containing references to trials of LDS members in the central United States and the threatening United States government (ironically set to the melody for “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean,” thus asserting the Saints’ true patriotism, despite their alleged “rebellion”), became an anthem for LDS members during the difficulties preceding and during the Utah War of 1857–58.^[5]

Some of Penrose lyrics appear in the current LDS hymnal, including:

• God of Our Fathers, We Come Unto Thee
• O Ye Mountains High
• School Thy Feelings
• Up, Awake, Ye Defenders of Zion (with modified lyrics, 1985)

Grave marker of Charles W. Penrose.

Notes

1. ^ Charles W. Nibley replaced Penrose in the First Presidency, but Nibley was not ordained as an apostle.
2. ^ White, G. Pawley, A Handbook of Cornish Surnames. (Penrose mentioned by name)
3. ^ Wilkinson, Ernest L., ed., Brigham Young University: The First 100 Years. (Provo: BYU Press, 1975) p. 586
4. ^ State of Utah Death Certificate
5. ^ Cracroft, in Walker and Dant, pp. 149-150

References

• Tullidge, Edward W. (1886), History of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City: Star Printing Co., pp. 140–44, http://books.google.com/?id=fNkBAAAAMAAJ .
• Cracroft, Richard H. "Oh, What Songs of the Heart": Zion's Hymns as Sung by the Pioneers," included in Walker, Ronald W. and Dant, Doris R., "Nearly Everything Imaginable: The Everyday life of Utah's Mormon Pioneers," 1999, Brigham Young University Press, Provo, Utah. ISBN 0-8425-2397-9.

External links

• Charles W. Penrose, By Kenneth W. Godfrey (partial)
• Grampa Bill's General Authority Pages
• Priesthood and Presidency, a pamphlet published by Charles W. Penrose
• Works by or about Charles W. Penrose in libraries (WorldCat catalog)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by George Albert Smith	Quorum of the Twelve Apostles July 7, 1904–December 7, 1911	Succeeded by George F. Richards