Orson F. Whitney

Orson F. Whitney
ca. 1870-1875
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Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 9, 1906 (1906-04-09) – May 16, 1931 (1931-05-16)
Called by	Joseph F. Smith
LDS Church Apostle
April 9, 1906 (1906-04-09) – May 16, 1931 (1931-05-16)
Called by	Joseph F. Smith
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(1855-07-01) Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
Died	May 16, 1931(1931-05-16) (aged 75) 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
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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 April 9, 1906 until his death.

Early life

Whitney was the son of Horace K. Whitney and Helen Mar Kimball. His mother, Kimball, was married in secret to Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, in May 1843 when she was 14 years old. After Smith's death in 1844, Kimball was "married for time" to Horace Whitney. Whitney's father, Horace, had set type for the original publication of the Deseret News.^[2]

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 LDS newspaper, 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 1896–1897, 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 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) appearing as hymns #37 and 112, respectively, in the 1985 edition of the LDS Church hymnal.

Whitney's historical works, although detailed, well researched and presented, are written from a Mormon perspective and are generally considered "locked in the ironclad orthodoxy" of Mormonism.^[3]

Publications include:

• The Life of Heber C. Kimball (1888) online
• Poetical Writings (1889–90)
• History of Utah (4 Volumes) Vol. 1 Vol. 2 Vol. 4
• Elias: An Epic of the Ages (1904) online
• 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 with church doctrine and policy. John W. Taylor disagreed with the manifesto forbidding plural marriage; Matthias F. Cowley felt that it should apply only to the United States. In February of the next year, Marriner W. Merrill died, leaving three vacancies in the quorum.

At a general conference of the church, Whitney was called on April 8, 1906, and ordained the following day, along with George F. Richards and David O. McKay.

Grave marker of Orson F. Whitney.

Death

Whitney died in Salt Lake City after being hospitalized for influenza.^[4] He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

See also

Poetry portal

• LDS fiction
• Whitney Awards

Notes

1. ^ 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.
2. ^ Andrew Jenson. LDS Biographical Encyclopedia. Vol. 4, p. 722
3. ^ Topping, p. 8.
4. ^ State of Utah Death Certificate

References

• Topping, Gary. Utah Historians and the Reconstruction of Western History. 2003, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. ISBN 0-8061-3561-1

External links

• Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Orson F. Whitney
• Orson Ferguson Whitney and his family
• Works by or about Orson F. Whitney in libraries (WorldCat catalog)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by George F. Richards	Quorum of the Twelve Apostles April 9, 1906–May 16, 1931	Succeeded by David O. McKay