Milton H. Hardy

Milton Henry Hardy (26 September 1844 – 23 August 1905) was an American educator and was the founder of and a member of the inaugural general superintendency of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). From 1876 to 1880, Hardy was the first assistant to Junius F. Wells, the first president of the YMMIA.

Early life

Hardy was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, United States. In 1852, his family emigrated to Utah Territory after converting to Mormonism. Hardy was baptized into the LDS Church on 17 October 1852.

Church service

From 1871 to 1873, Hardy was a LDS Church missionary in the United States. Beginning in 1875, church president Brigham Young asked Hardy, John Henry Smith, and B. Morris Young to tour the wards of the church and establish YMMIA programs in each of them. When this was completed, Young asked Junius F. Wells to be the inaugural general superintendent of the organization; Wells selected Hardy and Rodney C. Badger as his assistants. The superintendency served until 1880, when Wells was released and replaced with Wilford Woodruff. Hardy continued his involvement with the YMMIA, and from 1898 until his death, Hardy was a member of the general board of the YMMIA.

Beginning in 1880, Hardy was also the president of the Utah County Stake of the LDS Church.

Career

Hardy held a doctorate degree in biology and was one of the first instructors at Brigham Young Academy (BYA) in Provo, Utah Territory. From 1876 to 1888 and from 1891 to 1896 Hardy taught physiology and biology at BYA, and was an assistant principal under Karl G. Maeser. In the 1886–1887 school year, Hardy became the first instructor to teach a course in psychology at an LDS Church-owned school.

Family and death

Hardy was married to Elizabeth "Libbie" Smoot and was the father of five children.

Hardy died in Provo, Utah.

References

• Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, vol. 4
• Leon M. Strong (1939). A History of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, 1873–1938 (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University)

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Name	Hardy, Milton H.
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Date of birth	26 September 1844
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Date of death	23 August 1905
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