Orson F. Whitney

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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 from April 9, 1906 until his death.

Whitney was also a journalist, poet, historian and academic. 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, 1881-1883, he acted as editor of the church publication Millennial Star. In 1896-97, 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.

Contents 1 Writing 2 Calling 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Writing

Whitney produced the lyrics to LDS 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 current edition of the LDS Hymnal. His historical works, although detailed, well researched and presented, are written from an LDS perspective and are generally considered ...locked in the ironclad orthodoxy... of the LDS faith. (Topping, p. 8)

Publications include:

• The Life of Heber C. Kimball (1888)
• Poetical Writings (1889-90)
• History of Utah (4 Volumes
• Elias: An Epic of the Ages (1904)
• Love and the Light: An Idyll of the Westland (1918)

[edit] Calling

In 1905, two members of the quorum 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, Elder Marriner W. Merrill died, leaving three vacancies in the quorum.

Orson F. Whitney was called on April 8, 1906, and ordained the following day, along with George F. Richards and David O. McKay at General Conference.

[edit] See also

• LDS fiction
• Whitney Awards

[edit] References

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

[edit] External links

• Biography by Grampa Bill
• Orson Ferguson Whitney and his family

Preceded by George F. Richards

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles April 9, 1906–May 16, 1931

Succeeded by David O. McKay

v • d • e Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

J. Smith • Cowdery • Harris • Whitmer • Marsh • Patten • B. Young, Sr. • H.C. Kimball • Hyde • M'Lellin • P.P. Pratt • L.S. Johnson • Wm. Smith • O. Pratt • Boynton • L.E. Johnson • Page • J. Taylor • W. Woodruff • G.A. Smith • W. Richards • Wight • H. Smith • A.M. Lyman • Benson • Rich • L. Snow • E. Snow • F.D. Richards • J.M. Grant • Wells • G.Q. Cannon • J.A. Young • J.W. Young • J.F. Smith, Sr. • B. Young, Jr. • Carrington • Thatcher • F.M. Lyman • J.H. Smith • Teasdale • H.J. Grant • J.W. Taylor • M.W. Merrill • Lund • A.H. Cannon • M.F. Cowley • A.O. Woodruff • Clawson • Smoot • H.M. Smith • G.A. Smith • Penrose • G.F. Richards • Whitney • McKay • Ivins • J.F. Smith, Jr. • Talmage • S.L. Richards • R.R. Lyman • M.J. Ballard • Widtsoe • J.F. Merrill • Callis • Clark • A.A. Hinckley • Bowen • S.Q. Cannon • Lee • S.W. Kimball • Benson • Petersen • M. Cowley • Moyle • Stapley • Romney • L. Richards • Bennion • Evans • Morris • Brown • Hunter • G.B. Hinckley • Tanner • Monson • Dyer • Packer • Ashton • McConkie • Perry • Haight • Faust • Maxwell • Nelson • Oaks • M.R. Ballard • Wirthlin • Scott • Hales • Holland • Eyring • Uchtdorf • Bednar • Cook