Charles W. Nibley
Encyclopedia
Charles Wilson Nibley was the fifth presiding bishop
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) between 1907 and 1925 and a member of the church's First Presidency
from 1925 until his death.
, Scotland
to James Nibley and Jean Wilson. In 1855, his family moved to the United States
to join with the main body of Latter-day Saints. They spent some time living in Rhode Island
. In 1860, they moved to the Utah Territory
. The family was sent north to settle in Cache Valley
, and eventually settled in Wellsville
.
As an adult, Nibley moved to Brigham City, Utah
, where he worked for Morris Rosenbaum (a Jewish convert to Mormonism) and later became a partner in the store where he worked. It was there he met Rebecca Neibar (who was the sister of one of Rosenbaum's wives) and was married in 1869. Following the Mormon
practice of plural marriage
he married Ellen Ricks in 1880 and Julia Budge in 1885.
program. He then joined with David Eccles
and George Stoddard to form the Oregon Lumber Company in 1889. As one of Nibley's grandsons, Hugh Nibley
, related, Charles Nibley used economic tricks, including manipulating the Homestead Act
to acquire large swaths of land, then would pay off government agents who investigated. Nibley was a firm believer in monopolies, believing competition was "economic waste". He also believed that LDS Church members who didn't support paying higher prices to Mormon businesses (versus lower prices to non-Mormon businesses) were betraying the church. This attitude of loyalty was also supported by Heber J. Grant
in the October 1919 General Conference.
Nibley also became involved in railroads, insurance, banking, politics, and major agricultural endeavors, eventually becoming a multimillionaire. The sugar beet
growing town of Nibley, Oregon
was named for him. He was later instrumental in forming the Amalgamated Sugar Company
and the Utah and Idaho Sugar Company (later known as U&I Sugar Co
).
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1907. It was during Nibley's term as presiding bishop that the LDS Church built the Hotel Utah
. In 1925, he was released as presiding bishop and was asked to be second counselor to Heber J. Grant
in the church's First Presidency. He is one of the few individuals to serve in the First Presidency without having been ordained to the priesthood office of apostle.
Nibley died of pneumonia
in Salt Lake City, Utah
; he was buried in Logan
City Cemetery. Nibley, Utah
is named after him.
Charles's son Preston
became a church leader and author of several Mormon books. Hugh W. Nibley
, a Mormon apologist and academic, is Charles's grandson, through his son, Alexander. Musician Reid Nibley was a grandson, and Martha Nibley Beck is a great-granddaughter.
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) between 1907 and 1925 and a member of the church's First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
from 1925 until his death.
Early life
Nibley was born in Hunterfield, MidlothianMidlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to James Nibley and Jean Wilson. In 1855, his family moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to join with the main body of Latter-day Saints. They spent some time living in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. In 1860, they moved to the Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. The family was sent north to settle in Cache Valley
Cache Valley
The Cache Valley is an agricultural valley of northern Utah and southeast Idaho that includes the Logan metropolitan area. The valley was used by 19th century mountain men and was the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre.-History:...
, and eventually settled in Wellsville
Wellsville, Utah
Wellsville is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,432 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Wellsville is located at ....
.
As an adult, Nibley moved to Brigham City, Utah
Brigham City, Utah
Brigham City is a city in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The population was 17,899 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Box Elder County. It lies on the western slope of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range at the western terminus of Box Elder Canyon...
, where he worked for Morris Rosenbaum (a Jewish convert to Mormonism) and later became a partner in the store where he worked. It was there he met Rebecca Neibar (who was the sister of one of Rosenbaum's wives) and was married in 1869. Following the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
practice of plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
he married Ellen Ricks in 1880 and Julia Budge in 1885.
Business ventures
In 1879 to 1885, Nibley managed a lumber company that was part of the LDS Church's United OrderUnited Order
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the United Order was one of several 19th century church collectivist programs. Early versions of the Order beginning in 1831 attempted to implement the Law of Consecration, a form of Christian communism, modeled after the New Testament church which had "all things...
program. He then joined with David Eccles
David Eccles (businessman)
David Eccles was an American businessman and industrialist who founded many businesses throughout the western United States and became Utah's first multimillionaire.-Biography:...
and George Stoddard to form the Oregon Lumber Company in 1889. As one of Nibley's grandsons, Hugh Nibley
Hugh Nibley
Hugh Winder Nibley was an American author, Mormon apologist, and professor at Brigham Young University...
, related, Charles Nibley used economic tricks, including manipulating the Homestead Act
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
to acquire large swaths of land, then would pay off government agents who investigated. Nibley was a firm believer in monopolies, believing competition was "economic waste". He also believed that LDS Church members who didn't support paying higher prices to Mormon businesses (versus lower prices to non-Mormon businesses) were betraying the church. This attitude of loyalty was also supported by Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
in the October 1919 General Conference.
Nibley also became involved in railroads, insurance, banking, politics, and major agricultural endeavors, eventually becoming a multimillionaire. The sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
growing town of Nibley, Oregon
Nibley, Oregon
Nibley is an unincorporated historic locale in Union County, Oregon, United States, about 11 miles east of La Grande on Oregon Route 237 in the Grande Ronde Valley....
was named for him. He was later instrumental in forming the Amalgamated Sugar Company
Amalgamated Sugar Company
The Amalgamated Sugar Company is a sugar beet refining company run on a cooperative basis. It was founded in 1897 in Logan, Utah, and is now located in Nampa, Idaho, United States. The company markets its sugar under the White Satin brand.-Founding:...
and the Utah and Idaho Sugar Company (later known as U&I Sugar Co
Utah-Idaho Sugar Company
The Utah-Idaho Sugar Company was a large sugar beet processing company owned and controlled by the LDS Church and its leaders, based in Utah. It was notable for providing a valuable cash crop to Utah and surrounding states, and also for being part of the Sugar Trust, leading to antitrust...
).
Call to lead
Nibley was called as the presiding bishopPresiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1907. It was during Nibley's term as presiding bishop that the LDS Church built the Hotel Utah
Joseph Smith Memorial Building
The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is named in honor of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. It is located on the corner of Main Street and South Temple in Salt Lake City. Previously the Hotel Utah, it is now an administrative building...
. In 1925, he was released as presiding bishop and was asked to be second counselor to Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
in the church's First Presidency. He is one of the few individuals to serve in the First Presidency without having been ordained to the priesthood office of apostle.
Nibley died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
; he was buried in Logan
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
City Cemetery. Nibley, Utah
Nibley, Utah
Nibley is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. Incorporated in 1937 and named after Charles W. Nibley, a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The population was 5,438 at the 2010 census...
is named after him.
Charles's son Preston
Preston Nibley
Preston Nibley was an American religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and wrote several books on the church, including several pieces of devotional literature.-Biography:...
became a church leader and author of several Mormon books. Hugh W. Nibley
Hugh Nibley
Hugh Winder Nibley was an American author, Mormon apologist, and professor at Brigham Young University...
, a Mormon apologist and academic, is Charles's grandson, through his son, Alexander. Musician Reid Nibley was a grandson, and Martha Nibley Beck is a great-granddaughter.
See also
- Council on the Disposition of the TithesCouncil on the Disposition of the TithesThe Council on the Disposition of the Tithes is a leadership body in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of the First Presidency, the Presiding Bishopric, and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Council determines how the tithing funds of the church will be spent...
- David Asael Smith
- John Wells (Mormon)John Wells (Mormon)John Wells was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1918 to 1938....