Charles W. Penrose
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
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
. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
.
. "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.
Some of Penrose lyrics appear in the current LDS hymnal
, including:
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...
of the church under Church Presidents Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and 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...
from 1911 until his death.
Penrose was born in London, England; the name "Penrose" is of Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
origin. 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
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. After arriving, he was called on yet another mission to England. Upon his return, he settled in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. 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
1890 Manifesto
The "1890 Manifesto", sometimes simply called "The Manifesto", is a statement which officially disavowed the continuing practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. However, this claim has been refuted. George Reynolds
George Reynolds (Mormon)
George Reynolds was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a longtime secretary to the First Presidency of the LDS Church, and a party to the 1878 United States Supreme Court case Reynolds v...
testified in the Smoot Hearings
Smoot Hearings
The Reed Smoot hearings were a series of Congressional hearings on whether the United States Senate should seat U.S. Senator Reed Smoot, who was elected by the Utah legislature in 1903...
before the U.S. Senate that he, Charles W. Penrose, and John R. Winder
John R. Winder
John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known...
edited the manifesto that President Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...
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.
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
Abraham O. Woodruff
Abraham Owen Woodruff , 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 . He was also the son of LDS Church president Wilford Woodruff...
. After John Henry Smith
John Henry Smith
John Henry Smith was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
(the Second Counselor to President Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
) died, he was called and set apart as Second Counselor in his stead on December 7, 1911. James E. Talmage
James E. Talmage
James Edward Talmage born in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1911 until his death in 1933....
filled the vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve caused by President John Henry Smith
John Henry Smith
John Henry Smith was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
's death and Charles W. Penrose's call as Second Counselor. He also served as Second Counselor for President 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...
when the First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
was reorganized on November 23, 1918 after the death of President Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. On March 10, 1921, he was set apart as First Counselor in the same presidency to replace President Anthon H. Lund
Anthon H. Lund
Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:...
who had died eight days earlier. He served there until his death, four years later in Salt Lake City from chronic prostatitis
Chronic bacterial prostatitis
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a bacterial infection of the prostate gland. It should be distinguished from other forms of prostatitis such as acute bacterial prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome .-Signs and symptoms:...
. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
Salt Lake City Cemetery
thumb|The northern section of the cemetery at night, looking towards Salt Lake CityThe Salt Lake City Cemetery is in The Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Approximately 120,000 persons are buried in the cemetery. Many religious leaders and politicians, particularly many leaders of The...
.
Hymns
Some of Penrose poems were put to music and became LDS hymnsThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymns
This article is about LDS church hymns in general, for the book, see Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Latter-day Saint hymns come from many sources, and there have been numerous hymn books printed by the Church since its organization in 1830...
. "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
Columbia, Gem of the Ocean
"Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" is a United States patriotic song which was popular during the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, especially during the Civil War era. It may have functioned as an unofficial national anthem in competition with "Hail, Columbia" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" until...
,” 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
Utah War
The Utah War, also known as the Utah Expedition, Buchanan's Blunder, the Mormon War, or the Mormon Rebellion was an armed confrontation between LDS settlers in the Utah Territory and the armed forces of the United States government. The confrontation lasted from May 1857 until July 1858...
of 1857–58.
Some of Penrose lyrics appear in the current LDS hymnal
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, 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)
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