Evan Stephens
Encyclopedia
Evan Stephens was a Latter-day Saint composer
and hymn
writer. He was also the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
for 26 years (1890–1916).
, Wales
. He moved with his family to Utah Territory
when he was twelve. His parents had converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) before his birth. When he was a very small child his mother would take him with her to work in the fields as she raised money to help pay to build the Salt Lake Temple
.
Stephens never married. He had an attachment to a girl in Willard, Utah
, when he was in his early twenties, but she died in a freak accident while in a stage performance. At a slightly later time Stephens was actually engaged to a lady who made a deathbed request at the end of her brief illness that he love her through his music.
After his death, Stephens was sealed by proxy to Sarah Daniels. Stephens had intended on marrying her, and arranged for her to come to Utah from the United Kingdom in 1902. Stephens had anticipated that she would convert to the LDS Church on coming to Utah, but when this did not happen, he arranged for her to be his housekeeper. According to interviews of Stephens' relatives conducted in both the 1950s and the 1990s, Stephens stated that Daniels would make a good wife, but he would only marry in the church. After Stephens died, Daniels did join the LDS Church and she was sealed to him by proxy on November 5, 1931 in the Salt Lake Temple
, with the ordinance having been approved by LDS Church president Heber J. Grant
.
Stephens studied for a time a the University of Deseret.
. Stephens also served as the first public school music supervisor in Utah.
In the 1927 English LDS Hymnbook there were 84 hymns written by Evan Stephens.
His 19 works in the 1985 English language
edition of the Latter-day Saint hymnal
are:
He wrote several other LDS hymns
that do not appear in the 1985 edition of the hymnal.
Included among his works is "Utah, We Love Thee
" (also sometimes referred to as "Land of the Mountains High") which became the official State Song of Utah in 1937. In 2003 it was designated the official State Hymn, and a new state song was named.
Stephens was also the director of the choir who moved it into the field of performing concerts and not just for religious celebrations.
For part of the time that Stephens was director of the Tabernacle Choir he held the title of president with two counselors, in a system of leadership similar to that used in LDS Church wards and stakes.
Stephens was also the first man employed as full time choir director. This occurred in 1895. Prior to this the director of the choir had been viewed as a part time office, who although given a stipend for his service was expected to earn his main employ by other methods. At this time the leaders of the church decided to make the position of choir director full time and doubled Stephens salary.
expresses his view that Stephens had homosexual
relationships and that these were tolerated by the LDS Church hierarchy. Elsewhere, Quinn has theorized that the unmarried Stephens had intimate relationships and shared the same bed with a series of male domestic partners and traveling companions. He claims that some of these relationships were described under a pseudonym
in The Children's Friend, a church magazine for children. However, Quinn has admitted that it is possible Stephens never engaged in homosexual conduct.
Several other Latter-day Saint scholars, including George L. Mitton and Rhett S. James
, have called Quinn's research on Stephens a distortion of LDS Church history. They deny any acceptance from previous leaders of homosexual behavior, and state the teachings of the current leadership of the church "is entirely consistent with the teachings of past leaders and with the scriptures." Specifically, they disagree with Quinn's theory that Stephens was involved in intimate relationships with other men, or that the article in The Children's Friend was about these relationships. They state that Stephens "is known only as a strictly moral Christian gentleman." Ray Bergman—who was in one of Stephens's youth choirs and personally knew him—disputes any claims that Stephens was a homosexual.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
writer. He was also the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
for 26 years (1890–1916).
Early life and family
Stephens was born at PencaderPencader, Carmarthenshire
Pencader is a small village in the Welsh county of Carmarthenshire, and is part of the Community and Parish of Llanfihangel-ar-Arth. It is located around 5 km south-east of Llandysul and 10 km south-west of Llanybydder....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He moved with his family to 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....
when he was twelve. His parents had converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) before his birth. When he was a very small child his mother would take him with her to work in the fields as she raised money to help pay to build the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
.
Stephens never married. He had an attachment to a girl in Willard, Utah
Willard, Utah
Willard is a city in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,772 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Willard is located at ....
, when he was in his early twenties, but she died in a freak accident while in a stage performance. At a slightly later time Stephens was actually engaged to a lady who made a deathbed request at the end of her brief illness that he love her through his music.
After his death, Stephens was sealed by proxy to Sarah Daniels. Stephens had intended on marrying her, and arranged for her to come to Utah from the United Kingdom in 1902. Stephens had anticipated that she would convert to the LDS Church on coming to Utah, but when this did not happen, he arranged for her to be his housekeeper. According to interviews of Stephens' relatives conducted in both the 1950s and the 1990s, Stephens stated that Daniels would make a good wife, but he would only marry in the church. After Stephens died, Daniels did join the LDS Church and she was sealed to him by proxy on November 5, 1931 in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
, with the ordinance having been approved by LDS Church 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...
.
Stephens studied for a time a the University of Deseret.
Teaching music
From 1885 to 1900 Stephens directed the teaching of music at the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. Stephens also served as the first public school music supervisor in Utah.
Musical writings
In 1899 the Missionary Song Book edited by Stephens was distributed in the Southern States Mission.In the 1927 English LDS Hymnbook there were 84 hymns written by Evan Stephens.
His 19 works in the 1985 English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
edition of the Latter-day Saint 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 ....
are:
- #11 "What Was Witnessed in the Heavens" (music),
- #17 "Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake!" (music),
- #18 "The Voice of God Again is Heard" (words and music),
- #23 & #312 (Women) "We Ever Pray for Thee" (text and adaptation of music by H. A. Tuckett),
- #33 "Our Mountain Home So Dear" (music),
- #35 "For the Strength of the Hills" (music),
- #55 "Lo, the Mighty God Appearing!" (music),
- #61 "Raise Your Voices to the Lord'" (words and music),
- #74 "Praise Ye the Lord" (music),
- #91 "Father thy Children to Thee Now Raise" (words and music),
- #118 "Ye Simple Souls who Stray" (music),
- #120 "Lean on My Ample Arm" (music),
- #183 "In Remembrance of Thy Suffering" (words and music),
- #229 "Today, While the Sun Shines (music),
- #243 "Let Us All Press On" (words and music),
- #254 "True to the Faith" (words and music),
- #312 "We Ever Pray for Thee" (words and music),
- #330 "See The Mighty Angel Flying" (music), and
- #337 "O Home Beloved" (words).
He wrote several other LDS hymns
The 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...
that do not appear in the 1985 edition of the hymnal.
Included among his works is "Utah, We Love Thee
Utah, We Love Thee
"Utah We Love Thee" is the official state hymn of Utah. The song was written by Utah resident Evan Stephens in 1895. It was performed at celebrations held in 1896 when Utah become the 45th state. Evan Stephens was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir conductor from 1890 to 1916. The Utah State legislature...
" (also sometimes referred to as "Land of the Mountains High") which became the official State Song of Utah in 1937. In 2003 it was designated the official State Hymn, and a new state song was named.
Directing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Under Evan Stephens' direction the size of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir increased from 125 members to over 300.Stephens was also the director of the choir who moved it into the field of performing concerts and not just for religious celebrations.
For part of the time that Stephens was director of the Tabernacle Choir he held the title of president with two counselors, in a system of leadership similar to that used in LDS Church wards and stakes.
Stephens was also the first man employed as full time choir director. This occurred in 1895. Prior to this the director of the choir had been viewed as a part time office, who although given a stipend for his service was expected to earn his main employ by other methods. At this time the leaders of the church decided to make the position of choir director full time and doubled Stephens salary.
Alleged homosexuality
In his book Same-Sex Dynamics Among Nineteenth Century Americans, published in 1996, historian D. Michael QuinnD. Michael Quinn
Dennis Michael Quinn is a historian who has focused on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a professor at Brigham Young University from 1976 until his resignation in 1988. At the time, his work concerned church involvement with plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto, in which...
expresses his view that Stephens had homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
relationships and that these were tolerated by the LDS Church hierarchy. Elsewhere, Quinn has theorized that the unmarried Stephens had intimate relationships and shared the same bed with a series of male domestic partners and traveling companions. He claims that some of these relationships were described under a pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
in The Children's Friend, a church magazine for children. However, Quinn has admitted that it is possible Stephens never engaged in homosexual conduct.
Several other Latter-day Saint scholars, including George L. Mitton and Rhett S. James
Rhett S. James
Rhett S. James is a Latter-day Saint author and educator. He is also a playwright.James was a teacher at the Logan LDS Institute of Religion for 27 years. He was the author of Martin Harris: The Man who Knew....
, have called Quinn's research on Stephens a distortion of LDS Church history. They deny any acceptance from previous leaders of homosexual behavior, and state the teachings of the current leadership of the church "is entirely consistent with the teachings of past leaders and with the scriptures." Specifically, they disagree with Quinn's theory that Stephens was involved in intimate relationships with other men, or that the article in The Children's Friend was about these relationships. They state that Stephens "is known only as a strictly moral Christian gentleman." Ray Bergman—who was in one of Stephens's youth choirs and personally knew him—disputes any claims that Stephens was a homosexual.
See also
- Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHomosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHomosexual acts are prohibited by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Law of Chastity, as well as other sexual acts outside the bonds of marriage. Violating the Law of Chastity may result in excommunication...
- God Loveth His ChildrenGod Loveth His Children"God Loveth His Children" is a pamphlet produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for members with homosexual attractions. It was approved in April 2007 and was announced in July 2007 through a letter to LDS Church bishops and stake presidents, and is available in 27 languages...