Ida Romney Alldredge was the author of the Latter-day Saint 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...

 "They the Builders of the Nation".

Personal

Ida Romney was born in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, to Miles Romney and Catherine Cottom. Ida Romney married Leo "Lew" Alldredge on 1911-08-26. The following year they moved to Douglas, Arizona

Douglas, Arizona

Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...

, with the body of 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...

 colonists who had decided to leave Mexico due to the disruptions caused by the Mexican Revolution

Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...

. Lew worked as a merchant in Arizona. They latter moved to Mesa, Arizona

Mesa, Arizona

According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...

, where Ida lived until her death.

Works

Alldredge wrote many poems for the Relief Society Magazine

Relief Society Magazine

Relief Society Magazine was the official publication of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1915 to 1970. It succeeded the earlier Woman's Exponent, which was begun in 1872. The magazine was an important publishing outlet for Utah women, and was run by women...

and the Juvenile Instructor

Juvenile Instructor

The Juvenile Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1901 and 1930. It was first published in 1866 as a private publication...

. She is credited with having written over 30 poems in the 1920s and 1930s. Alldredge wrote more than 400 poems in total as well as many musical works and a few dramatic works.

Her lyrics were put to song by such contemporaries as George Careless

George Careless

George Edward Percy Careless was a prominent Latter-day Saint composer and conductor.Careless was born in London, England. As a child he studied at the Royal Academy in London...

, B. Cecil Gates

B. Cecil Gates

Brigham Cecil Gates was born in Laie, Oahu, Hawaii on August 16, 1887, the second of twelve children of Jacob F. and Susa Young Gates. Following early training in music from teachers at Brigham Young Academy, John H. McClellan and others in Salt Lake City, and the New England Conservatory of...

, and William Clive. Ida had songs sung in General Conference

General Conference (LDS Church)

General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...

, in the Salt Lake

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,...

 and Arizona Temples

Mesa Arizona Temple

The Mesa Arizona Temple is the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Mesa, Arizona, it is the first of five LDS temples built or planned in the state.-History:...

, and at the Arizona Temple dedication of 1927. Isa is probably best know to Latter-day Saints for the text to the hymn “They, the Builders of the Nation.”

One of Ida’s last big moments was for Easter sunrise services at the Arizona Temple in 1940. A chorus was gathered on the roof of the Arizona Temple. They sang a cantata written by her and composed by B. Cecil Gates called “Resurrection Morning”.

See also

• Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
  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 ....
  
  
• Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant
  Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant
  The Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant Jesus the Christ is an annual production of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints staged on the grounds of the Mesa Arizona Temple. One of the six LDS pageants, Jesus the Christ began in 1928 as a small sunrise Easter presentation...
  
  
• Pratt–Romney family