John K. Edmunds
Encyclopedia
John Kaestli Edmunds was a Chicago area lawyer and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the Chicago area.
Edmunds was born in Wales, Utah
to Thomas Edmunds, an immigrant from Wales, and Frieda Louise Kaestli, an immigrant from Switzerland. When Edmunds was ten his father died. After this the family moved to Logan, Utah
. He attended Brigham Young College
and Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University
). Edmunds then served a mission in the Eastern States Mission, presiding over the New Haven District for much of this time. The New Haven District covered all of Connecticut as well as Springfield, Massachusetts. After he returned from his mission, Edmunds continued his schooling at the University of Utah
.
After graduating from the University of Utah, Edmunds studied at Northwestern University
. After obtaining his juris doctorate he was involved in Corporate, Will, Trust and Real Estate Law.
While at the University of Utah, Edmunds had served as a member of the General Committee of the YMMIA and been involved in the expansion of the basketball program of that organization. In Chicago besides various assignments in the Logan Square Branch Edmunds served as a special representative of two mission presidents, first George S. Romney
and then Bryant S. Hinckley
. When the Chicago Stake was organized in 1936, Edmunds was called as a member of the stake presidency. He served in this position until 1945, when he became president of the Chicago Stake. He served in this position for the next 18 years. For about 16 of these years, one of his counselors in the stake presidency was David M. Kennedy
. The stake included the entire Chicago Metro Area, including North-west Indiana, and also included Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While Edmunds was stake president, among other things he oversaw the building of a monumental-style stake center that was dedicated by David O. McKay
in 1962.
In 1963, the Chicago stake was divided into three stakes. The newly organized stakes were the Milwaukee and the Chicago South (later Naperville, Illinois
) stakes. Edmunds was called as patriarch of the Chicago Stake (since renamed the Wilmette Illinois
Stake) as well as a member of the General Church Board charged with implementing the new Home Teaching program. In the later position Edmunds not only traveled around the US, Canada and Mexico but was periodically sent on church assignments to Europe. In 1967, Edmunds was called as one of the original Regional Representatives of the Twelve in which position he remained until 1969. From 1969–1972 Edmunds served as president of the California Mission based in Los Angeles. He then served from 1972 until 1977 as president of the Salt Lake Temple
.
After serving as Temple President, Edmunds wrote a book entitled Through Temple Doors which was published by Bookcraft
.
Edmunds and his wife Jasmine were the parents of two daughters.
Edmunds was born in Wales, Utah
Wales, Utah
Wales is a town in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The population was 219 at the 2000 census. The town is governed by a mayor and several council members. As of December 2008, Wales had no stores, gas stations nor stop lights...
to Thomas Edmunds, an immigrant from Wales, and Frieda Louise Kaestli, an immigrant from Switzerland. When Edmunds was ten his father died. After this the family moved to Logan, Utah
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...
. He attended Brigham Young College
Brigham Young College
Brigham Young College was a college and high school in Logan, Utah. It was founded by Brigham Young on 6 August 1877, 23 days before he died. He deeded several acres of land to a board of trustees for the development of a college. This was just two years after he founded Brigham Young Academy in...
and Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
). Edmunds then served a mission in the Eastern States Mission, presiding over the New Haven District for much of this time. The New Haven District covered all of Connecticut as well as Springfield, Massachusetts. After he returned from his mission, Edmunds continued his schooling at the University of Utah
University 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...
.
After graduating from the University of Utah, Edmunds studied at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. After obtaining his juris doctorate he was involved in Corporate, Will, Trust and Real Estate Law.
While at the University of Utah, Edmunds had served as a member of the General Committee of the YMMIA and been involved in the expansion of the basketball program of that organization. In Chicago besides various assignments in the Logan Square Branch Edmunds served as a special representative of two mission presidents, first George S. Romney
George S. Romney
George Samuel Romney was the president of Bannock Stake Academy, now Brigham Young University–Idaho, at the end of the First World War. He was a key figure in helping it to survive the postwar depression. Before its latest rename it was known as Ricks College.Romney was a member of The Church of...
and then Bryant S. Hinckley
Bryant S. Hinckley
Bryant Stringham Hinckley was an American author, religious speaker, civic leader and educator. He served as a prominent mid-level leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 20th century. His books were primarily designed for a Latter-day Saint audience.Hinckley was...
. When the Chicago Stake was organized in 1936, Edmunds was called as a member of the stake presidency. He served in this position until 1945, when he became president of the Chicago Stake. He served in this position for the next 18 years. For about 16 of these years, one of his counselors in the stake presidency was David M. Kennedy
David M. Kennedy
David Matthew Kennedy was an American businessman, economist and Cabinet secretary.Born in Randolph, Utah, he attended public school and graduated from Weber College, then a Mormon college, in 1928. He served a two-year mission, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to England...
. The stake included the entire Chicago Metro Area, including North-west Indiana, and also included Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While Edmunds was stake president, among other things he oversaw the building of a monumental-style stake center that was dedicated by David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
in 1962.
In 1963, the Chicago stake was divided into three stakes. The newly organized stakes were the Milwaukee and the Chicago South (later Naperville, Illinois
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
) stakes. Edmunds was called as patriarch of the Chicago Stake (since renamed the Wilmette Illinois
Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located north of Chicago's downtown district and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore district...
Stake) as well as a member of the General Church Board charged with implementing the new Home Teaching program. In the later position Edmunds not only traveled around the US, Canada and Mexico but was periodically sent on church assignments to Europe. In 1967, Edmunds was called as one of the original Regional Representatives of the Twelve in which position he remained until 1969. From 1969–1972 Edmunds served as president of the California Mission based in Los Angeles. He then served from 1972 until 1977 as president of 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,...
.
After serving as Temple President, Edmunds wrote a book entitled Through Temple Doors which was published by Bookcraft
Bookcraft
Bookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-History:In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant asked the church's Improvement Era magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G...
.
Edmunds and his wife Jasmine were the parents of two daughters.
Sources
- LDS Church Almanac, 2011 Edition, p. 343-344
- Martin B. HickmanMartin B. HickmanMartin B. Hickman was the first dean of Brigham Young University's College of Family, Home and Social Sciences.Hickman was born in Monticello, Utah. He graduated from Logan High School and began college at Utah State Agricultural College . He then served in the United States Army as an...
. David Matthew Kennedy: Banker, Statesman, Churchman. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987) p. 203. - biography of Edmunds
- LDS Church News, Dec. 16, 1989.
- Liahona: The Elder's Journal Vol. 19, p. 297
- Ensign January 1974