Joseph F. Merrill
Encyclopedia
Joseph Francis Merrill (born August 24, 1868 in Richmond
– died February 3, 1952) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from October 8, 1931 until his death.
Merrill was a key figure in the development of the Church Educational System
in the early twentieth century. He served as the sixth Commissioner of Church Education from 1928 to 1933. Prior to his service as commissioner, he played a significant role in the creation of the released time
LDS Church seminary system. His tenure as commissioner saw the creation of the Institutes of Religion
and the transfer of nearly all the remaining church schools to control of the states they resided in. He also faced a crisis in 1930 and 1931 which threatened to end the released time seminary. His leadership and fiscal wisdom ensured the continued survival of LDS Church education through the Great Depression
. In 1931, while still serving as commissioner, he was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
, Joseph Merrill was among the first Latter-day Saints to leave Utah
and travel to the eastern United States to seek higher education. He studied at the University of Deseret, the University of Michigan
, and finally Johns Hopkins University
, becoming the first native Utahn to receive a PhD
. While at the University of Michigan Merrill was the president
of the Ann Arbor Branch of the LDS Church.
Upon his return from the east he became the director of the School of Mines at the University of Utah
. In 1895 he became the first principal of the University of Utah College of Engineering
. The Merrill Engineering building on the University of Utah campus is named in his honor. In 1911 he was called to serve in the presidency of the Granite Utah Stake of the LDS Church.
she had learned in a class taught by James E. Talmage
, Merrill began to seek means for students attending public high schools to have some form of weekday religious education. Influenced by seminaries he had seen at the University of Chicago
, Merrill worked with the Granite School Board
, and the Church General Board of Education, securing the necessary funding and legal rights to open a seminary next to Granite High School. In his search for a proper teacher to instruct the youth, Merrill wrote:
Merrill found the right man in Thomas J. Yates
, a young engineer in the Granite Stake. With the building completed, and proper curriculum developed, the first released-time seminary opened its doors in 1912.
In 1928, Merrill left his position at the University of Utah to serve as the head of the LDS Church school system. Upon Merrill’s acceptance, the name of the position was officially changed from “Superintendent of Church Schools” to "Church Commissioner of Education". As commissioner, Merrill faced several unique challenges.
Merrill took over the development of the first institute program at Moscow, Idaho
. Working with J. Wyley Sessions
, Merrill helped development the basic goals of the institute program, which he felt should be designed to help students reconcile the secular learning of university with the spiritual truths of the gospel. Having successfully navigated the rocky shoals of secularism
during his time in the east, he hoped that the institute program could serve to safeguard the faith of students in the collegiate environment. He wrote:
With the successful launch of institute, Merrill’s next task was to complete the withdrawal of the LDS Church from the field of secular education. Most of the church schools had already been closed in the early 1920s, but Brigham Young University
(BYU) and several junior colleges remained under church control. In a meeting of the Church General Board of Education in February 1929, Merrill was asked to begin the process of closing all of the remaining schools. Despite the onset of the Great Depression, Merrill was able to successfully negotiate with the Utah State Legislature
to ensure the successful transfer of Weber
, Snow
and Dixie College
. In Arizona, Gila College was also transferred and later renamed Eastern Arizona College
. When the Idaho legislature rejected to offer to take control of Ricks College, Merrill worked to ensure the survival of that school, despite seriously diminished funding of the part of the church. Merrill also worked with other Church leaders to keep BYU under church control. He felt that maintaining a university was vital for the future training of seminary teachers. He saw the value in maintaining a corps of trained scholars who were well versed in the gospel. In addition he felt that a church university would be a light to the world, functioning as a showcase for the academic achievements of church members. During his service he encouraged Sidney B. Sperry
, Russel B. Swensen, and others to seek higher degrees at the University of Chicago. Upon their return, Merrill sent these men to BYU, where they formed the school’s first department of religion .
In 1930, state high school inspector I. L. Williamson issued a highly critical report on the relationships between seminaries and public high schools in Utah. Influenced by this report, the Utah State Board of Education initially moved to suspend released time privileges statewide. Merrill led the charge to ensure the continuation of released time, speaking before the State Board to convince them of the benefits and legality of seminary. When the Board voted on the issue in 1931, both released time and credit for Bible study were retained. With most of the LDS Church schools gone by this point, Merrill’s quick action ensured the survival of what would become the dominant form of religious education in the church.
Merrill also dealt with the effects of the Great Depression, cutting costs in education. Rather than laying off employees, Merrill asked all members of church education to take pay cuts. During his service, church spending was cut nearly in half.
of the Europe
an Mission
of the church, Merrill passed his fiscal philosophies on to the missionaries serving under him. He succeeded John A. Widtsoe
in this office. One of them, future church president Gordon B. Hinckley
, cited Merrill’s influence as a major factor in his financial thinking. J. Wyley Sessions called Merrill the “most economical, conservative General Authority of this dispensation.”
Despite the hard times he saw during his tenure as commissioner, Merrill took great joy in his work. Upon his call as commissioner he said:
. Upon his death, Joseph Fielding Smith
offered the following tribute: “I marveled at his energy. Apparently he never got tired; he loved the truth. He loved the truth of science, but he loved more the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ ... He had a strong will, was pronounced in his opinions, but he was always submissive to the majority decisions of his brethren.” Merrill was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
.
Richmond, Utah
Richmond is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,470 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area. Part of the film Napoleon Dynamite was filmed at Richmond. Richmond is home to three schools. An Elementary school, a middle...
– died February 3, 1952) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from October 8, 1931 until his death.
Merrill was a key figure in the development of the Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
in the early twentieth century. He served as the sixth Commissioner of Church Education from 1928 to 1933. Prior to his service as commissioner, he played a significant role in the creation of the released time
Released Time
Released Time is a concept used in the United States public school system wherein pupils enrolled in the public schools are permitted by law to receive religious instruction...
LDS Church seminary system. His tenure as commissioner saw the creation of the Institutes of Religion
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and the transfer of nearly all the remaining church schools to control of the states they resided in. He also faced a crisis in 1930 and 1931 which threatened to end the released time seminary. His leadership and fiscal wisdom ensured the continued survival of LDS Church education through the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. In 1931, while still serving as commissioner, he was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Early life
The son of LDS Church apostle Marriner W. MerrillMarriner W. Merrill
Marriner Wood Merrill born in Sackville, New Brunswick, was a pioneering settler of Cache Valley and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, Joseph Merrill was among the first Latter-day Saints to leave 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...
and travel to the eastern United States to seek higher education. He studied at the University of Deseret, the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, and finally Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, becoming the first native Utahn to receive a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
. While at the University of Michigan Merrill was the president
Branch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
of the Ann Arbor Branch of the LDS Church.
Upon his return from the east he became the director of the School of Mines 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...
. In 1895 he became the first principal of the University of Utah College of Engineering
University of Utah College of Engineering
The University of Utah College of Engineering is an academic college of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. The college offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering and computer science.-History:...
. The Merrill Engineering building on the University of Utah campus is named in his honor. In 1911 he was called to serve in the presidency of the Granite Utah Stake of the LDS Church.
Church education role
Upon hearing his wife relate stories from the Book of MormonBook of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
she had learned in a class taught by 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....
, Merrill began to seek means for students attending public high schools to have some form of weekday religious education. Influenced by seminaries he had seen at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, Merrill worked with the Granite School Board
Granite School District
The Granite School District spreads across central Salt Lake County, Utah, serving West Valley City, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake, and Holladay; Kearns, Magna and Millcreek Township; and parts of West Jordan, Murray and Cottonwood Heights. About 70,000 students are enrolled in its programs ranging...
, and the Church General Board of Education, securing the necessary funding and legal rights to open a seminary next to Granite High School. In his search for a proper teacher to instruct the youth, Merrill wrote:
"May I say that it is the desire of the Presidency of the Stake to find a young man who is properly qualified to do the work in the most satisfactory manner. By young, we do not necessarily mean a teacher who is young in years, but a man who can command their respect and admiration and exercise great influence over them. We want a man who can enjoy student sports and activities as well as one who is a good teacher. We want a man who is a thorough student, one who will not teach in a perfunctory way, but who will enliven his instruction with a strong winning personality and give evidence of thorough understanding of a scholarship in the things he teaches.
"It is desired that the school be thoroughly successful and a teacher is wanted who is a leader and who will be universally regarded as the inferior to no teacher in the high school."
Merrill found the right man in Thomas J. Yates
Thomas J. Yates
Thomas J. Yates was the first seminary teacher in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1912 the first released-time seminary classes met in a building adjacent to Granite High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Yates' service was through an unpaid calling from the Granite Stake....
, a young engineer in the Granite Stake. With the building completed, and proper curriculum developed, the first released-time seminary opened its doors in 1912.
In 1928, Merrill left his position at the University of Utah to serve as the head of the LDS Church school system. Upon Merrill’s acceptance, the name of the position was officially changed from “Superintendent of Church Schools” to "Church Commissioner of Education". As commissioner, Merrill faced several unique challenges.
Merrill took over the development of the first institute program at Moscow, Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
. Working with J. Wyley Sessions
J. Wyley Sessions
James Wylie Sessions was the first Institute of Religion director in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was sent in 1926 by church president Heber J. Grant to head the Institute of Religion in Moscow, Idaho...
, Merrill helped development the basic goals of the institute program, which he felt should be designed to help students reconcile the secular learning of university with the spiritual truths of the gospel. Having successfully navigated the rocky shoals of secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
during his time in the east, he hoped that the institute program could serve to safeguard the faith of students in the collegiate environment. He wrote:
"In this collegiate seminary work we are, of course, starting on a new thing in the Church. But if we keep the objective clearly in mind it may be helpful. And may I say that this objective, as I see it, is to enable our young people attending the colleges to make the necessary adjustments between the things they have been taught in the Church and the things they are learning in the university, to enable them to become firmly settled in their faith as members of the Church. The big question, then, is what means and methods can be employed to help them to make these reconciliations and adjustments. The primary purpose, therefore, is not to teach them theology. It is not to prepare them for seminary teachers or preachers of the Gospel. We should, therefore, continually hold before our minds that we want to hold them in the Church, make them active, intelligent, sincere, Latter-day Saints. We want to keep them from growing cold in the faith and indifferent to their obligations as Church members. We want to help them to see that it is perfectly reasonable and logical to be really sincere Latter-day Saints."
With the successful launch of institute, Merrill’s next task was to complete the withdrawal of the LDS Church from the field of secular education. Most of the church schools had already been closed in the early 1920s, but Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) and several junior colleges remained under church control. In a meeting of the Church General Board of Education in February 1929, Merrill was asked to begin the process of closing all of the remaining schools. Despite the onset of the Great Depression, Merrill was able to successfully negotiate with the Utah State Legislature
Utah State Legislature
The Utah State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. It is a bicameral body, comprising the Utah House of Representatives, with 75 Representatives, and the Utah Senate, with 29 State Senators...
to ensure the successful transfer of Weber
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
, Snow
Snow College
Snow College is a rural, two-year state college located in Ephraim, Utah, U.S. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas...
and Dixie College
Dixie State College of Utah
Dixie State College of Utah is a college located in St. George, Utah, United States.-History:...
. In Arizona, Gila College was also transferred and later renamed Eastern Arizona College
Eastern Arizona College
Eastern Arizona College , is a community college located in Graham County, Arizona. The main campus is in Thatcher, with satellite locations in Gila County, and Greenlee County...
. When the Idaho legislature rejected to offer to take control of Ricks College, Merrill worked to ensure the survival of that school, despite seriously diminished funding of the part of the church. Merrill also worked with other Church leaders to keep BYU under church control. He felt that maintaining a university was vital for the future training of seminary teachers. He saw the value in maintaining a corps of trained scholars who were well versed in the gospel. In addition he felt that a church university would be a light to the world, functioning as a showcase for the academic achievements of church members. During his service he encouraged Sidney B. Sperry
Sidney B. Sperry
Sidney Branton Sperry was one of three scholars who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who began the scholarly and systematic study of the Book of Mormon in the mid-20th century — the other two being John L. Sorenson and Hugh W. Nibley...
, Russel B. Swensen, and others to seek higher degrees at the University of Chicago. Upon their return, Merrill sent these men to BYU, where they formed the school’s first department of religion .
In 1930, state high school inspector I. L. Williamson issued a highly critical report on the relationships between seminaries and public high schools in Utah. Influenced by this report, the Utah State Board of Education initially moved to suspend released time privileges statewide. Merrill led the charge to ensure the continuation of released time, speaking before the State Board to convince them of the benefits and legality of seminary. When the Board voted on the issue in 1931, both released time and credit for Bible study were retained. With most of the LDS Church schools gone by this point, Merrill’s quick action ensured the survival of what would become the dominant form of religious education in the church.
Merrill also dealt with the effects of the Great Depression, cutting costs in education. Rather than laying off employees, Merrill asked all members of church education to take pay cuts. During his service, church spending was cut nearly in half.
Mission president
When he left in 1933 to serve as presidentMission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church, Merrill passed his fiscal philosophies on to the missionaries serving under him. He succeeded John A. Widtsoe
John A. Widtsoe
John Andreas Widtsoe was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1921 until his death. Widtsoe was also a noted author, scientist, and academician.-Early life:...
in this office. One of them, future church president Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
, cited Merrill’s influence as a major factor in his financial thinking. J. Wyley Sessions called Merrill the “most economical, conservative General Authority of this dispensation.”
Despite the hard times he saw during his tenure as commissioner, Merrill took great joy in his work. Upon his call as commissioner he said:
"Again may I say that I believe there is no kind of education in the world that is so fine and so elevating and so good and so important as religious education. And I believe that nowhere in the world is there a system of religious education that is equal in its quality, in its thoroughness and in its comprehensiveness to the system of education that is being undertaken in this Church. The time will come, I verily believe, and before very many years, when week-day religious education will be offered to every high school boy and girl, to every college and university boy and girl in this Church."
Later life
Merrill served as an apostle until his death in 1952 in Salt Lake City from coronary thrombosisCoronary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis is a form of thrombosis affecting the coronary circulation. It is associated with stenosis subsequent to clotting. The condition is considered as a type of ischaemic heart disease.It can lead to a myocardial infarction...
. Upon his death, Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
offered the following tribute: “I marveled at his energy. Apparently he never got tired; he loved the truth. He loved the truth of science, but he loved more the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ ... He had a strong will, was pronounced in his opinions, but he was always submissive to the majority decisions of his brethren.” Merrill 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...
.