Orson F. Whitney
Encyclopedia
Orson Ferguson Whitney (1 July 1855 – 16 May 1931) 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 (LDS Church) from April 9, 1906 until his death.
. His mother, Kimball, was married in secret to Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement
, in May 1843 when she was 14 years old. After Smith's death in 1844, Kimball was "married for time" to Horace Whitney. Whitney's father, Horace, had set type for the original publication of the Deseret News.
, later becoming a reporter and the city editor. During a mission
in Europe
for the LDS Church from 1881 to 1883, he acted as editor of the church publication Millennial Star
. In 1896–1897, Whitney taught English and Theology at Brigham Young College
, in Logan, Utah
.
In 1899, Whitney accepted the position of Assistant Church Historian
and served in that position until he was called as an apostle.
Whitney was also involved in the politics of Salt Lake City and Utah
. He served on the Salt Lake City Council in 1880, acted as City Treasurer from 1884 to 1890, and served as a State Senator in 1898, and again in 1901.
s, including "The Wintry Day, Descending to Its Close", (music composed by Edward P. Kimball) and "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" (music by Harry A. Dean) appearing as hymns #37 and 112, respectively, in the 1985 edition of the LDS Church hymnal
.
Whitney's historical works, although detailed, well researched and presented, are written from a Mormon
perspective and are generally considered "locked in the ironclad orthodoxy" of Mormonism.
Publications include:
disagreed with the manifesto
forbidding plural marriage
; Matthias F. Cowley
felt that it should apply only to the United States
. In February of the next year, Marriner W. Merrill
died, leaving three vacancies in the quorum.
At a general conference of the church, Whitney was called on April 8, 1906, and ordained the following day, along with George F. Richards
and David O. McKay
.
. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, 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....
, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 9, 1906 until his death.
Early life
Whitney was the son of Horace K. Whitney and Helen Mar KimballHelen Mar Kimball
Helen Mar Kimball was a wife of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Early life:...
. His mother, Kimball, was married in secret to Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, in May 1843 when she was 14 years old. After Smith's death in 1844, Kimball was "married for time" to Horace Whitney. Whitney's father, Horace, had set type for the original publication of the Deseret News.
Background
Whitney was a politician, journalist, poet, historian and academic. In 1878, as a young man, Whitney began a career in writing with the business office of the LDS newspaper, the Deseret NewsDeseret Morning News
The Deseret News is a newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is Utah's oldest continuously published daily newspaper. It has the second largest daily circulation in the state behind The Salt Lake Tribune. The Deseret News is owned by Deseret News Publishing Company, a subsidiary of...
, later becoming a reporter and the city editor. During a mission
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in 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...
for the LDS Church from 1881 to 1883, he acted as editor of the church publication Millennial Star
Millennial Star
The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star was the longest continuously published periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being printed from 1840 until 1970....
. In 1896–1897, Whitney taught English and Theology at 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...
, in 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...
.
In 1899, Whitney accepted the position of Assistant Church Historian
Church Historian and Recorder
Church Historian and Recorder is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The role of the Church Historian and Recorder is to keep an accurate and comprehensive record of the church and its activities...
and served in that position until he was called as an apostle.
Whitney was also involved in the politics of Salt Lake City and 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...
. He served on the Salt Lake City Council in 1880, acted as City Treasurer from 1884 to 1890, and served as a State Senator in 1898, and again in 1901.
Writing
Whitney produced the lyrics to LDS Church hymnHymn
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...
s, including "The Wintry Day, Descending to Its Close", (music composed by Edward P. Kimball) and "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" (music by Harry A. Dean) appearing as hymns #37 and 112, respectively, in the 1985 edition of the LDS Church 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 ....
.
Whitney's historical works, although detailed, well researched and presented, are written from a 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...
perspective and are generally considered "locked in the ironclad orthodoxy" of Mormonism.
Publications include:
- The Life of Heber C. Kimball (1888) online
- Poetical Writings (1889–90)
- History of Utah (4 Volumes) Vol. 1 Vol. 2 Vol. 4
- Elias: An Epic of the Ages (1904) online
- Love and the Light: An Idyll of the Westland (1918)
Calling
In 1905, two members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles resigned over a dispute with church doctrine and policy. John W. TaylorJohn Whittaker Taylor
John Whittaker Taylor was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the son of John Taylor, the third president of the church...
disagreed with the 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...
forbidding plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
; Matthias F. Cowley
Matthias F. Cowley
Matthias Foss Cowley , 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 from 1897 until 1905. The town of Cowley in Wyoming is named after him. He was the father of Apostle Matthew Cowley by Abbie Hyde. ...
felt that it should apply only to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In February of the next year, Marriner W. Merrill
Marriner 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 ....
died, leaving three vacancies in the quorum.
At a general conference of the church, Whitney was called on April 8, 1906, and ordained the following day, along with George F. Richards
George F. Richards
George Franklin Richards was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from April 9, 1906 until his death...
and 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...
.
Death
Whitney died in Salt Lake City after being hospitalized for influenzaInfluenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
. 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...
.