Preston Nibley
Encyclopedia
Preston Nibley was an American
religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and wrote several books on the church, including several pieces of devotional literature
.
and one of his wives, the former Ellen Ricks. Nibley was born in Logan
, Utah Territory
. From 1903 to 1906 he served as a LDS Church missionary
in the German Empire
, including eighteen months as president of the Berlin
Conference
.
Nibley accompanied Joseph F. Smith
on his 1906 trip to Nauvoo, Illinois
, where Smith told him of having seen one of the Joseph Smith Papyri
rolled out in the Mansion House
.
From 1906 to 1907, Nibley was a student at the University of Chicago
. He then returned to Logan, Utah, and in 1908 he married Anna Parkinson, with whom he had three children. They moved to Salt Lake City in 1911, where he became involved in real estate and manufacturing.
Nibley served as corresponding secretary of the Utah State Historical Society
around 1920.
From 1937 to 1940, Nibley served as president
of the Northwestern States Mission
. Shortly after becoming mission president in 1937, he counseled LDS Church members in Eugene, Oregon
to begin building a chapel. Nibley was succeeded as mission president by Nicholas G. Smith
.
During 1957 to 1963, Nibley served as an Assistant Church Historian under Joseph Fielding Smith
.
's History of Joseph Smith
.
Among many other works, Nibley compiled some of the writings and sermons of George Albert Smith
which were then published under the title Sharing the Gospel with Others.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and wrote several books on the church, including several pieces of devotional literature
Devotional literature
Devotional literature is religious writing that is neither doctrinal nor theological, but designed for individuals to read for their personal edification and spiritual formation....
.
Biography
Nibley was a son of Charles W. NibleyCharles W. Nibley
Charles Wilson Nibley was the fifth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1907 and 1925 and a member of the church's First Presidency from 1925 until his death....
and one of his wives, the former Ellen Ricks. Nibley was born in Logan
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...
, 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....
. From 1903 to 1906 he served as a LDS Church missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
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 the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, including eighteen months as president of the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
Conference
District (LDS Church)
A district of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative unit composed of a number of congregations called branches. A district is a subdivision of a mission of the church and in many ways is analogous to a stake of the church. The leader of a district is the...
.
Nibley accompanied Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
on his 1906 trip to Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
, where Smith told him of having seen one of the Joseph Smith Papyri
Joseph Smith Papyri
The Joseph Smith Papyri are eleven Egyptian papyrus fragments which were once owned by Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism...
rolled out in the Mansion House
Joseph Smith Mansion House
The Joseph Smith Mansion House in Nauvoo, Illinois is a building constructed by Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith used the house as a personal home, a public boarding house, a hotel, and as a site for the performance of temple ordinances.In January 1841, Smith...
.
From 1906 to 1907, Nibley was a student 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...
. He then returned to Logan, Utah, and in 1908 he married Anna Parkinson, with whom he had three children. They moved to Salt Lake City in 1911, where he became involved in real estate and manufacturing.
Nibley served as corresponding secretary of the Utah State Historical Society
Utah State Historical Society
The Utah State Historical Society, founded in 1897 and now part of the Government of Utah, United States, encourages the research, study, and publication of Utah history....
around 1920.
Church service
In 1919, Nibley was appointed as a member of the general board of the church's Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association.From 1937 to 1940, Nibley served as president
Mission 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 Northwestern States 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...
. Shortly after becoming mission president in 1937, he counseled LDS Church members in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
to begin building a chapel. Nibley was succeeded as mission president by Nicholas G. Smith
Nicholas G. Smith
Nicholas Groesbeck Smith was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, Smith was the son of LDS Church Apostle John Henry Smith and Josephine Groesbeck...
.
During 1957 to 1963, Nibley served as an Assistant Church Historian under 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...
.
Published work
Nibley wrote Brigham Young: The Man and His Work (originally published in 1936), as well as a collection of stories on the presidents of the LDS Church and a collection of missionary experiences. He also edited and published an edition of Lucy Mack SmithLucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith was the mother of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. She is most noted for writing an award-winning memoir: Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations. She was an important leader of the movement during...
's History of Joseph Smith
The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother
-References:...
.
Among many other works, Nibley compiled some of the writings and sermons of George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith, Sr. was the eighth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
which were then published under the title Sharing the Gospel with Others.
Sources
- Andrew JensonAndrew JensonAndrew Jenson, born Anders Jensen, was a Danish immigrant to the United States who acted as an Assistant Church Historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for much of the early-twentieth century...
. LDS Biographical Encyclopedia. Vol. 3, p. 686. - Friends of the HBLL item mentioning Preston Nibley
- J. Spencer CornwallJ. Spencer CornwallJoseph Spencer Cornwall was a conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the mid-20th century.Cornwall was born at Mill Creek, Utah Territory....
. Stories of Our Mormon Hymns, p. 58. - history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eugene, Oregon