Stephen L. Chipman
Encyclopedia
Stephen L. Chipman was a member of the Utah State Legislature
in 1903 and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Utah County
. He was also the first president
of the Salt Lake Temple
who was not also an apostle in the LDS Church.
Chipman studied at Brigham Young Academy (the predecessor of Brigham Young University
(BYU)) as a youth. From 1885 to 1887 he served as a Mormon missionary
in the Southern States Mission
of the LDS Church, spending most of his time as a missionary in North Carolina
, Tennessee
and Virginia
. In 1885, before he left on his mission, Chipman had married Sine Nielsen. They eventually became the parents of seven children.
Chipman at various times served as a member of the city council of American Fork, Utah
, a member of the Utah County Commission, and in 1903 began serving in the Utah State Legislature. Chipman was primarily involved in mercantile pursuits, for many years being the manager of the Chipman Mercantile Institution in American Fork. He also held several positions in the LDS Church's Sunday School
, was a counselor to a ward bishop, and was a member of the high council of the Utah Stake (named such because at that time it took in all of Utah County).
When the Utah Stake was split into three stakes in 1901, Chipman was made the president of the new Alpine Stake. This stake included all of Utah County north of Provo
. Despite its name, this stake was headquartered in American Fork, and not in Alpine, Utah
, although the latter town was within the stake's boundaries. Over the years this stake has been divided into about 50 stakes.
In 1938, Chipman was called as president of the Salt Lake Temple. He succeeded apostle George F. Richards
in this position. The four men who had served in this position prior to Chipman had all been apostles at the time of their service. Chipman served as president of the Salt Lake Temple until 1945, when he was succeeded by apostle Joseph Fielding Smith
.
One of the Helaman Halls at BYU is named after Chipman.
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...
in 1903 and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Utah County
Utah County, Utah
Utah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000, the population was 368,536 and by 2008 was estimated at 530,837. It was named for the Spanish name for the Ute Indians. The county seat and largest city is Provo...
. He was also the first president
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
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,...
who was not also an apostle in the LDS Church.
Chipman studied at Brigham Young Academy (the predecessor of 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)) as a youth. From 1885 to 1887 he served as a Mormon missionary
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 the Southern 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...
of the LDS Church, spending most of his time as a missionary in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. In 1885, before he left on his mission, Chipman had married Sine Nielsen. They eventually became the parents of seven children.
Chipman at various times served as a member of the city council of American Fork, Utah
American Fork, Utah
American Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, at the foot of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range, north of Utah Lake. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 26,263 at the 2010 census, nearly a 20% growth since the 2000 census...
, a member of the Utah County Commission, and in 1903 began serving in the Utah State Legislature. Chipman was primarily involved in mercantile pursuits, for many years being the manager of the Chipman Mercantile Institution in American Fork. He also held several positions in the LDS Church's Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
, was a counselor to a ward bishop, and was a member of the high council of the Utah Stake (named such because at that time it took in all of Utah County).
When the Utah Stake was split into three stakes in 1901, Chipman was made the president of the new Alpine Stake. This stake included all of Utah County north of Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. Despite its name, this stake was headquartered in American Fork, and not in Alpine, Utah
Alpine, Utah
Alpine is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9555 at the 2010 census. Alpine has been one of the many quickly-growing cities of Utah since the 1970s, and especially the 1990s. It is located on the...
, although the latter town was within the stake's boundaries. Over the years this stake has been divided into about 50 stakes.
In 1938, Chipman was called as president of the Salt Lake Temple. He succeeded apostle 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...
in this position. The four men who had served in this position prior to Chipman had all been apostles at the time of their service. Chipman served as president of the Salt Lake Temple until 1945, when he was succeeded by apostle 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...
.
One of the Helaman Halls at BYU is named after Chipman.