T. Edgar Lyon
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edgar "Ed" Lyon was a prominent Latter-day Saint historian and educator. He is most noted for his work on 19th century Latter-day Saint history. He also wrote on Latter-day Saint doctrine
.
Lyon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. At age nine he began working in his father's print shop and at age 12 he began to spend summers doing ranch work in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Lyon graduated from LDS High School
in Salt Lake City. He studied for two years at the University of Utah
and then left on a mission
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Netherlands
. He was set apart
as a missionary by Melvin J. Ballard
.
After his mission, Lyon resumed his studies at the University of Utah. In 1927 he married Laura Hermana Forsberg. They became the parents of six children, David Waldemar Lyon (born 9 July 1928), John Lyon (20 June 1930 – 15 October 2009), twins born in Holland on 17 February 1934: A. Laurence Lyon
(died 8 November 2006) and James Karl Lyon; and twins born 13 May 1939: T. Edgar "Ted" Lyon Jr. and Joseph Lynn Lyon.
After receiving his bachelor's degree
from the University of Utah, Lyon taught high school for a year in Rigby, Idaho
. He then became a seminary principal in the Church Educational System
. In 1930, Lyon began work on a master's degree
at the University of Chicago
which he completed in 1932, writing his thesis on Orson Pratt
.
Lyon then served for a short time as a professor at Ricks College. In November 1933 he took over as president
of the Netherlands Mission
of the LDS Church from Frank I. Kooyman
.
After his term as mission president, Lyon became a member of the faculty of the Salt Lake LDS Institute of Religion
which largely consisted of students at the University of Utah. Lyon received his Ph.D.
in history from the University of Utah in 1962.
Lyon wrote several articles about early Latter-day Saint history, primarily the Nauvoo
period. His Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants was used as the Melchizedek priesthood
manual in 1960. From 1968–1969, he was President of the Mormon History Association
. He also worked in the 1970s as a research historian for Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. and did extensive research for a book on the history of Nauvoo. After Lyon's death in 1978, Glen M. Leonard
took over the project, and had it published as Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, a People of Promise.
The Mormon History Association
has named its award for excellent article on Mormon history after Lyon.
Beliefs and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints focuses its doctrine and teaching on Jesus Christ; that he was the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, performed miracles, bled from every pore in the Garden of Gethsemane, died on the cross, rose on the third day, appeared...
.
Lyon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. At age nine he began working in his father's print shop and at age 12 he began to spend summers doing ranch work in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Lyon graduated from LDS High School
LDS High School
LDS High School was a secondary school located in Salt Lake City, Utah operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The school was closely associated with Latter-day Saints' University, the last vestiges of which are now LDS Business College...
in Salt Lake City. He studied for two years 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...
and then left on 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...
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He was set apart
Setting apart
Setting apart is an ordinance or ritual in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whereby a person is formally chosen and blessed to carry out a specific calling or responsibility in the church....
as a missionary by Melvin J. Ballard
Melvin J. Ballard
Melvin Joseph Ballard was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was born in Logan, Utah Territory. His grandson, M. Russell Ballard, was also ordained an apostle.Prior to his birth, his mother had an experience that led her to believe...
.
After his mission, Lyon resumed his studies at the University of Utah. In 1927 he married Laura Hermana Forsberg. They became the parents of six children, David Waldemar Lyon (born 9 July 1928), John Lyon (20 June 1930 – 15 October 2009), twins born in Holland on 17 February 1934: A. Laurence Lyon
A. Laurence Lyon
A. Laurence Lyon was a prolific composer of music, usually sacred music with a Latter-day Saint theme. He also served for 30 years as a professor at Western Oregon University.Lyon was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands where his father, T...
(died 8 November 2006) and James Karl Lyon; and twins born 13 May 1939: T. Edgar "Ted" Lyon Jr. and Joseph Lynn Lyon.
After receiving his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of Utah, Lyon taught high school for a year in Rigby, Idaho
Rigby, Idaho
Rigby is a small city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,998 at the 2000 census.The larger "Rigby area" includes such outlying unincorporated communities as Annis, Garfield, Grant, Labelle, and Clark...
. He then became a seminary principal in 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 1930, Lyon began work on a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
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...
which he completed in 1932, writing his thesis on Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles...
.
Lyon then served for a short time as a professor at Ricks College. In November 1933 he took over 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 Netherlands 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 from Frank I. Kooyman
Frank I. Kooyman
Frank Iemke Kooyman was a hymnwriter who wrote several hymns used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
.
After his term as mission president, Lyon became a member of the faculty of the Salt Lake LDS Institute 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...
which largely consisted of students at the University of Utah. Lyon received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in history from the University of Utah in 1962.
Lyon wrote several articles about early Latter-day Saint history, primarily the Nauvoo
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...
period. His Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants was used as the Melchizedek priesthood
Melchizedek priesthood
The Melchizedek priesthood is the greater of the two orders of priesthood recognized in Mormonism. The others are the Aaronic priesthood and the rarely recognized Patriarchal priesthood...
manual in 1960. From 1968–1969, he was President of the Mormon History Association
Mormon History Association
The Mormon History Association is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field...
. He also worked in the 1970s as a research historian for Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. and did extensive research for a book on the history of Nauvoo. After Lyon's death in 1978, Glen M. Leonard
Glen M. Leonard
Glen Milton Leonard is an American historian specializing in Mormon history.- Background :Leonard is a native of Farmington, Utah. He received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Utah. For a time he was managing editor of Utah Historical Quarterly. He has taught at both Brigham Young...
took over the project, and had it published as Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, a People of Promise.
The Mormon History Association
Mormon History Association
The Mormon History Association is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field...
has named its award for excellent article on Mormon history after Lyon.