Theodore B. Lewis
Encyclopedia
Theodore Belden Lewis (November 18, 1843 – July 20, 1899) was an early Mormon
leader who was called and sustained
to the Presidency of the Seventy, but never served in the office and was not set apart
.
, Missouri
and was orphaned at a young age. He attended Central College
in Howard County and Fairview Academy.
When the American Civil War
broke out, Lewis joined the Army of the West and participated in the Battle of Booneville
and later engagements before his December 19, 1861 capture by Union forces
. He was paroled the next spring after serving in Gratiot Street Prison
and began studying law.
Lewis moved to Utah Territory
to teach in 1865 and converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the next year. He served a mission
to the Southern States
, then in 1870 began teaching at a school that later became Brigham Young Academy.
In the October 1882, general conference of the church, following the custom of the day, he was issued a surprise calling to become a Seventy and serve as one of the quorum's seven presidents. The congregation sustained him. However, as he was about to be set apart the next day, he reported he had already been ordained a high priest and was therefore not set apart, and never served in the quorum presidency.
He died in Boston, Massachusetts from complications following surgery.
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...
leader who was called and sustained
Common consent
Common consent is a democratic principle established by the Latter Day Saint movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., who taught in 1830 that "all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith." As it is most frequently used by the Church of Jesus Christ of...
to the Presidency of the Seventy, but never served in the office and was not 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....
.
Biography
Lewis was born in St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and was orphaned at a young age. He attended Central College
Central Methodist University
Central Methodist University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Fayette, Missouri. CMU is an accredited four year institution of higher education and offers masters, bachelors, and associates degrees...
in Howard County and Fairview Academy.
When the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
broke out, Lewis joined the Army of the West and participated in the Battle of Booneville
Battle of Booneville
The Battle of Booneville was fought on July 1, 1862, in Booneville, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. It occurred in the aftermath of the Union victory at the Battle of Shiloh and within the context of Confederate General Braxton Bragg's efforts to recapture the rail junction at Corinth,...
and later engagements before his December 19, 1861 capture by Union forces
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. He was paroled the next spring after serving in Gratiot Street Prison
Gratiot Street Prison
Gratiot Street Prison was an American Civil War prison located in St. Louis, Missouri and was the largest war prison in Missouri.Run by the Union Army, it housed Confederate prisoners-of-war, confederate sympathizers, guerrillas, spies, and Federal soldiers accused of crimes. It is well known for...
and began studying law.
Lewis moved to 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....
to teach in 1865 and converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the next year. He served 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...
to the Southern States
Southern States
Southern States may refer to:*Southern United States*Southern States Cooperative*The independent states of the South in the North-South divide*The independent states of the Southern hemisphere...
, then in 1870 began teaching at a school that later became Brigham Young Academy.
In the October 1882, general conference of the church, following the custom of the day, he was issued a surprise calling to become a Seventy and serve as one of the quorum's seven presidents. The congregation sustained him. However, as he was about to be set apart the next day, he reported he had already been ordained a high priest and was therefore not set apart, and never served in the quorum presidency.
He died in Boston, Massachusetts from complications following surgery.