Lifespan

Born November 22, 1856 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Died May 14, 1945 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

At age 23, Heber J. Grant was called to be a stake president. Two years later, he was ordained an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 1883-84, he served a mission to the American Indians, and from 1901-06, Heber was the president of the first mission in Japan, then president of the British and European Mission. At age 60, he became the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and at age 62 was sustained as President of the Church, where he served for the next 26 years.

Preparation and Calling

Heber’s father, Morgan (who was a counselor to President Brigham Young), died nine days after Heber’s birth. Heber was raised by his widowed mother, Rachel. He learned from this upbringing to work hard, become self-sufficient during hard times, and to have great empathy for those who had to struggle through life.

Interaction with God

President Grant frequently sought the direction of the Lord while going about doing good himself. His was a practical religion, filled with generosity and dedicated service, but little is known of his actual interactions with Deity.

Social Situation

President Grant oversaw the Church during the Great Depression. He established a welfare system within the Church that became a model for assistance that has been admired by governments and other organizations around the world. Instead of simply handing out welfare assistance, he created a system “under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self respect be once more established amongs our people” (in Conference Report, 1936, p. 3).

Key Teachings

President Grant was well known for his strength of personal commitment, self-mastery, and willpower. He saw the Church through the challenges of war, the Great Depression, and rapid membership growth.

Lifespan

Born November 13, 1838 in Far West, Missouri.

Died November 19, 1918 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Joseph F. Smith served his first mission from ages 15-19 in the Hawaiian Islands. At age 21, he left for over three years on a mission in England. In May of 1866 (age 27), he married Julina Lambson, and was ordained an apostle and counselor to President Brigham Young less than two months later. He would go on to serve as counselor to Presidents John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow. He also served as president of the European Mission twice during his 30s. In 1901 at age 62 he was sustained as President of the Church. He passed away in Salt Lake City at age 80.

Preparation and Calling

Joseph F. Smith is the son of Hyrum Smith, brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith. His father was martyred with Joseph Smith when Joseph F. was but five years old. Four years later he drove an ox cart from Iowa to the Salt Lake Valley, about 1,000 miles. At age 13, he was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; four months later his mother died. He served multiple missions for the Church, and was a counselor to four Church Presidents before being sustained as President himself at age 62.

Interaction with God

Joseph F. Smith was known for his attentiveness to the influence of the Holy Spirit and often bore witness of his testimony received through the witness of the Holy Ghost. Six weeks before he passed away, he received a vision and revelation from God regarding the redemption of the dead.

Social Situation

Under President Smith’s direction, the Church was able to pay off its debts and begin to expand through building temples, chapels, and historic visitors’ centers and similar sites. President Smith also directed members of the Church to no longer move to Utah to build up Zion, but rather to stay in their own countries and build up the Church there. The Church was beginning to emerge from poverty and persecution and enter a period of growth and improved acceptance in some areas.

Key Teachings

Joseph F. Smith was well spoken, warm, and passionate in bearing witness of his Savior Jesus Christ. His many years of service as a General Authority qualified him to understand well the workings of the Church, and his administration was marked by the growth of both the spiritual and physical aspects of the Church. His  explanations of key doctrines stand yet today as a bulwark of scripture-based thought regarding such teachings as the identity and nature of the Godhead, the plan of salvation, the roles of Adam and Eve, and the eternal nature of the family. In 1915 he instituted a program that continues to be a hallmark of the Church: a “home evening” when parents gather their children for instruction, entertainment, and togetherness.

Lifespan

Born April 3, 1814 in Mantua, Ohio.

Died October 10, 1901 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Lorenzo Snow performed missionary service in Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Great Britain before the age of 30. At age 34 he was ordained an Apostle by Heber C. Kimball. In his 30s, he served a mission to Italy, England, Switzerland, and Malta. At 50 he served in the Hawaiian Islands. From ages 59-63 he served in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and at 71 served a mission to the Indians of the northwestern United States. At age 84, in 1898, he was sustained as President of the Church, and died at age 87. (more…)

Lifespan

Born March 1, 1807 in Avon (Farmington), Connecticut.

Died September 2, 1898 in San Francisco, California.

Ministry

Wilford Woodruff was baptized in an icy stream in New York at the age of 26. He served missions to the southern United States, the eastern United States (twice) and the Fox Islands, Great Britain, and Europe in general. He was ordained an Apostle at age 32 by Brigham Young. At age 80, he led the Church as President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and in 1889 was ordained President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 82. He died at age 91.

Preparation and Calling

Wilford Woodruff served proselyting missions in the southern and eastern United States and in Great Britain. He was mission president over all of Europe. He may have been one of the most successful missionaries in terms of number of converts that the Church has ever had. He led the Church for two years as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before being ordained as its President.

Interaction with God

President Woodruff was dedicated to saving God’s children, both through missionary work and through the saving ordinances of the temple. He was sensitive to the Spirit and received several visions during his time as prophet. However, he was said: “I have been blessed at times with certain gifts and graces, certain revelations and ministrations; but with them I have never found anything that I could place more dependency upon than the still small voice of the Holy Ghost” (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, 45).

Social Situation

Government and social persecution of the Church over the doctrine of plural marriage was the Church’s greatest challenge. After pleading with God for guidance on how to lead the faithful members concerning this persecution, President Woodruff was shown in vision what would happen to the Church if plural marriage was not ended-the federal government would confiscate Church property, including the temples, and bring to end the important ordinances that the Church taught was essential to salvation. That very evening, President Woodruff wrote the inspired document that became known as the Manifesto, which ended plural marriage in the Church.

Key Teachings

Wilford Woodruff was best known for two principle things: a document known as the Manifesto that ended plural marriage for members of the Church, and a dedication to temple and family history work (including dedicating the Manti and Salt Lake Temples).

Lifespan

Born June 1, 1801 in Whitingham, Vermont.

Died August 29, 1877 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

As the successor to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young led the great westward movement of the Mormons from Illinois to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Known as something of an American Moses for his role in bringing the Latter-day Saints through the wilderness of western North America, he initiated settlements throughout the American West, including Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and California. His ministry was not only spiritual but also quite practical as he oversaw the growth of the LDS religion as well as the economic development of the Great Basin Region.

Preparation and Calling

Brigham Young joined the Church at age 30 after considerable study and prayer concerning the Book of Mormon. He was not easily persuaded, but once he knew of its truth, he could not be swayed. He served a mission to Canada at age 31, was ordained an Apostle at age 33, was sustained as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at age 38 (then served a mission to Great Britain from ages 38-40), and became the leader of the Church at age 43 after Joseph Smith’s death on 27 June 1844.

Interaction with God

Brigham Young was a practical man who was given perhaps more to impressions and thoughts than visions. He was known to have had dreams, however, that were inspired of God. He was also given the gift of prophecy, and in accord with that gift saw with his spiritual eye the future development of the Church in the Great Salt Lake Valley and elsewhere.

Social Situation

Much of President Young’s time was spent colonizing the Great Basin Area of the Intermountain Western United States. He sent hundreds of faithful members of the Church to create settlements. He also negotiated the political development of the territory into statehood at a time when many national leaders were opposed to the Church.

Key Teachings

President Brigham Young taught that one should always be courageous in doing the work of the Lord. Whether settling a new area, serving a mission in any part of the world, or obeying a mother’s request to take food to a needy neighbor, one should do so filled with the Spirit of God, trusting that His will must be done and He will provide.

Lifespan

Born December 23, 1805 in Sharon, Vermont.

Died June 27, 1844 in Carthage, Illinois, at the hands of a mob.

Ministry

As founder and first President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith created communities of Church members in New York, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. He served as the leader of the Church from the day it was organized on April 6, 1830, until he was martyred on June 27, 1844.

Preparation and Calling

At age 14, Joseph Smith sought God for help in finding the “true” organized religion in his area. In answer to that prayer, he saw in vision God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Three years later, he began a tutelage by an angel named Moroni, who would visit and instruct him at regular yearly intervals for the next four years. On September 27, 1827, Joseph Smith was given possession of the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, and his ministry was underway.

Interaction with God

Joseph Smith received open visions and felt the quiet whisperings of the Holy Ghost. He prophesied, pondered, prayed, and received answers to those prayers. He was familiar with the appearance of angels, and he translated ancient records through the gift of the Spirit. The records of his interactions with Deity provide something of an instructional manual of how one is to talk with God.

Social Situation

In Frontier America, religious reformation was a very active issue. Under heavenly direction, Joseph Smith began a church with remarkable doctrine and vision. As the church grew, local communities became uneasy, even fearful, of the political and spiritual influence being exercised by the “Mormons.” As a result, those communities persecuted and killed Church members, including killing Joseph Smith himself in June, 1844. Under the direction of Brigham Young, Joseph’s successor, the Church moved west to the Great Salt Lake Valley and it surrounding environs.

Key Teachings

Joseph Smith taught clearly of the nature of the Godhead and mankind’s relationship to them. He taught that Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate and distinct beings, united in purpose. Man’s purpose is to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, qualifying through righteous living and the grace of Christ to regain the Father’s presence in the afterlife, where all of His richest blessings can be bestowed on him. Joseph also emphasized the importance of priesthood authority in governing the Church and conducting its ordinances.