Facts about President Heber J. Grant, 7th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
How blessed we are to be led by inspired prophets in these latter-days. Though we mourn the passing of one of our beloved leaders, our sorrow is tempered by the assurance that we will be guided by yet another of the Lord’s chosen leaders. It is reassuring to know that our leaders are men of sound judgment, great spiritual insight, and that they have presided in the leading councils of our church for many years. Such has definitely been the case with all of our prophets through the history of the Church. We love and sustain these great leaders, having watched their remarkable service to the church, to its members, and to the Lord for many years.
Following are some interesting facts and insights into the leadership and experience of President Heber J. Grant, as presented by Trent Toone.
Heber J. Grant lived through remarkable changes, from travel by oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages and mail delivered by stagecoach to an era of cars, airplanes, telephones, and radios. Also, he was the first prophet born in Utah and the last to have practiced plural marriage. He was born on November 22, 1856, in Salt Lake City to Jedediah M. Grant, an Apostle who served in the First Presidency, and Rachel Grant. His father died when Heber was 9 days old, and he was raised by his widowed mother. By age 15, Heber began a business career as a blank clerk and was ordained as a Seventy. At age 23, he became president of the Tooele Utah Stake. On October 16, 1882, the 25-year old Elder Grant was ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Later, he served missions in the southwestern Untied States, opened a mission in Japan and led a mission in Europe. During the panic of 1893, Elder Grant secured loans that saved the Church form default and many members from serious financial problems. He became the 7th President of the Church on November 23, 1918. During his administration, President Grant dedicated three temples, those being in Hawaii, Alberta Canada, and Arizona, he purchased the Hill Cumorah and Peter Whitmer farm, and established the Church Welfare Plan. President Grant guided the Church through the Great Depression and World War II. He used his business experience to modernize Church organizations and procedures. He worked to improve relations with those outside the Church, frequently speaking at civic and business events and being attentive to other’s feelings. By the time the Church welfare plan was introduced in 1936, the Church community ws seen as a model rather than a threat. After 27 years as President, President Grant died in Salt Lake City on May 14, 1945.
Click here to return to the Prophets menu
Click here to return to the Apostles Menu page
Click here to return to the Main Menu page