A Pictorial History of Mormonism | Temples of the LDS Church | Part III

Alas! Part III in my LDS temple series. Read on for pictures and interesting facts about each of the existing 140 temples and their place in the history of the LDS Church. (For other parts in this series, scroll to the bottom for nifty directory!)

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple
Location: Friedrichsdorf, Hesse, Germany
Dedicated: August 1987 by Ezra Taft Benson
Fun Fact: The week that the ground was broken for this temple was very busy for Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then First Counselor to the Prophet Ezra Taft Benson. President Hinckley had dedicated the Freiberg Germany Temple just the day before, and the day after Frankfurt's groundbreaking he had gone to Sweden to dedicate the Stockholm Temple

42. Portland Oregon Temple

Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Dedicated: August 1989 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The open house for the Portland Temple drew an unprecedented 314,000+ visitors, at the time, a record-setter.

43. Las Vegas Nevada Temple

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Dedicated: December 1989 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The lobby of the Las Vegas Temple has an architectural element known as a "whispering gallery". The ceiling is shaped in a parabola which allows sound waves to travel and spread throughout the area enclosed by the dome. If a person standing directly beneath the edge of the dome whispers gently, another person standing under the opposite edge of the dome (a few meters away) can hear them clearly, as if they were right next to each other.

44. Toronto Ontario Temple

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dedicated: August 1990 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Due to the cultural diversity of the area, the dedication services were translated from English into six other languages: French, Spanish Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean.

45. San Diego California Temple

Location: San Diego, California, USA
Dedicated: April 1993 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Crushing the record for the Portland Oregon Temple's open house, the San Diego Temple's open house brought in  over 720,000 visitors

46.Orlando Florida Temple

Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
Dedicated: October 1994 by Howard W. Hunter
Fun Fact: Along with the Bountiful Temple, one of only two temples dedicated by the Prophet Howard W. Hunter during his brief ministry.

47. Bountiful Utah Temple

Location: Bountiful, Utah, USA
Dedicated: January 1995 by Howard W. Hunter
Fun Fact: Set a new record for open house attendance by attracting 870,000 visitors, who were guided on their tour by 45,000 volunteeers from the Church.

48. Hong Kong China Temple

Location: Hong Kong, China
Dedicated: May 1996 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Standing on a lot where a Church meetinghouse and a handful of other small Church buildings originally stood, the Hong Kong Temple was designed as the Church's first multipurpose temple, housing facilities for those other buildings within its walls.

49. Mount Timpanogas Utah Temple

Location: American Fork, Utah, USA
Dedicated: October 1996 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Mount Timpanogas temple was built to relieve some traffic from the heavily visited Provo Temple. Many members wished to attend the dedicatory service, so the building had to be dedicated over 27 sessions.

50. St. Louis Missouri Temple

Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Dedicated: January 1997 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The establishment of this Temple constituted a moment of healing and forgiveness for the Latter-day Saints, who had fled Missouri in 1838 due to persecution. The temple generated much interest and articles were written about it in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and in USA Today.

51. Vernal Utah Temple

Location: Vernal, Utah, USA
Dedicated: November 1997 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: This is the first temple to be made from an already-standing building. The building was originally a large meetinghouse, or "tabernacle" for the Uintah Stake of the Church, built in 1907. The tabernacle was gutted, the interior was redesigned, and the iconic Angel Moroni Statue was placed on one of the tabernacle's spires.

52. Preston England Temple

Location: Preston, Lancashire, England
Dedicated: June 1998 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The second temple built in England, following the London Temple.

53. Monticello Utah Temple

Location: Monticello, Utah, USA
Dedicated: July 1998 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Monticello Temple originally featured a Moroni statue made from off-white colored granite similar to the stone of the rest of the building. Temple officials soon realized however, that the statue sort of melted into the background on cloudy days, so just a year later, the statue was replaced with a taller, more traditional gold-leafed version.

54. Anchorage Alaska Temple

Location: Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Dedicated: January 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: At 61.10152° N, this is the northernmost LDS temple worldwide.

55. Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Mexico Temple

Location: Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Dedicated: March 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: At the time this temple was being dedicated, the surrounding area was experiencing a severe drought. In his dedicatory prayer on the Colonia Juarez Temple, the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley asked God for a rain to fall and quench the dry landscape. After the final session of the dedication, it started to rain.

56. Madrid Spain Temple

Location: Madrid, Spain
Dedicated: March 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: In the same complex as the Madrid Spain Temple, reside a meetinghouse, a missionary training center, and another Church building. The plot is often referred to as the "Temple Square of Madrid".

57. Bogota Colombia Temple

Location: Bogota, Colombia
Dedicated: April 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Because of difficulty in finding a location that was both available and suitable for the temple's needs, nine years elapsed between the time this temple was announced and the groundbreaking ceremony.

58. Guayaquil Ecuador Temple

Location: Urdesa, Ecuador
Dedicated: August 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The first members to perform ordinances in this temple traveled ten hours by bus. They came from two different stakes, and almost filled the temple in one session.

59. Spokane Washington Temple

Location: Spokane, Washington, USA
Dedicated: August 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Spokane Temple's dedication, Mormons in the surrounding area strove to fill every seat of every ordinance through the entire day.

60. Columbus Ohio Temple

Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA
Dedicated: September 1999
Fun Fact: The white marble used to construct the Colombus Temple was quarried in the vicinity of Sharon, Vermont, the birthplace of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' founder Joseph Smith Jr.

Other parts in this series:
Part I
Part II
Part III
More to come...

A Pictorial History of Mormonism | Temples of the LDS Church | Part II

Hello, and welcome to the second installment of my temple series! My goal with this saga is to share the history of the Mormon church with members and non-members alike through pictures and interesting tidbits about each of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' many temples. (For other parts of this series, scroll to the bottom of this post)

21. Atlanta Georgia Temple
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Dedicated: June 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Many high-profile people were in attendance of this temple's open-house, among them Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves.

22. Apia Samoa Temple
Location: Apia, Tuamasaga, Samoa
Dedicated: August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: In 2003, the Apia Samoa Temple, while closed for maintenance, was destroyed when a fire broke out. About a week later, the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley announced plans to rebuild. The new temple was finished in 2005, still possessing most of the original architectural details of the original, though updated with a more practical floor plan. The statue of the Angel Moroni which stood atop the original temple's steeple survived the blaze, and was used on the new temple as well.

23. Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple
Location: Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga
Dedicated: August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Nuku'alofa Temple was under construction around the same time as the Apia Samoa Temple, and the two shared an arhcitectural layout until the Apia Samoa Temple was redesigned.

24. Santiago Chile Temple
Location: Santiago, Chile
Dedicated: September 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: This was the first temple built in a Spanish-speaking nation.

25. Papeete Tahiti Temple
Location: Papeete, Tahiti
Dedicated: October 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Before this establishment of a Tahitian temple, members of the Church would have to travel 2,500 miles if they wished to attend the nearest temple (Hamilton, New Zealand).

26. Mexico City Mexico Temple
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Dedicated: December 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact:  The Mexico City Temple is the largest temple outside of the United States, and recieved an international award for its artistic use of precast concrete. The University of Mexico's school of architecture has praised the temple, and given it much study.

27. Boise Idaho Temple
Location: Boise, Idaho, USA
Dedicated: May 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: For the year following its dedication, the Boise Idaho Temple operated at 102 percent of its capacity, showcasing the local members' pride in temple work.

28. Sydney Australia Temple
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Dedicated: September 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: When the Temple was built, the Australian government originally ruled that it had to be without the statue of the Angel Moroni. Members of the Church gave the matter much prayer and fasting, and a year later, the decision was overturned and the statue found its place atop the spire of the temple.

29. Manila Phillipines Temple
Location: Manila, Metro Manila, The Phillippines
Dedicated: September 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: A typhoon was headed directly for Manila the day before the groundbreaking was to take place. Prayers were said by the members, and the next day, the storm changed course, allowing the groundbreaking to happen as scheduled.

30. Dallas Texas Temple
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA
Dedicated: October 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Dallas Temple shares an architectural design with its counterparts in Boise, Idaho and Chicago, Illinois.

31. Taipei Taiwan Temple
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Dedicated: November 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Church officials made efforts to be respectful of the surrounding community in there design of this temple. The blue tile roof complements the nearby Chiang Kai-shek Memorial hall.

32.Guatemala City Guatemala Temple
Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala Department, Guatemala
Dedicated: November 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Some 3,700 free copies of the Book of Mormon were given to visitors of the temple open-house, and most of these books contained handwritten testimonies of Church members in Guatemala.

33. Freiberg Germany Temple
Location: Freiberg, Saxony, Germany
Dedicated: June 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Having been built in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the temple in Freiberg holds the distinction of the first, and so far only, temple built in a communist nation.

34. Stockholm Sweden Temple
Location: Stockholm, Södermanland, Sweden
Dedicated: July 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: In 1995, King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia visited the temple grounds, welcomed by the Prophet Thomas S. Monson.

35. Chicago Illinois Temple
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Dedicated: August 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Chicago Temple became the second to be built in the state of Illinois, the first being the Nauvoo Temple, which was destroyed by arson in 1848 and eventually rebuilt in 2002.

36. Johannesburg South Africa Temple
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Dedicated: August 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: This was the first temple built on the continent of Africa.

37. Seoul Korea Temple
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Dedicated: December 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Church and the people of Korea have a common passion for family history. It is an old tradition in Korea to remember and keep records of ones ancestors, and the LDS Church stresses family history to perform temple ordinances for ancestors that didn't have a chance in life to be exposed to the gospel, but would have accepted it had they been given the chance. Thanks to this shared interest, one Korean Mormon was able to offer his own ancestral records dating all the way back to 927 AD.

38. Lima Peru Temple
Location: Lima, Lima Province, Peru
Dedicated: January 1986 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The temple in Lima is known for being extremely busy, crowds of Saint often waiting in lines that stretch outside the building.

39. Buenos Aires Argentina Temple
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dedicated: January 1986 by Thomas S. Monson
Fun Fact: Built with similar architecture to the Lima Peru Temple, the Buenos Aires Temple was dedicated just one week after its sister in Peru.

40. Denver Colorado Temple
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Dedicated: October 1986 by Ezra Taft Benson
Fun Fact: At first, residents of the neighboring community were opposed to the idea of the Temple being lit with floodlights all night, so the Church agreed to shut the the lights off at 11:00PM. Over time however, the community grew to enjoy the beauty of the Temple, and requested that the lights be left on all night.

Other parts in this series:

Part I
Part II
Part III
More to come...

History of Mormonism: Who was John Rowe Moyle?

John Rowe Moyle (right) was an early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout his life, Moyle sacrificed much for the Church, even when it seemed like he had little left to give. He lived as an extreme example of Christian fortitude, and though a relatively minor figure in the history of Mormonism, Moyle left a powerful legacy behind.
Born in England in 1808, John Moyle was a convert to the Church, and left his homeland behind for the Americas, and traveled across the plains as part of a handcart company. With all the strength they had, he and his family made the grueling trek to what is now the state of Utah. The Moyles settled down and built a home about 22 miles from the Salt Lake Valley.
John had previously earned a living as a skilled stone-cutter. In 1854,  as construction on the historic Mormon Salt Lake Temple was underway, Moyle's skill set was needed in the construction of the granite building. Willingly doing his part, he began making the 22 mile walk every week, leaving his house at 2 AM every Monday morning to be at his post by 8:00, and then walking home on Friday evenings to be with his family. This continued for several years.
One day while milking his particularly headstrong cow, tragedy struck. The cow gave a devastating kick to John's leg, irreparably damaging it. His family and friends were forced to amputate his leg with a bucksaw, just a little below the knee.
Nobody would have said anything if John had decided not to continue as a temple stone-cutter. It was perfectly understandable; loss of limb tends to be a pretty legitimate excuse. But John wen above and beyond the call of duty. While he lay in bed, waiting for his leg to recover, John began carving a wooden prosthetic leg, with a cleverly designed ankle joint. Walking on this new leg was extremely painful, but as Moyle built up resistance, he would soon continue the long weekly treks to Salt Lake City and work day in and day out as the temple stone-cutter for several more years.
John Rowe Moyle's hands carved the famous gold plated inscription (left) on the east facade of the temple: "Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord".

If you would like to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can click here to chat live with actual missionaries!

For more stories of early Latter-day Saints overcoming great trials, read this post about Joseph Smith and his being tarred and feathered.
How Christ knows of our pain and can empathize with us on a deeply personal level.

The History of Mormonism: Where did the Pearl of Great Price come from?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows four volumes of holy scripture. In no particular order, they are: The King James Version of the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. It is this last book of scripture I wish to discuss today. In the history of Mormonism (more at http://www.mormontopics.org/eng/christ), this piece of scripture has a unique history of its own, and has a story worth telling. The book itself is split into a few different parts.
The Pearl of Great Price begins with:
Joseph Smith- History
This section chronicles some important events in the life of Joseph Smith Jr, the founder and first prophet of the LDS Church). Thee events include the "First Vision"--Smith's first encounter with God the Father and Jesus Christ--Smith's visitation from Angel Moroni, and the translation of the Book of Mormon. This autobiographical work is a great primary source for anyone researching Joseph Smith, or anyone wanting to know more about the Prophet.
The Articles of Faith
In 1842, "Long" John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat contacted Joseph Smith to ask him about his religion. Wentworth's questions were for the benefit of a friend who was writing a work on the history of New Hampshire. Smith happily replied with what is now referred to as the "Wentworth Letter". Within, the Prophet recounted the history of the Church up until that point and detailed some basic tenets of the beliefs of Mormonism. Part of the "Wentworth Letter" gave thirteen succinct bullet-point paragraphs which briefly described the core doctrines of the Church. These thirteen paragraphs would come to be known as the Articles of Faith and were included in the Pearl of Great Price. Being only about 400 words, they are an easy way to glean the basics of the LDS Church's beliefs and many members even try to memorize them.
Joseph Smith-Matthew
This excerpt from Joseph Smith's re-translation of the Gospel of Matthew contains many revelations pertaining to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Book of Moses
The Book of Moses are some selections of Joseph Smith's re-translation of the Old Testament. The book expounds on some key visions of Moses, and explains many doctrines concerning the meaning of life, our purpose on Earth, where we came from and where we're going, etc.
The Book of Abraham
The early nineteenth century saw a meteoric rise of interest in ancient Egypt, due in large part to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. Scads of explorers and excavators flocked to the historic desert ruins in search of ancient Egyptian artifacts. One of these was an Italian-born excavator named Antonio Lebolo.
Lebolo led a team of archaeologists in a dig near Thebes, which would yield several mummies. Some time before Lebolo's death in 1830, the mummies would be sold, and eventually find their way to New York and into the hands of a man named Michael Chandler. Found within the wrappings were several papyri, inscribed with Egyptian hieroglyphics, which Chandler was told, no one could translate. Chandler displayed the sarcophagi and the mummies within in many venues throughout the area. Many people would tell Chandler, often jokingly, that he ought to take the papyri to the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, as Smith had a reputation for being able to translate ancient writings.
In 1835, Chandler decided to make contact with Joseph Smith, who was then with a large body of the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio. Traveling to Kirtland that summer, Chandler showed Smith the mummies and supposedly undecipherable writings. As Smith began to translate, he felt prompted by the Lord that he should purchase the mummies, sarcophagi, and papyri from Michael Chandler, although the Prophet was not yet entirely sure what these inscriptions said. Chandler agreed to Smith's terms, and the Church raised money and purchased the lot, gaining ownership of the finds. As the Prophet continued translating, he was ecstatic to learn that the inscriptions came from the hand of the Old Testament Prophet Abraham. The resultant manuscript was published as a serial in the Church's magazine at the time, Times and Seasons, in 1842, and officially canonized by the Church and included in the Pearl of Great Price in 1880

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History of Mormonism: Lifestyle of the Pioneers

Early on in the history of Mormonism, a group of people known as the pioneers sacrificed everything. They gave up their property, their comfort, and their way of life in order to head westward in search of a new life, and more tolerant conditions to practice their religious beliefs. But what was the average day like for one of these intrepid go-getters?
Dress
The men generally wore pants made from duck, if not denim. Shirts were also fashioned from denim, and shoes usually took the form of moccasins.
The women would handcraft their own calico dresses, with long sleeves and high necklines. Due to scarcity of materials, and for the sake of efficiency, they usually only wore two dresses a year while on the trail. Women would also typically wear a sunbonnet, which to modern eyes looks as though it would be unbearable to wear in the heat, but was actually a great way to fight the heat. The material of the bonnet would shield a woman's head from the sunlight, but was also quite breathable, allowing for a breeze to help cool off.
Travel
Most of the pioneers pulled handcarts across the plains and the rocky mountains, though some advance scouts would pave the way on horses to check for potential hazards. These two-wheeled carts were moved by simply pulling a yoke-like bar at the front and others pushing on the back. Since they moved completely on human power, the pioneers had to pack only the essentials. Some attempted to lug large possessions like pianos or armoires across the plains, but quickly learned after a short distance that it was not practical. One account tells of a family who actually left their family piano in Iowa, burying it deep in the ground, wrapped tightly in animal skins. A later group uncovered it and brought it to Salt Lake City when it was easier to do so.
The pioneers would travel in large convoys of wagons, called "wagon trains". On a good day, a wagon train would likely travel 10-15 miles, though in inclement weather, or other bad conditions, they could only travel a mile or two. As a rule, they did not travel on Sundays, in an effort to keep the Sabbath. On Sundays they would hold worship services and praise God.
Food
Most of what the pioneers ate was rather simple fare. They brought with them some rations of cornmeal and other staple crops, though these did not always last the whole trip. They would often make due with what they were able to hunt, trap, or gather from the land.
Entertainment
The pioneers got very creative with their entertainment. Some of the ways children would play were quite simple. Many would chase frogs or play with simple toys, like a hoop and stick. They also devised many games to pass the time, ranging from wrestling, tag, "hide-the-thimble", and even spelling bees. The travelers enjoyed making crafts, whittling, knitting, and the like.

As always, if you would like to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, please click here to chat live with real missionaries!

Timeline of Mormon History

Since the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, members of the LDS Church have seen and participated in a rich and ever-growing history. From its early days to its most recent hours, the events surrounding Mormonism are most certainly grand. In chronological order, here is a timeline of major events in the history of Mormonism.

December 23, 1805- Joseph Smith Jr. is born in Sharon, Vermont.

Spring 1820- Joseph Smith Jr. is visited by God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

September 21, 1823- The Angel Moroni appears to Joseph Smith Jr. and informs him of the Golden Plates.

September 22, 1827- Joseph Smith Jr. obtains the Golden Plates from the Hill Cumorah.

May 15, 1829- Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery are given the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist.

May-June 1829- Josehp Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery are give the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John.

June 1829- Translation of the Golden Plates into what would become the Book of Mormon is finished.

March 26, 1830- The Book of Mormon is officially published by E. B. Grandin's Bookstore in Palmyra, New York.

April 6, 1830- The Church is officially founded.

December 1830- The Church gathers in Ohio.

June 1831- Church members begin to gather in Jackson County Missouri.

February 27, 1833- The Word of Wisdom is introduced.

July 23, 1833- Cornerstone is laid on the Kirland, Ohio Temple.

October 27, 1838- Due to mounting tensions between Mormons and disgruntled neighbors, Governor Lilburn Boggs of Missouri orders an "Extermination Order" on the Mormons. Though long forgotten and obviously not in effect any time in the 20th Century, the order was rediscovered in the records and officially rescinded in 1976.

October 30, 1838- Saints are attacked by an angry mob at Haun's Mill, Missouri.

April 6, 1841- The Nauvoo, Illinois Temple is completed.

June 27, 1844- Joseph Smith Jr. and brother Hyrum Smith are martyred by an angry mob.

July 24, 1847- Under the direction of Brigham Young, the first Mormons enter the Salt Lake Valley, settling what is now the state of Utah.

December 27, 1847- Brigham Young officially named Prophet of the Church.

April 6, 1853- Construction begins on the Salt Lake Temple.

September 1890- The Church issues a moratorium on the practice of polygamy.

April 6, 1893- Construction on the Salt Lake Temple is finished.

1913- The Church supports the Boy Scouts of America program. The program becomes the official activity of the Church's young men.

1918-1938- LDS Seminary buildings begin to be built adjacent to many public high schools in Utah.

Late 1940's- The Church sends relief supplies to Europe at the end of World War II.
January 1971- The Church's official magazines are retooled, giving rise to the publication of the Ensign, the New Era, and the Friend.

1978- All worthy men are allowed to receive the priesthood.

February 7, 1993- A man named Cody Judy threatened Howard W. Hunter and an audience of 15,000-17,000 at a Fireside with a suitcase he claimed held an explosive. He threatened to detonate it unless Hunter would read a paper supposedly declaring Judy the new President of the Church. Howard W. Hunter refused, and Judy was detained by security.

Spring 2000- Construction of the LDS Conference Center is completed, and the building becomes the main meeting place for General Church meetings. Biannually, the General Conference of the Church is held in and broadcast from this engineering marvel.

To learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can chat live with real missionaries here!

For more church timelines, check out this series about the Latter-day prophets.

History of Mormonism: Latter-day Prophets, Part IV (final)

The history of Mormonism is a unique and interesting one, and one that has been touched by the hands of many amazing men and women. Since the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially organized in 1830, there has been a total sixteen Prophets who have led the Church. Below is a the fourth and final installment of a chronology of these great men, along with a brief bio and some major accomplishments they made during their ministry as President of the Church.

13. Ezra Taft Benson Growing up as the oldest of 11 children, Ezra Taft Benson learned at a young age how to be a good leader, and the value of hard work from chores on the family farm. In his youth and adulthood he was very involved with his family and community. He was also involved with his nation, serving as Secretary of Agriculture during both of Dwight D. Eisenhower's terms. During his service as Prophet of the Church, President Benson urged the members to renew their vigor in the Book of Mormon, reiterating and emphasizing its importance as the "keystone of the church." Any Mormons who were alive to experience his 1989 address to the Church in General Conference on the subject of "pride" were surely blessed. It has become an iconic speech, a moment in his ministry that many Church members remember him for to this day.

14. Howard W. Hunter Hunter was a man of many talents and played several musical instruments, including the piano, drums, violin, clarinet, and others. As a young man, he formed a band called "Hunter's Croonaders", and the group performed at local events and even booked a gig on an Asian cruise line. Though his professional career eventually settled on law, he held various jobs over the course of his life, among them were bridge painter, and laundry detergent salesman. President Hunter is notable for having shortest run as Prophet in the history of the Church, dying only nine months after being ordained in June 1994. A famous event in the life of president Hunter occurred just a couple years before he became the Prophet of the Church. In February 1993, when Hunter was still an apostle, he was delivering a speech to a group of young single adults at Brigham Young University. As he was preparing for his talk, a man named Cody Judy walked up to Hunter with a briefcase, which he said contained a bomb. Judy ordered Hunter to read a three page paper he had written, declaring Judy the President of the Church. Hunter outright refused. At that moment, the audience spontaneously started singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet", a famous Mormon him. During the song, a few men from the congregation and campus security overpowered Judy and detained him. Hunter then got up and calmly delivered his speech, as if nothing had happened.

15. Gordon B. Hinckley President Hinckley was known by the Church as well as by many others as a spiritual giant and a wonderful leader. As President, he oversaw some major increases for the Church. His presidency saw the building of 77 new temples throughout the world bringing the number from 47 when he started to 124 when he died early 2008. The Church also grew significantly in membership under President Hinckley. By the time of his death it was calculated that a third of the Church's membership had joined while he was the Prophet.

16. Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson is the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being ordained to the post after the death of President Hinckley in 2008. Throughout the course of his life he has had a great focus on charity, doing whatever is necessary to help his fellow man. As a boy in the heat of the Great Depression, a friend of his let him know that his family had nothing to eat but cold cereal for their Christmas dinner. In a display of sacrifice and kindness beyond his years, he gladly gave his friend his pet rabbit, so that they would have something eat. As a young man, he became the bishop of a Salt Lake City ward of approximately 1000 members. Eighty-five of these members were widows, and as their bishop, Monson visited each one regularly, bringing them wonderful home-cooked meals and good company. Even after he was released as bishop, he kept in contact with these women, and continued to visit them and bring them happiness. As the years went on, he would speak at each and every one of their funerals. As Prophet, he continually reminds the Mormons to strive to generous and charitable to their fellow man, and to "come to the rescue" of anyone in need.
  If you want to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can click here to chat live with real Mormon missionaries.

Other parts of this series:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV