Heber J. Grant

Heber J. Grant

1856–1945 (88 years)

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

Biography

Heber J. Grant was the seventh President of the LDS Church, serving from 1918 to 1945—the longest presidency to that date. Born in Salt Lake City as the son of Jedediah M. Grant (a counselor to Brigham Young), he was raised by his widowed mother in modest circumstances. Through determination and business acumen, he became a successful banker, insurance executive, and businessman before being called as an apostle at age 25.

Grant was a polygamist with three wives, though two died before he became president. He served a mission to Japan and was instrumental in opening that country to Mormon missionary work. His presidency spanned World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II.

Grant oversaw the church’s transition into the 20th century, implementing the church welfare program during the Depression (1936) to provide for members without government assistance. He strongly supported Prohibition and opposed the New Deal. He standardized church curricula and organization, introduced the missionary discussions, and built temples in Arizona, Hawaii, and Idaho.

Known for his tireless work ethic and business sense, Grant transformed the church into a more financially stable and centrally administered organization. His 27-year presidency established patterns of institutional management that continue today.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

John Taylor John Taylor 1808–1887 (78 years) Wilford Woodruff Wilford Woodruff 1807–1898 (91 years) Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow 1814–1901 (87 years) Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith 1838–1918 (80 years)

Apostles Who Served During This Presidency

John Willard Young John Willard Young Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Matthias F. Cowley Matthias F. Cowley Rudger Clawson Rudger Clawson Reed Smoot Reed Smoot George Albert Smith George Albert Smith Charles W. Penrose Charles W. Penrose David O. McKay David O. McKay George F. Richards George F. Richards Orson F. Whitney Orson F. Whitney Anthony W. Ivins Anthony W. Ivins Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith James E. Talmage James E. Talmage Stephen L. Richards Stephen L. Richards Richard R. Lyman Richard R. Lyman

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Wives (3)

Heber J. Grant was a polygamist with 3 marriages.

Marriage Age Comparison

3 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)
#NameMarriage DateHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1 Lucy Stringham Nov 1, 1877 192016
2 Hulda Augusta Winters May 26, 1884 282711
3 Emily Harris Wells May 27, 1884 2727—5

Children (12)

With Lucy Stringham (6 children)

  1. Susan Rachel Grant (b. Aug 30, 1878)
  2. Lucy Grant (b. Oct 22, 1880)
  3. Florence Grant (b. Feb 7, 1883)
  4. Edith Grant (b. Apr 2, 1885)
  5. Anna Grant (b. Dec 28, 1886)
  6. Heber Stringham Grant (b. Dec 9, 1888)

With Hulda Augusta Winters (1 child)

  1. Mary Grant (b. Feb 6, 1889)

With Emily Harris Wells (5 children)

  1. Martha Deseret Grant (b. Apr 12, 1886)
  2. Grace Grant (b. Nov 8, 1889)
  3. Daniel Wells Grant (b. Jan 1, 1891)
  4. Emily Grant (b. Nov 25, 1896)
  5. Frances Marion Grant (b. Jul 24, 1899)

Related Posts (9)

Related Images

“Furthermore, insofar as the authorities of the Church are concerned, since this pretended revelation, if ever given, was never presented to and adopted by the Church or by any council of the Church, and since to the contrary, an inspired rule of action, the Manifesto, was (subsequently to the pretended revelation) presented to and adopted by the Church, which inspired rule in its term, purport, and effect was directly opposite to the interpretation given to the pretended revelation, the said pretended revelation could have no validity and no binding effect and force upon Church members, and action under it would be unauthorized, illegal, and void.” - Official Statement from the First Presidency (Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, J. Reuben Clark) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret News, June 17, 1933. | wasmormon.org “The First Presidency have recently received letters making inquiry concerning the position of the Church regarding the contracting of polygamous or plural marriages. It is evident these letters, a well as from certain published material—some of it distributed during our last General Conference—that a secret and, according to reputation, an oath-bound organization of misguided individuals is seeking to lead the people to adopt adulterous relations under the guise of a pretended and false polygamous or plural marriage ceremony.” - Official Statement from the First Presidency (Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, J. Reuben Clark) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret News, June 17, 1933. | wasmormon.org “While the position of Church since 1893 has been repeatedly set forth, namely that polygamous or plural marriages are not and cannot now be performed, yet in order that there may be no excuse for any Church member to be misled by the false representations or the corrupt, adulterous practices of the members of this secret and (by reputation) oath-bound organisation (of which the history of the Nephites and Lamanites show so many counterparts), it is deemed wise again to set out the position of the Church on this matter, at the same time tracing the outlines of the historical facts lying behind the Church's position, of which many young Church members might not be fully aware.” - Official Statement from the First Presidency (Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, J. Reuben Clark) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret News, June 17, 1933. | wasmormon.org “As to this pretended revelation it should be said that the archives of the Church contain no such revelation; the archives contain no record of any such revelation, nor any evidence justifying a belief that any such revelation was ever given. From the personal knowledge of some of us, from the uniform and common recollection of the presiding quorums of the Church, from the absence in the Church archives of any evidence whatsoever justifying any belief that such a revelation was given, we are justified in affirming that no such revelation exists.” - Official Statement from the First Presidency (Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, J. Reuben Clark) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret News, June 17, 1933. | wasmormon.org "It seems to us that it ought to be possible to work this situation out without causing any feelings on the part of anybody. If the white sisters feel that they may not sit with them or near them, we feel very sure that if the colored sisters were discreetly approached, they would be happy to sit at one side in the rear or somewhere where they would not wound the sensibilities of the complaining sisters. We will rely upon your tact and discretion to work this out so as not to hurt the feelings on the part of anyone." - Letter to President Ezra T. Benson, Washington D.C. Stake President, From the First Presidency Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay, Dated 23 June 1942 | wasmormon.org