Hugh B. Brown

Hugh B. Brown

1883–1975 (92 years)

Hometown: Granger, Utah

Biography

Hugh B. Brown was an apostle from 1958 until his death in 1975 and served in the First Presidency. A Canadian-born lawyer and military officer, Brown was known for his more progressive views.

Brown reportedly advocated for lifting the priesthood ban on Black members during his time in the First Presidency, though he was unsuccessful. His famous address “Profile of a Prophet” became one of the most quoted defenses of prophetic authority.

He served in World War I and had a distinguished military career before his church service. His combination of intellectual rigor and faithfulness made him unique among his peers.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

David O. McKay David O. McKay 1873–1970 (96 years) Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith 1876–1972 (95 years) Harold B. Lee Harold B. Lee 1899–1973 (74 years) Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball 1895–1985 (90 years)

Wives (1)

#NameMarriage DateHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1 Zina Card Jun 17, 1908 192458

Children (8)

With Zina Card (8 children)

  1. Zina Lydia Brown (b. Jul 21, 1909)
  2. Zola Grace Brown (b. Apr 12, 1911)
  3. LaJune Brown (b. Jan 1, 1914)
  4. Mary Myrtice Brown (b. Jan 1, 1916)
  5. Hugh Card Brown (b. Oct 22, 1919)
  6. Charles Manley Brown (b. Jan 1, 1921)
  7. Margaret Alberta Brown (b. Jan 1, 1927)
  8. Carol Rae Brown (b. Jan 1, 1928)

Related Posts (7)

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“If this First Vision was but a figment of Joseph Smith’s imagination, then the Mormon Church is what its detractors declare it to be—a wicked and deliberate imposture.” - Hugh B Brown, LDS Apostle, 1965 | wasmormon.org "From the beginning of this dispensation, Joseph Smith and all succeeding presidents of the Church have taught that Negroes, while spirit children of a common Father, and the progeny of our earthly parents Adam and Eve, were not yet to receive the priesthood, for reasons which we believe are known to God, but which He has not made fully known to man." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "The seeming discrimination by the Church toward the Negro is not something which originated with man; but goes back into the beginning with God... Revelation assures us that this plan antedates man’s mortal existence, extending back to man’s pre-existent state." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "The position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affecting those of the Negro race who choose to join the Church falls wholly within the category of religion. It has no bearing upon matters of civil rights. In no case or degree does it deny to the Negro his full privileges as a citizen of the nation. This position has no relevancy whatever to those who do not wish to join the Church. Those individuals, we suppose, do not believe in the divine origin and nature of the church, nor that we have the priesthood of God. Therefore, if they feel we have no priesthood, they should have no concern with any aspect of our theology on priesthood so long as that theology does not deny any man his Constitutional privileges." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "First, may we say that we know something of the sufferings of those who are discriminated against in a denial of their civil rights and Constitutional privileges. Our early history as a church is a tragic story of persecution and oppression." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969 as published in the Improvement Era, February 1970. | wasmormon.org "In view of confusion that has arisen, it was decided at a meeting of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve to restate the position of the Church with regard to the Negro both in society and in the Church." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969 regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro | wasmormon.org "We recognize that those who do not accept the principle of modern revelation may oppose our point of view. We repeat that such would not wish for membership in the Church, and therefore the question of priesthood should hold no interest for them. Without prejudice they should grant us the privilege afforded under the Constitution to exercise our chosen form of religion just as we must grant all others a similar privilege. They must recognize that the question of bestowing or withholding priesthood in the Church is a matter of religion and not a matter of Constitutional right." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "We are eager to share with men of all races the blessings of the Gospel. We have no racially-segregated congregations. Were we the leaders of an enterprise created by ourselves and operated only according to our own earthly wisdom, it would be a simple thing to act according to popular will. But we believe that this work is directed by God and that the conferring of the priesthood must await His revelation." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969 as published in the Improvement Era, February 1970 | wasmormon.org "In revelations received by the first prophet of the Church in this dispensation, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the Lord made it clear that it is “not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.” These words were spoken prior to the Civil War." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "The honest investigator must be prepared to follow wherever the search of truth may lead. Truth is often found in the most unexpected places. He must, with fearless and open mind insist that facts are more important than any cherished, mistaken beliefs, no matter how unpleasant the facts or how delightful the beliefs." Elder Hugh B Brown, Mormon Apostle "I hope that you will develop the questing spirit. Be unafraid of new ideas for they are the stepping stones of progress. You will of course respect the opinions of others but be unafraid to dissent—if you are informed." Elder Hugh B Brown | wasmormon.org "Facts are more important than any cherished mistaken beliefs" Elder Hugh B Brown | wasmormon.org