Orson F. Whitney

Orson F. Whitney

1855–1931 (75 years)

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

Biography

Orson F. Whitney was an apostle from 1906 until his death in 1931. A grandson of Heber C. Kimball, Whitney was a poet, historian, and intellectual.

Whitney authored a comprehensive history of Utah and biographies of church leaders. He is known for a spiritual experience in his youth in which he saw Jesus Christ in a dream at Gethsemane.

His literary and historical contributions made him one of the more intellectual apostles of his era. He served 25 years as an apostle.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant

Wives (2)

Orson F. Whitney was a polygamist with 2 wives. Note these are simultaneous marriages — married to multiple living spouses at the same time.

2 wives · Lifespan: 1855–1931

Zina Beal Smoot
1879–1900 (21 yrs)
Mary Minerva Wells
1888–1931 (43 yrs)
1855 (born) 1874 1893 1912 1931 (died)
Wife

11 children from 2 wives · Lifespan: 1855–1931

Zina Beal Smoot
9 children
Mary Minerva Wells
2 children
1855 (born) 1874 1893 1912 1931 (died)
Wife Child born

2 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)
#NameBornDiedMarriedHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1
Zina Beal Smoot Zina Beal Smoot
Feb 20, 1859May 20, 1900 Dec 18, 1879 202449
2
Mary Minerva Wells Mary Minerva Wells
Dec 10, 1855Jan 25, 1935 Jul 24, 1888 323312

Children (11)

With Zina Beal Smoot Zina Beal Smoot  (9 children)

  1. Horace Newell Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1880)
  2. Heber Kimball Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1882)
  3. Emily Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1885)
  4. Helen Mar Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1887)
  5. Margaret Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1889)
  6. Charles Byron Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1891)
  7. Albert Owen Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1893)
  8. Paul Van Cott Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1899)
  9. Virginia Clayton Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1899)

With Mary Minerva Wells Mary Minerva Wells  (2 children)

  1. Murray Wells Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1892)
  2. Wendell Webb Whitney (b. Jan 1, 1895)

Images Related to Orson F. Whitney

“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return.” - Orson F. Whitney, LDS Apostle, Conference Report, Apr. 1929 | wasmormon.org ”Now in terms of how do our covenants help us if someone is wandering? ... Church leaders have talked about a pull — a bit of a spiritual tug, if you will. Orson F. Whitney referred to it as “the divine tentacles of providence.” It is not the case that the faithfulness of parents can save a wayward child, but the faithfulness of the parents in honoring covenants exerts a bit of a spiritual tug. Now I don’t know how that works, but it’s a part of the covenant connection.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, October 31, 2025 | wasmormon.org ”Now in terms of how do our covenants help us if someone is wandering? ... Church leaders have talked about a pull — a bit of a spiritual tug, if you will. Orson F. Whitney referred to it as “the divine tentacles of providence.” It is not the case that the faithfulness of parents can save a wayward child, but the faithfulness of the parents in honoring covenants exerts a bit of a spiritual tug. Now I don’t know how that works, but it’s a part of the covenant connection.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, October 31, 2025 | wasmormon.org