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 1838–1918 (80 years) Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant 1856–1945 (88 years)

Related Images

“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