The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1953

1952 Organization of the Bountiful Utah Stake

1952 Organization of the Bountiful Utah Stake, cont.

There is a quote often shared by historians, "The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there."

The quote is attributed to the British novelist, L.P. Hartley in his 1953 book, The Go-Between. But that is not as important as the idea. Not only did people in the past wear different clothes, enjoy different amusements, and eat different foods than we do. They also thought differently. Their values were different. The way they understood the world was different. It is naive to believe that people in the past were just like us, only in a different setting. That fallacy is called presentism. When dealing with the past, we should try to check our assumptions and immerse ourselves in their times.

As we focus on the local history of the Bountiful Utah Ninth Ward, it is good at times to step back and try to get a sense of the larger picture. What was the world our predecessors actually inhabited? Today, let's consider what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints looked like 70 years ago.

Church Leadership: David O. McKay was 77-years-old when he became president of the Church on April 9, 1951, almost two years before the organization of the Bountiful Ninth Ward. In 1953, Stephen L. Richards and J. Reuben Clark were President McKay's first and second counselors, respectively.

On March 22, 1953, the Sunday that the Bountiful 9th Ward was organized, the Quorum of Twelve Apostles consisted of Joseph Fielding Smith, president of the Twelve, Albert E. Bowen, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen, Matthew Cowley, Henry D. Moyle, Delbert L. Stapley, Marion G. Romney, and LeGrand Richards. At the time, there were 11 members of the quorum. John A. Widtsoe had passed away on November 29, 1952 and a new apostle wouldn't be called until the next General Conference.

How many of those apostles' names did you recognize? Probably a few as several become presidents of the Church and others were in later First Presidencies.

The organization of General Authorities was different in 1953 than it is today. First of all, the Church had a patriarch who served the entire Church and gave blessings to members who did not live in stakes with a patriarch. The Church Patriarch in 1953 was Eldred G. Smith.

In 1953, there were seven "Assistants to the Council of the Twelve Apostles" and the "First Council of the Seventy" also made up of seven men. Church areas and area presidencies around the globe weren't created until 1984. Quorums of Seventies was very different in 1953 than we understand them today. How many 9th Warders today were once ordained a Seventy?

The Church's Presiding Bishopric in 1953 were Joseph L. Wirthlin, Thorpe B. Isaacson, and Carl W. Buehner. 

In 1953, Belle S. Spafford was almost 8 years into her presidency of the Relief Society. She was the Relief Society President from April 1945 to October 1974. Marianne C. Sharp was her first counselor that entire time. In 1953, Velma N. Simonsen was Belle Spafford's 2nd counselor. Can you imagine a general Relief Society President serving for almost 30 years?

The Young Women's general presidency consisted of Bertha S. Reeder, president, Emily H. Bennett, first counselor, and LaRue C. Longden, second counselor, in 1953.

The general Primary presidency was also led by a long-serving president. Sister LaVern W. Parmley served as president from 1951-1974. Her counselors in 1953 were Arta M. Hale and Florence H. Richards/Leone W. Doxey (Richards and Doxey both served in the presidency in 1953 and I haven't taken the time to determine which was serving on March 22).

We could go on and on about the General Church leadership in 1953, and how it is different from today. But much of it is the same. The First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles have implemented changes from time to time to meet the needs of an increasingly global Church.

Temples: In 1953, there were 8 dedicated temples in the Church. They were the St. George, Logan, Manti, Salt Lake, Laie, Cardston, Mesa and Idaho Falls temples. 

Two years after the organization of the ward in 1955, President David O. McKay would dedicate the Bern, Switzerland Temple. The Los Angeles, Hamilton New Zealand, and London England temples followed in 1956 and 1958.

Missions: In 1962, there were 43 missions around the world. They were the: Argentine, Australian, Brazilian, British, California, Canadian, Central Atlantic States, Central States, *Chinese Mission, Danish, East Central States, East German, Eastern States, Finnish Mission, French, Great Lakes Mission, Hawaiian, Japanese Mission, Mexican, Near East, Netherlands, New England, New Zealand, North Central States, Northern California, Northern States, Northwestern States, Norwegian, Samoan, South African, Southern States, Southwest Indian Mission, Spanish-American, Tahitian, Texas-Louisiana, Tongan, Uruguay Mission, West Central States, West German, Western Canadian, and Western States missions. (*Transferred to San Francisco.)

Future posts will continue to play on this theme of how different things were when the 9th Ward was organized as compared to today. I would challenge those identified as "Millennials" or "Gen Z'ers," over the next couple of months, to go find a member of the "Greatest Generation," the "Silent Generation," or a "Baby Boomer," and ask them what the Church was like when they were younger. Those of us identified as "Generation X" can go either way.