Jedediah M. Grant
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Jedediah Morgan Grant (1816–1856) (commonly known as Jedediah M. Grant) was a leader and an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was member of the First Council of the Seventy from 1845 to 1854. He also served in the First Presidency under Church President Brigham Young from 1854 to 1856. He is known for his fiery speeches during the Reformation of 1856, earning the nickname, "Brigham's Sledgehammer". Among his children, the most notable is Heber J. Grant, who later served as President of the Church.
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[edit] Early life
Jedediah M. Grant was born February 21, 1816 to Joshua Grant and Athalia Howard Grant in Windsor, New York. He joined the Church early in his life. By the age of 18 he had participated in Zion's Camp, marching from Kirtland, Ohio to Missouri under the direction of Joseph Smith, Jr.. Though the physical objectives of the march weren't met, many members later became leaders of the Church. Jedediah's close relationship with these men from such an early age would last the rest of his life. Grant was one a group of men (which also included Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith) who were called in 1844 to campaign for Joseph Smith's election to President of the United States.
[edit] Church leader
After Smith's death, Jedediah was called to serve as a President of the Seventy. As a Seventy, he helped with the trek westwards and the settling of the Salt Lake Valley. He would later become the first mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, serving in that position from 1851 until his death. Morgan County, Utah and Morgan, Utah are both named for him.
In 1854, Jedediah M. Grant was ordained an Apostle, but he did not become a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Instead, he was called to the First Presidency as Second Counselor to Brigham Young, to fill the vacancy left by Willard Richards' death.
[edit] Sermons during the Mormon reformation
In 1856, Grant was called upon by Young to tour the northern sections of Utah, calling them to repentance. In the Mormon Reformation of 1856, he toured according to his assignment, delivering fiery speeches condemning all forms of sin and demanding perfection. He issued a call for rebaptism of all the members of the area. His speeches earned him the title, "Brigham's Sledgehammer." The effects of his speeches were felt almost immediately; members throughout the area, as well as in distant parts, were rebaptized to signify their commitment to renew their commitments to the Church and the gospel. Several of these speeches are recorded in Journal of Discourses.
[edit] Death
Grant contracted pneumonia after his vigorous tour. He died on December 1, 1856, just nine days after his son, Heber J. Grant was born to his wife Rachel Ridgeway Ivins Grant. Like many early Latter-day Saints, Jedediah Grant practiced plural marriage. He had a total of seven wives and 13 children. One of his sons was Heber J. Grant, the seventh President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
[edit] References
- Journal of Discourses
- Sessions, Gene Allred. Mormon Thunder: A Documentary History of Jedediah Morgan Grant. University of Illinois Press, 1993. ISBN 0-252-00944-4.
| Preceded by (none) |
Mayors of Salt Lake City 1851 – 1856 |
Succeeded by Abraham O. Smoot |
