John Jaques (Mormon)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Jaques (January 7, 1827–June 1, 1900) was a Latter Day Saint hymnwriter and missionary and an Assistant Church Historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Jaques was born to Thomas Jaques and Mary Ann Heighington at Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, England. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the fall of 1845. A short time later, he served as a missionary for the church in Stratford-on-Avon.
Jaques crossed the Atlantic with his wife in 1856 on the Horizon. They landed at Boston and proceeded by train to Iowa City. There they joined the Martin Handcart Company. Jaques' oldest daughter was among the many in that company who died when they were caught in snowstorms in Wyoming.
Jaques wrote many poems and other works, including "Oh Say What is Truth", which he wrote during a mission he served in England from 1869 to 1871. While in Stratford-on-Avon he contemplated Pilate's question to Jesus Christ "What is truth?". Ellen Knowles Melling, who Jaques baptized while preaching in Scotland, set the poem to music. The hymn is included in the hymnal of the LDS Church.
From 1868 to 1871 Jaques co-edited the Millennial Star with George Teasdale and then from 1870 to 1871 he served as the sole editor of that publication.[1]
After returning to Utah Territory, Jaques began working for the Deseret News. In 1874 he became the principal editorial writter for this newspaper.[2]He then served as an Assistant Church Historian starting in 1873. While in this position he was on a committee with A. Milton Musser and Franklin D. Richards that presented plans for a Genealogical Association of the church. This association was the forerunner of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. After the Genealogical Society of Utah was organized, Jaques served as its first librarian.
[edit] References
- Allen, James B., Jessie L. Embry, Kahlile B. Mehr. Hearts Turned to the Fathers: A History of the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1894-1994 Provo: BYU Studies, 1995.
- Cornwall, J. Spencer. Stories of our Mormon Hymns. Deseret Book Company: Salt Lake City, 1975.
- ^ Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 507
- ^ Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Salt Lake City: Deseret news Press, 1941) p. 187
