John A. Widtsoe

Family Background

1872. January 31: Born John Andreas Widtsoe in Froen, Norway. In 1879 his widowed mother took a pair of his shoes to a Mormon cobbler, who stuffed the toes with Mormon pamphlets when he returned them. Anna Widtsoe read the pamphlets, then attended a Mormon meeting. Two years later the family was baptized, and in 1883 emigrated to Logan, Utah.

In 1898 John married Leah Eudora Dunford, daughter of Susa Young Gates. Susa, who had met Widtsoe in Boston, was so impressed by him she "wooed" him for her daughter. The Widtsoes had seven children.

Scholar

Widtsoe graduated from Brigham Young College in 1891 and from Harvard, with high honors, in 1894. Returning to Utah, he became the first Mormon faculty member at Utah Agricultural College (Logan), where he taught chemistry.

Awarded the Parker Traveling Scholarship shortly after his wedding, he took his new bride to Europe. In 1899 he was awarded a Ph.D. with high honors from the University of Goettingen, Germany.

Back at Logan, Widtsoe became director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, which did research work in crop, soil, and irrigation techniques. In 1905 he went to Brigham Young University.

University President

His phenomenal success at BYU prompted the Utah Agricultural College to offer him its presidency. He accepted in 1907. Ten years later he became president of the University of Utah. His administration brought the school to full university status.

Apostle

1921. Called to the Quorum of the Twelve and appointed commissioner of education, president of the Utah Historical Society, and director of the Genealogical Society. In addition he was elected to the Victoria Institute in England, an honor received by only one other Mormon scholar—James E. Talmage.

Widtsoe's sermons stressed the search for truth: "The doctrine of the Church cannot be fully understood unless it is tested by mind and feelings, by intellect and emotions, by every power of the investigator. Every Church member is expected to understand the doctrine of the Church intelligently. There is no place in the Church for blind adherence."

"The essential thought must ever be that a man does not, except in his spiritual infancy, accept a statement merely because the Church or someone in authority declares it correct, but because, under mature examination, it is found to be true and right and worthwhile. Conversion must come from within."

Author

1935. After six years as president of the European Mission, Widtsoe served for several years as editor of the Improvement Era.

He wrote more than thirty books. His Church works include Joseph Smith as Scientist, Discourses of Brigham Young, Priesthood and Church Government, Evidences and Reconciliations, and his autobiography, In a Sunlit Land. Among his professional publications are Dry Farming Principles of Irrigation Practices, Arid Farming in Utah, and How the Desert Was Farmed.

His interest was "to help the common man": "Hence have come teaching young people, taking the problems of the toiler, notably the farmer, and lifting all into a spiritual realm, hence my devotion to the spread of Gospel knowledge."

Death

1952. November 29: Died in Salt Lake City at age eighty; buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Sources
Cornwall, Rebecca Foster. "Susa Young Gates: The Thirteenth Apostle." In Sister Saints, Edited by Vicky Burgess-Olson Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1978.
Improvement Era, July 1948.
Pardoe, T. Earl. The Sons of Brigham. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Alumni Association, 1969.
Parkinson, Raymond Bramwell. "The Life and Educational Contributions of John Andrus Widtsoe." Master's thesis, University of Utah, 1955.
The Gospel in Principle and Practice: An Abstract or Conspectus of Readings. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1965.
Widtsoe, John A. In a Sunlit Land: The Autobiography of John A. Widtsoe. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1952.
Wilkinson, Ernest L., and Skousen, W. Cleon. Brigham Young University: A School of Destiny. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1976.

	A Book of Mormons Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker Copyright 1982, Signature Books Salt Lake City, Utah Contents


	John A. Widtsoe (1872-1952)

				John A. Widtsoe was a scientist, university president, and apostle. Photograph courtesy LDS Church Archives.


	Family Background 1872. January 31: Born John Andreas Widtsoe in Froen, Norway. In 1879 his widowed mother took a pair of his shoes to a Mormon cobbler, who stuffed the toes with Mormon pamphlets when he returned them. Anna Widtsoe read the pamphlets, then attended a Mormon meeting. Two years later the family was baptized, and in 1883 emigrated to Logan, Utah. In 1898 John married Leah Eudora Dunford, daughter of Susa Young Gates. Susa, who had met Widtsoe in Boston, was so impressed by him she "wooed" him for her daughter. The Widtsoes had seven children. Scholar Widtsoe graduated from Brigham Young College in 1891 and from Harvard, with high honors, in 1894. Returning to Utah, he became the first Mormon faculty member at Utah Agricultural College (Logan), where he taught chemistry. Awarded the Parker Traveling Scholarship shortly after his wedding, he took his new bride to Europe. In 1899 he was awarded a Ph.D. with high honors from the University of Goettingen, Germany. Back at Logan, Widtsoe became director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, which did research work in crop, soil, and irrigation techniques. In 1905 he went to Brigham Young University. University President His phenomenal success at BYU prompted the Utah Agricultural College to offer him its presidency. He accepted in 1907. Ten years later he became president of the University of Utah. His administration brought the school to full university status. Apostle 1921. Called to the Quorum of the Twelve and appointed commissioner of education, president of the Utah Historical Society, and director of the Genealogical Society. In addition he was elected to the Victoria Institute in England, an honor received by only one other Mormon scholar—James E. Talmage. Widtsoe's sermons stressed the search for truth: "The doctrine of the Church cannot be fully understood unless it is tested by mind and feelings, by intellect and emotions, by every power of the investigator. Every Church member is expected to understand the doctrine of the Church intelligently. There is no place in the Church for blind adherence." "The essential thought must ever be that a man does not, except in his spiritual infancy, accept a statement merely because the Church or someone in authority declares it correct, but because, under mature examination, it is found to be true and right and worthwhile. Conversion must come from within." Author 1935. After six years as president of the European Mission, Widtsoe served for several years as editor of the Improvement Era. He wrote more than thirty books. His Church works include Joseph Smith as Scientist, Discourses of Brigham Young, Priesthood and Church Government, Evidences and Reconciliations, and his autobiography, In a Sunlit Land. Among his professional publications are Dry Farming Principles of Irrigation Practices, Arid Farming in Utah, and How the Desert Was Farmed. His interest was "to help the common man": "Hence have come teaching young people, taking the problems of the toiler, notably the farmer, and lifting all into a spiritual realm, hence my devotion to the spread of Gospel knowledge." Death 1952. November 29: Died in Salt Lake City at age eighty; buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Sources Cornwall, Rebecca Foster. "Susa Young Gates: The Thirteenth Apostle." In Sister Saints, Edited by Vicky Burgess-Olson Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1978. Improvement Era, July 1948. Pardoe, T. Earl. The Sons of Brigham. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Alumni Association, 1969. Parkinson, Raymond Bramwell. "The Life and Educational Contributions of John Andrus Widtsoe." Master's thesis, University of Utah, 1955. The Gospel in Principle and Practice: An Abstract or Conspectus of Readings. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1965. Widtsoe, John A. In a Sunlit Land: The Autobiography of John A. Widtsoe. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1952. Wilkinson, Ernest L., and Skousen, W. Cleon. Brigham Young University: A School of Destiny. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1976.