Matthew Cowley

Child of Promise

1895. July 28: Moses Thatcher dedicated the Cowley home in Preston, "That herein might be born prophets, seers, and revelators to honor God."

Family Background

1897. August 2: Born in Preston, Idaho, to future Apostle Matthias F. Cowley and Abbie Hyde. In 1922 he married Elva Eleanor Taylor; they had one child and adopted a Maori son.

Missionary

1914. At the age of seventeen he began a five-year mission to New Zealand, where he learned Maori in three months by studying eleven hours a day.

Soon after his arrival, Cowley was summoned to the bedside of a Maori man suffering from typhoid fever. "All I could do was pray, and I knelt down beside that suffering native, and I prayed to God, and opened up my heart to him; and I believe the channel was open; and then I placed my hands upon that good brother; and with the authority of the priesthood which I as a young boy held, I blessed him to be restored to health."

Shortly after his mission, he was called by President George Albert Smith to translate the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price into Maori, and to revise the Maori translation of the Book of Mormon.

Lawyer

1925. Graduated from George Washington Law School. As a student he had worked for Senator Reed Smoot on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

Following graduation, Cowley began practicing law in Salt Lake City. Five years later he became Salt Lake County Attorney.

"Law is a wonderful profession. I never made much money at it …. When you are an honest lawyer and you represent criminals, it isn't long until you have lost all your clients. They are in jail …. They never did pay me. Many of them offered to pay me at times, but with stolen property."

"Apostle to the South Pacific"

1939. Began a six-year term as mission president in New Zealand. Maoris called him "Tumnaki," or "great leader."

On one occasion Cowley was asked to name a fourteen-month-old child and give it a blessing. Matter-of-factly the father added, "'While you are giving it its name, give it its sight.' The child was born blind. …

"Well, I was scared. I never had that faith. The thing came to me suddenly like lightning out of the blue. But I went on and blessed the baby with a name. It was the longest blessing I think I have ever given. I was using all the words I could think of and had ever thought of. I was trying to get enough inspiration—enough nerve, if you want to call it that, to bless that child with its vision. I finally did.

"Eight months later I saw the child, and the child saw me. … Never let this simple faith get away from your life, never let it get away from you. It is the most precious thing you have in your life."

Of healing by the power of the priesthood, Cowley said, "Miracles are evidence of the efficacy of the priesthood of God, to bring his power and blessing to the children of men. Everywhere you go among the people you see the blessing of the sick, making the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. Let us appreciate the priesthood we hold and magnify it so that God will magnify us. He wants us to do his work for him."

1945. October 5: Called to the Quorum of the Twelve by President George Albert Smith.

1946. Called to preside over the Pacific Islands Mission, consisting of Hawaii, Tonga, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.

1947. Reopened the Japanese Mission.

1949. Introduced missionaries into Hong Kong.

Humorist

To a friend running for political office: "I would rather see you running for the position of janitor of the St. John's post office on the Republican ticket than for the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Arizona on the Democratic ticket. Repent, brother, repent, before it is too late, and it becomes too well-known that you have temporarily descended to the lowly ranks of the Democratic Party."

To his parents-in-law, shortly after his marriage: "I had long flattered myself on being one of the few remaining he-men of the present generation, until Christmas morning, when I received among other things, from you know where, a beautiful rubber gown to be worn by men in the very holy of holies of the woman—the kitchen. … Woe is me, the mantle of femininity has fallen on these masculine shoulders!"

Counselor to Alcoholics

Spent much of his life serving in alcoholic rehabilitation programs, counseling alcoholics and their families, and speaking to Alcoholics Anonymous groups.

Death

1953. December 13: While attending the dedication of the Los Angeles Temple, he suffered a massive heart attack and died at the age of fifty-six. Buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Sources
Cowley, Matthew. Matthew Cowley Speaks. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1954.
Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Church Archives. Abbie Hyde Cowley Journal, 28 July 1895.
Smith, Henry A. Matthew Cowley: Man of Faith. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968.

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


	Matthew Cowley (1897-1953)

		Matthew Cowley was a child of promise and "Apostle to the South Pacific." Photograph courtesy LDS Church Archives.


	Child of Promise 1895. July 28: Moses Thatcher dedicated the Cowley home in Preston, "That herein might be born prophets, seers, and revelators to honor God." Family Background 1897. August 2: Born in Preston, Idaho, to future Apostle Matthias F. Cowley and Abbie Hyde. In 1922 he married Elva Eleanor Taylor; they had one child and adopted a Maori son. Missionary 1914. At the age of seventeen he began a five-year mission to New Zealand, where he learned Maori in three months by studying eleven hours a day. Soon after his arrival, Cowley was summoned to the bedside of a Maori man suffering from typhoid fever. "All I could do was pray, and I knelt down beside that suffering native, and I prayed to God, and opened up my heart to him; and I believe the channel was open; and then I placed my hands upon that good brother; and with the authority of the priesthood which I as a young boy held, I blessed him to be restored to health." Shortly after his mission, he was called by President George Albert Smith to translate the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price into Maori, and to revise the Maori translation of the Book of Mormon. Lawyer 1925. Graduated from George Washington Law School. As a student he had worked for Senator Reed Smoot on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Following graduation, Cowley began practicing law in Salt Lake City. Five years later he became Salt Lake County Attorney. "Law is a wonderful profession. I never made much money at it …. When you are an honest lawyer and you represent criminals, it isn't long until you have lost all your clients. They are in jail …. They never did pay me. Many of them offered to pay me at times, but with stolen property." "Apostle to the South Pacific" 1939. Began a six-year term as mission president in New Zealand. Maoris called him "Tumnaki," or "great leader." On one occasion Cowley was asked to name a fourteen-month-old child and give it a blessing. Matter-of-factly the father added, "'While you are giving it its name, give it its sight.' The child was born blind. … "Well, I was scared. I never had that faith. The thing came to me suddenly like lightning out of the blue. But I went on and blessed the baby with a name. It was the longest blessing I think I have ever given. I was using all the words I could think of and had ever thought of. I was trying to get enough inspiration—enough nerve, if you want to call it that, to bless that child with its vision. I finally did. "Eight months later I saw the child, and the child saw me. … Never let this simple faith get away from your life, never let it get away from you. It is the most precious thing you have in your life." Of healing by the power of the priesthood, Cowley said, "Miracles are evidence of the efficacy of the priesthood of God, to bring his power and blessing to the children of men. Everywhere you go among the people you see the blessing of the sick, making the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. Let us appreciate the priesthood we hold and magnify it so that God will magnify us. He wants us to do his work for him." 1945. October 5: Called to the Quorum of the Twelve by President George Albert Smith. 1946. Called to preside over the Pacific Islands Mission, consisting of Hawaii, Tonga, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia. 1947. Reopened the Japanese Mission. 1949. Introduced missionaries into Hong Kong. Humorist To a friend running for political office: "I would rather see you running for the position of janitor of the St. John's post office on the Republican ticket than for the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Arizona on the Democratic ticket. Repent, brother, repent, before it is too late, and it becomes too well-known that you have temporarily descended to the lowly ranks of the Democratic Party." To his parents-in-law, shortly after his marriage: "I had long flattered myself on being one of the few remaining he-men of the present generation, until Christmas morning, when I received among other things, from you know where, a beautiful rubber gown to be worn by men in the very holy of holies of the woman—the kitchen. … Woe is me, the mantle of femininity has fallen on these masculine shoulders!" Counselor to Alcoholics Spent much of his life serving in alcoholic rehabilitation programs, counseling alcoholics and their families, and speaking to Alcoholics Anonymous groups. Death 1953. December 13: While attending the dedication of the Los Angeles Temple, he suffered a massive heart attack and died at the age of fifty-six. Buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery. Sources Cowley, Matthew. Matthew Cowley Speaks. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1954. Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Church Archives. Abbie Hyde Cowley Journal, 28 July 1895. Smith, Henry A. Matthew Cowley: Man of Faith. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968.