Richard L. Evans

Family Background

1906. March 23: Born Richard Louis Evans in Salt Lake City. His father died from injuries received in a streetcar accident when Richard was only ten weeks old. When he was thirteen, his left eye was destroyed by a pellet from a playmate's BB gun.

In 1933 he married Alice Ruth Thornley; they had four sons.

Editor and Author

Evans edited his high school yearbook, and as a nineteen-year-old missionary to Great Britain, served as assistant editor of the Millennial Star under mission presidents James E. Talmage and John A. Widtsoe. In Evans's copy of Evidences and Reconciliations Widtsoe wrote, "To me this volume is another evidence of your goodness to me. No son could do more than you have done for me in our association together."

He began fourteen years as managing editor of the Improvement Era in 1937 followed by twenty-one years as senior editor. He was instrumental in the creation of the Ensign, New Era, and Friend magazines.

Evans wrote seventeen books in addition to fourteen volumes of his "Spoken Word" sermons. He also wrote a weekly editorial for William Randolph Hearst's national King Features for five years.

KSL Director

1928. Shortly after graduating from the University of Utah, Evans began working as an announcer on KSL radio. He soon became publicity director, production manager, and eventually station director.

"I spend a full seventy hours a week working here," he said. "I never have a day off, not excepting Sundays or holidays. At one time I went two years without a vacation or a single day off, except one day spent in bed under doctor's orders."

"Voice of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir"

1929. "Once more we welcome you within these walls, with music and the spoken word, from the Crossroads of the West," was the sign-on heard by millions of Americans every Sunday as they tuned in Richard L. Evans and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

To his vast audience, Evans was "a personal friend who dropped in Sunday mornings to introduce the selections to be performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and organ and to share his short, inspirational messages. Many people throughout the world have claimed membership in Richard L. Evans's church. … Their only 'religion,' an enjoyable half-hour weekly with 'Music and the Spoken Word.'"

Evans delivered more than two thousand sermons during the forty-one years he produced and announced the program. The Spoken Word messages were short, to the point, and filled with suggestions for improving one's life: "There are some fine distinctions to be found in the now immortal phrase, 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' Life is an eternal fact; liberty, an inalienable right. But with happiness—we are offered only the right to pursue it! We can give man his liberty. He may not use it well or keep it long, but we can give it to him. But not so his happiness. We can help, but ultimately he has to help himself to happiness."

General Authority

1938. October 7: At thirty-two, Evans became the youngest general authority in over thirty years when he was called as a president of the First Council of the Seventy.

1947. Appointed director of Temple Square.

1953. October 8: Called to the Quorum of the Twelve by President David O. McKay. His committee responsibilities included Church magazines, Temple Square activities, world fair exhibits and other Church information centers, the Tabernacle Choir and the Choir broadcast, general conference broadcasts, the Hill Cumorah pageant, Church historical sites, management of Church communications, public relations, publications, translation and distribution, and temple ceremonies.

Rotary President

Elected president of the Salt Lake Rotary Club in 1949. A year later he was elected president of the University of Utah Alumni Association. Three years later he was elected president of the Salt Lake Bonneville Knife and Fork Club. After his calling as an apostle, he was elected International Rotary president.

Death

1971. November 1: Died of a viral infection of the central nervous system at the age of sixty-five; buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Sources
Deseret News, 1 November 1971.
Evans, Richard L. Thoughts for One Hundred Days. Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1966.
Evans, Richard L. Richard L. Evans: The Man and the Message. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1973.
Flake, Lawrence. Mighty Men of Zion Salt Lake City: Karl D. Butler, 1974.
Woolsey, Heber G. Memorial Services for Richard L. Evans. Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1971.

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


	Richard L. Evans (1906-1971)

		Richard L. Evans was "the voice of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir" and an Apostle. Photograph coutesy LDS Church Archives.


	Family Background 1906. March 23: Born Richard Louis Evans in Salt Lake City. His father died from injuries received in a streetcar accident when Richard was only ten weeks old. When he was thirteen, his left eye was destroyed by a pellet from a playmate's BB gun. In 1933 he married Alice Ruth Thornley; they had four sons. Editor and Author Evans edited his high school yearbook, and as a nineteen-year-old missionary to Great Britain, served as assistant editor of the Millennial Star under mission presidents James E. Talmage and John A. Widtsoe. In Evans's copy of Evidences and Reconciliations Widtsoe wrote, "To me this volume is another evidence of your goodness to me. No son could do more than you have done for me in our association together." He began fourteen years as managing editor of the Improvement Era in 1937 followed by twenty-one years as senior editor. He was instrumental in the creation of the Ensign, New Era, and Friend magazines. Evans wrote seventeen books in addition to fourteen volumes of his "Spoken Word" sermons. He also wrote a weekly editorial for William Randolph Hearst's national King Features for five years. KSL Director 1928. Shortly after graduating from the University of Utah, Evans began working as an announcer on KSL radio. He soon became publicity director, production manager, and eventually station director. "I spend a full seventy hours a week working here," he said. "I never have a day off, not excepting Sundays or holidays. At one time I went two years without a vacation or a single day off, except one day spent in bed under doctor's orders." "Voice of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir" 1929. "Once more we welcome you within these walls, with music and the spoken word, from the Crossroads of the West," was the sign-on heard by millions of Americans every Sunday as they tuned in Richard L. Evans and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. To his vast audience, Evans was "a personal friend who dropped in Sunday mornings to introduce the selections to be performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and organ and to share his short, inspirational messages. Many people throughout the world have claimed membership in Richard L. Evans's church. … Their only 'religion,' an enjoyable half-hour weekly with 'Music and the Spoken Word.'" Evans delivered more than two thousand sermons during the forty-one years he produced and announced the program. The Spoken Word messages were short, to the point, and filled with suggestions for improving one's life: "There are some fine distinctions to be found in the now immortal phrase, 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' Life is an eternal fact; liberty, an inalienable right. But with happiness—we are offered only the right to pursue it! We can give man his liberty. He may not use it well or keep it long, but we can give it to him. But not so his happiness. We can help, but ultimately he has to help himself to happiness." General Authority 1938. October 7: At thirty-two, Evans became the youngest general authority in over thirty years when he was called as a president of the First Council of the Seventy. 1947. Appointed director of Temple Square. 1953. October 8: Called to the Quorum of the Twelve by President David O. McKay. His committee responsibilities included Church magazines, Temple Square activities, world fair exhibits and other Church information centers, the Tabernacle Choir and the Choir broadcast, general conference broadcasts, the Hill Cumorah pageant, Church historical sites, management of Church communications, public relations, publications, translation and distribution, and temple ceremonies. Rotary President Elected president of the Salt Lake Rotary Club in 1949. A year later he was elected president of the University of Utah Alumni Association. Three years later he was elected president of the Salt Lake Bonneville Knife and Fork Club. After his calling as an apostle, he was elected International Rotary president. Death 1971. November 1: Died of a viral infection of the central nervous system at the age of sixty-five; buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Sources Deseret News, 1 November 1971. Evans, Richard L. Thoughts for One Hundred Days. Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1966. Evans, Richard L. Richard L. Evans: The Man and the Message. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1973. Flake, Lawrence. Mighty Men of Zion Salt Lake City: Karl D. Butler, 1974. Woolsey, Heber G. Memorial Services for Richard L. Evans. Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1971.