Jedediah M. Grant
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Jedediah Morgan Grant (1816–1856) (commonly known as Jedediah M. Grant) was a leader in 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 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.
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.
After the prophet'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 Great Basin. 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 not a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was simultaneously called to the First Presidency as Second Counselor, to fill the vacancy left by Willard Richards' death.
In 1856, Grant was called upon by President 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.
President 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.
See also
External link
References
- Journal of Discourses
- Sessions, Gene Allred. Mormon Thunder: A Documentary History of Jedediah Morgan Grant. University of Illinois Press, 1993. ISBN 0252009444.
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