Henry D. Taylor
Born: 22 November 1903
Called as Assistant to the Twelve: 6 April 1958
Called to First Quorum of the Seventy: 1 October 1976
Became an Emeritus General Authority: 30 September 1978
Died: 24 February 1987
Called as Assistant to the Twelve: 6 April 1958
Called to First Quorum of the Seventy: 1 October 1976
Became an Emeritus General Authority: 30 September 1978
Died: 24 February 1987
Talks on Church WebsiteApr 1971 - Man Cannot Endure on Borrowed Light
Oct 1971 - A Time of Testing Apr 1972 - Am I My Brother's Keeper? Apr 1973 - "And Always Remember Him" Oct 1973 - Thou Shalt Love Thy Wife with All Thy Heart Apr 1974 - "I Will ... Pour You Out a Blessings" Oct 1974 - The Law of the Fast Oct 1975 - Immanuel: God With Us Apr 1976 - The Right to Choose Oct 1976 - Search the Scriptures Apr 1978 - Revelation Image source: Improvement Era, June 1958
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Image source: Wikipedia, public domain
Image source: Improvement Era, November 1967
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Biographical Articles
Improvement Era, June 1958, "Knighted" in the Field - Henry D. Taylor, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Relief Society Magazine, June 1958, Henry Dixon Taylor Appointed Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Improvement Era, November 1967, Henry D. Taylor, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Ensign, May 1987, Elder Henry D. Taylor Eulogized
Relief Society Magazine, June 1958, Henry Dixon Taylor Appointed Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Improvement Era, November 1967, Henry D. Taylor, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Ensign, May 1987, Elder Henry D. Taylor Eulogized
Kimball, Spencer W. ""Knighted" in the Field - Henry D. Taylor, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve." Improvement Era. June 1958. pg. 397, 482-484.
"Knighted" in the Field Henry Dixon Taylor, Assistant to the Twelve by Spencer W. Kimball of the Council of the Twelve To all who watched Henry Dixon Taylor grow from childhood to rich maturity it must have been evident that this quiet, unassuming man who was elevated in Church circles on April 6, 1958, was a "man of destiny." There was little surprise among those who knew him best when he was chosen to be an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. "I knew he would be called," said one. "It was inevitable," said another. And one of his associates in the mission said of him: "The quietest dynamo that I have ever met." This well expresses the unusual combination of power and peace that is Henry D. Taylor. He is a perfect blend of enthusiasm that is quiet and modest, and of the serenity that has behind it a reservoir of strength, influence, and accomplishment. This man is but one of six stalwart brothers, all returned missionaries, of whom it was said by another admirer of the family: ". . . it is not diminishing your stature one iota to say that any of your brothers would have been equally worthy and able to serve in the high calling that has come to you." As one glances at the long line of leadership positions Henry Taylor has filled, it seems certain that he should reach high places. He seems to have been president or chairman of every organization he belonged to, from the deacons quorum, at the time of World War I, through numerous posts in civic, educational, business, and ecclesiastical groups. He was a leader in the Aaronic Priesthood and seventies quorums, was stake clerk, high councilman, bishop, stake president. The leadership calls in Church and community which came to this man might have been a well-ordered design preparing him for this new work. Hardly any major field was missed. He played an important part in and has come to know from foundation to capstone the priesthood work, at which he has served all his days in both Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood units; the welfare work, to which he was assigned as executive on the ward, stake, and region level; and missionary work, which he knows as a beginning proselyting missionary, a secretary, and finally as president of one of the most successful missions in the Church. Other mission presidents may expect expert help from this leader as he visits their missions. As bishop he has learned many lessons as father of the ward: patience with the foibles of human nature, long-suffering with the weak, tolerance with the unyielding. He has learned understanding as a divinely appointed judge, "to discern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God." Brother Taylor will be an astute adviser to the people throughout the Church, not only in spiritual fields but also with his general knowledge of business, having directed merchandising establishments, Chamber of Commerce, service clubs, hospital boards, educational institutions. His Taylor grandparents were hardy, courageous folks from England, with testimonies of the restoration which induced them to brave emigration with all it was to bring in privations and hardships, and even death. These young converts came to Provo to start a furniture business Henry was later to manage. The Dixon grandfather was also a courageous convert who came from South Africa and was an actor in the rugged drama played by the pioneers of that period. Crossing the plains in the Martin Company, he served to resist the on-march of Johnston's Army and filled a mission in his African homeland. The parents of Elder Taylor were hardy people from large families imbued with spirituality and independence. They trained Henry and his five brothers and two sisters in the old-fashioned thrifty, industrious way of life conducive to leadership. Father Taylor's philosophies were the homely kind which took root in the lives of the children. "It is better to suffer a wrong than to do a wrong." Another: "Make two blades of grass grow where but one was growing." And another: "Be short on words but long on performance." The new Authority is not too short on words, for he has the uncanny ability to say the right words at the proper time, and his performance is excellent. He was born in the family home in Provo, November 22, 1903, where he has lived all his life except the periods of his missions and when he has been away securing an advanced degree in his chosen occupational field in business. Knighted in the Field was written on his ordination certificate by his mission president, B. H. Roberts, when Henry became a seventy in the mission field, and now in general conference he was taken from the mission to again be "knighted in the field." Those who look for and select leadership realize full well that the wife of the leader is responsible, to an unbelievable extent, for the greatness of her spouse. Given an intelligent and basically good man, the proper wife through deserved praise, commendations, encouragement, and suggestions, brings polish, performance, and recognition to her husband. Certainly no exception to the rule is the lovely lady who comes to assist Henry D. Taylor in his new responsibilities in Church service. It was the charming Alta Hansen who captured his heart and walked with him through the years of privilege, opportunity, and accomplishment. The daughter of A. K. and Amelia Heppler Hansen of Richfield, Utah, this able and charming wife is proud of her humble, influential husband. She has served in many important posts in ward and stake organizations as well as in civic and community endeavors, and has been a loyal missionary companion in these past three years in the California Mission. Here she has been a gracious hostess to the Presidency and General Authorities of the Church and many others. Here she has mothered, with affection and wise counsel and encouragement, the many hundreds of missionaries,, mostly young men away from home for the first time. The Taylors have four sons who bring them honor: Henry D., Jr., 27, who, with his wife, Colette, and two little boys lives in Palo Alto, California. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School. There is Anthony H., 23, now filling a mission in New Zealand, and Stephen K., 16, and David A., 12. The new Assistant has a sense of humor, yet is serious-minded. He is loyal and devoted, uncompromising with revealed truth, and full of faith. He will not flinch under the lash or give way under stress and strain. He is a man of integrity and dependableness, of wisdom and resourcefulness. Most of the qualities of great leadership are blended in delicate balance to give this man poise, dignity, and impressive personableness. His demands of himself are strict and uncompromising, but with others he is tolerant and understanding. His faith in himself never leads to arrogance. But superior performance is the result of his unwavering faith in his Heavenly Father. We salute our new Assistant to the Twelve. |
Elder and Mrs. Taylor, seated with Anthony H., serving a mission in New Zealand, and Henry D., Jr., and his wife Colette; standing are Stephen K. and David A.
Elder Henry D. Taylor, president of the California Mission, new Assistant to the Council of the Twelve.
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Richards, LeGrand. "Henry Dixon Taylor Appointed Assistant to the Council of the Twelve." Relief Society Magazine. June 1958. pg. 360-362.
Henry Dixon Taylor Appointed Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Elder LeGrand Richards Of the Council of the Twelve IN the appointment of Henry Dixon Taylor to the high calling of an Assistant to the Twelve Apostles in his Church, the Lord has but recognized one of the "noble and great spirits'' among whom he stood when he said unto Abraham: These I will make my rulers . . . and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born (Abraham 3:23). This call is in keeping with the words of the prophet, ''A good man obtaineth favor of the Lord” Carlisle has said: ''What the world needs is a man who knows God otherwise than by hearsay” and such a man is Elder Taylor. During the month of January of this year, it was my privilege to tour the California Mission with President and Sister Taylor, and as I listened to his instructions and testimony to the missionaries and saints, it was evident that he is a man who truly knows God. His were not idle words, but were accompanied by the testimony of the Holy Spirit which as their president has won for him a place in their hearts which is ample compensation for the great sacrifice he made in leaving his business to accept the call from the Lord through his prophet to preside over the mission. Elder Taylor was born November 22, 1903, a son of Arthur N. and Maria Dixon Taylor. He has four living brothers, each of whom has served as a bishop and one is now president of a stake. He has two sisters. He graduated from the Brigham Young University in 1929 with a B.S. degree, obtained his M.S. degree from the New York University of Retailing in 1937, filled a mission in the Eastern States from 1924 to 1926. Of his missionary labors, President B. H. Roberts reported: ''Elder Taylor, as traveling elder, as conference president, as secretary of the mission, president of the mission Sunday Schools and Y.M.M.LA. proved to be an efficient elder in all these capacities." He served as a president in the 123d Quorum of Seventy; received his Master M Men award in 1939. From 1933 to 1940 he served as a member of the high council in the Sharon Stake, then as stake clerk until 1944. He was called to be the bishop of Pleasant View Ward in 1944, serving two years until his appointment as president of the Sharon Stake. When the stake was divided in 1952, he was named president of the East Sharon Stake. He served as chairman of the Central Utah Welfare Region in 1951 and later was named president of the newly created Mt. Timpanogos Welfare Region. He was vice-president and chairman of the executive committee of the Utah Valley Hospital, vice president of the Bonneville Development Company, secretary and treasurer and assistant manager of Dixon- Taylor-Russell Company of Provo. He is a past president of the Provo Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club. Such a background of training has prepared Elder Taylor to be a wise counselor as he visits the stakes and missions of the Church. Elder Taylor is sustained by a loving, capable companion of great faith and devotion. She, Alta Hansen Taylor, was born in Richfield, a daughter of A. K. and Amelia Heppler Hansen. She graduated from the B.Y.U. in 1929. She has been active in Church and civic affairs, a teacher in M.I.A. and Primary, a member of the stake Primary and Relief Society boards. She served in the presidency of ward Relief Society, president of P.T.A., president of Literary League and member of the B.Y.U. Alumni Association Board of Trustees. Elder and Sister Taylor have four sons. The oldest, Henry D., Jr. is married. Anthony H. is completing a mission in New Zealand. Steven K. and David A. are with their parents at the mission home. Typical of the high regard in which Elder Taylor is held by all who know him are these excerpts from comments from his former counselor in the stake presidency and his counselors in the mission presidency: ''There isn't another stake president like him. He has everything." “I have never met a man who was so easy to be with and know. His life to me was as an open book so full of warmth, spirituality, and understanding." "Here is a man who has literally devoted his life to the building up of the kingdom of God on earth. Here is a man who relies continually upon the Lord for wisdom and judgment. Here is a man who lives his life in such a way that he enjoys the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord in all his doings." With his natural endowments and broad experience, sustained by his great faith and the prayers of the saints and the inspiration and support of his lovely companion. Elder Taylor will be a great servant of the Master in the blessing of his children and the building of his kingdom in the earth. Elder Taylor was set apart for this special calling on April lo, 1958, by President David O. McKay. |
Courtesy The Deseret News
ELDER HENRY D. TAYLOR AND FAMILY At left: Elder Taylor; right, Alta Hansen Taylor; center, Stephen K.; at right, David A. Not in the picture are two sons: Henry D. Taylor, Jr. of Palo Alto, California, and Anthony H. Taylor, serving a mission in New Zealand. |
"Henry D. Taylor, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve." Improvement Era. November 1967. pg. 47.
HENRY D. TAYLOR Assistant to the Council of the Twelve “It was inevitable that he should reach I high places," was said of Henry D. Taylor when he was called as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve in April 1958. He was trained for leadership from his early days of disciplined farm life in Provo, Utah, where he was born on November 22, 1903, to Arthur N. and Maria Dixon Taylor. Remembering the rich heritage of his home, Elder Taylor said in a general conference address, "It was not meant that we should stand alone. We become better individuals when we grow together rather than alone." After a mission to the Eastern States, Elder Taylor was graduated from Brigham Young University in 1929 and in 1960 received the Y's Alumni Distinguished Service Award. He received a master's degree from New York University School of Retailing in 1937. In Provo, where he was assistant manager of Dixon Taylor Russell Company, Elder Taylor became actively involved in varied community affairs, including the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, and the Utah Valley Hospital board. On December 26, 1929, he married Alta Hansen of Richfield, Utah. Four sons were born to them. Active in ward and stake organizations. Sister Taylor charmingly and intelligently sustained her husband, sharing with him years of opportunity and accomplishment. She passed away on July 6, 1967. Described as a "quiet dynamo," Elder Taylor seemed destined to lead his brethren. He was national president of Delta Phi, a high councilor, and stake clerk, as well as bishop of Pleasant View Ward and president of Sharon and East Sharon stakes. He was serving as president of the California Mission when he was called to become an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. Now serving as managing director of the Church Welfare Program, Elder Taylor has brought to this special calling wide and long experience in welfare work, including experience as chairman of the Mt. Timpanogos and the Central Utah welfare regions. Elder Taylor approaches the Welfare Program with great compassion and love for his fellowmen, with full, uncompromising faith in revealed truth, and with strength and tolerance. Speaking about the program, he says: "To carry out the purposes of the program, it was intended that all members of the Church should join together and work, giving us a feeling of brotherhood and unity, a sense of belonging— belonging to one another and to the kingdom of God." Quiet, unassuming leadership and superior performance with unwavering faith in his Heavenly Father distinguish Elder Henry D. Taylor. |