LeGrand Richards
Born: 6 February 1886
Called as Presiding Bishop: 6 April 1938
Called to Quorum of the Twelve: 6 April 1952
Died: 11 January 1983
Called as Presiding Bishop: 6 April 1938
Called to Quorum of the Twelve: 6 April 1952
Died: 11 January 1983
Biographical Articles
Instructor, February 1939, Presiding Bishop LeGrand Richards
Relief Society Magazine, June 1952, "Here Am I; Send Me" - Tribute to Elder LeGrand Richards
Ensign, July 1982, LeGrand Richards: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder
Ensign, February 1983, Elder LeGrand Richards Dies: Beloved Apostle, Missionary, Friend
Ensign, March 1983, Elder LeGrand Richards Is Eulogized
Relief Society Magazine, June 1952, "Here Am I; Send Me" - Tribute to Elder LeGrand Richards
Ensign, July 1982, LeGrand Richards: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder
Ensign, February 1983, Elder LeGrand Richards Dies: Beloved Apostle, Missionary, Friend
Ensign, March 1983, Elder LeGrand Richards Is Eulogized
"Presiding Bishop LeGrand Richards." Instructor. February 1939. pg. 58.
LeGRAND RICHARDS PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE CHURCH
Ever since he was a boy in Tooele and in one of the Salt Lake City wards, Bishop Richards has been exceptionally active in the Church. He has been a member of. and held positions in, the Sunday School, the Improvement Associations, and the lesser and higher Priesthood quorums. And now he is Presiding Bishop of the Church.
Much of his life has been spent in the mission field, and this work he loves best. His first mission was to Holland, which he filled when he was a very young man. Later he returned to that country as president of the mission. After that he went to the Eastern States on a short mission. Just before his call to the presiding bishopric he returned from the Southern States where he was president.
Three times during his life he has been ward bishop—twice in Salt Lake City and once in Southern California. Twice he has been a high councilor, and once president of a stake.
Which has he liked best? was asked him and immediately he answered: first the life of a missionary in the field, and after that a ward bishop. The second choice came as a surprise, because the office of ward bishop is generally supposed to be one of the hardest and most exacting positions in the Church. But Bishop Richards has his reasons.
"In the mission field," he explains, "you come in touch with people as individuals, rather than in groups. You therefore learn to love them. You take a special interest in each. You watch them grow spiritually. In a sense you can see the fruits of your labors. I figure that I was instrumental in bringing forty persons into the Church.
"When I left Holland, the first time I was there, I shed more tears on leaving for home than I had done on leaving home for my mission. One man, an elderly man, with a long, gray beard, actually knelt down and kissed my hand, when I left, so grateful was he that I had brought him and his family the Gospel.
"That is the reward that comes to the missionary.
"It is much the same in the ward bishopric. The bishop learns to know every member of his ward by name, personally. He visits the people in their homes. He meets them in their joys and in their sorrows. He studies their dispositions, knows their weaknesses and their strength. And knowing them as individuals he learns to love them."
That is what the Bishop thinks of religious work. He loves people, and, loving them, it gives him joy to work with them. The missionary and the ward bishop comes closest to people, and therefore, according to Bishop Richards, can be the happiest in their work.
LeGRAND RICHARDS PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE CHURCH
Ever since he was a boy in Tooele and in one of the Salt Lake City wards, Bishop Richards has been exceptionally active in the Church. He has been a member of. and held positions in, the Sunday School, the Improvement Associations, and the lesser and higher Priesthood quorums. And now he is Presiding Bishop of the Church.
Much of his life has been spent in the mission field, and this work he loves best. His first mission was to Holland, which he filled when he was a very young man. Later he returned to that country as president of the mission. After that he went to the Eastern States on a short mission. Just before his call to the presiding bishopric he returned from the Southern States where he was president.
Three times during his life he has been ward bishop—twice in Salt Lake City and once in Southern California. Twice he has been a high councilor, and once president of a stake.
Which has he liked best? was asked him and immediately he answered: first the life of a missionary in the field, and after that a ward bishop. The second choice came as a surprise, because the office of ward bishop is generally supposed to be one of the hardest and most exacting positions in the Church. But Bishop Richards has his reasons.
"In the mission field," he explains, "you come in touch with people as individuals, rather than in groups. You therefore learn to love them. You take a special interest in each. You watch them grow spiritually. In a sense you can see the fruits of your labors. I figure that I was instrumental in bringing forty persons into the Church.
"When I left Holland, the first time I was there, I shed more tears on leaving for home than I had done on leaving home for my mission. One man, an elderly man, with a long, gray beard, actually knelt down and kissed my hand, when I left, so grateful was he that I had brought him and his family the Gospel.
"That is the reward that comes to the missionary.
"It is much the same in the ward bishopric. The bishop learns to know every member of his ward by name, personally. He visits the people in their homes. He meets them in their joys and in their sorrows. He studies their dispositions, knows their weaknesses and their strength. And knowing them as individuals he learns to love them."
That is what the Bishop thinks of religious work. He loves people, and, loving them, it gives him joy to work with them. The missionary and the ward bishop comes closest to people, and therefore, according to Bishop Richards, can be the happiest in their work.
Wirthlin, Joseph L. ""Here Am I; Send Me" - Tribute to Elder LeGrand Richards." Relief Society Magazine. June 1952. pg. 367-370.
"Here Am I; Send Me" A Tribute to Elder LeGrand Richards of the Council of the Twelve Presiding Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin ISAIAH heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send . . . .?" and immediately the ancient prophet replied, "Here am I; send me." Isaiah's willing and unhesitant giving of himself to the work of the Lord has a remarkable parallel in the life of Elder LeGrand Richards, the newly appointed member of the Council of the Twelve. Every call from those who preside over the Church is the word of the Lord to Elder Richards; it has been so since his early childhood. Always has his answer been, "Here am I; send me." Four times a missionary, three times a ward bishop, a stake president, and for fourteen years the Presiding Bishop of the Church, head the list of his major calls to positions of great responsibility, preceding his call to the Council of the Twelve. The writer's impressions of Elder Richards, as a result of close and treasured association with him in the office of the Presiding Bishopric, are the general objectives and suggested limitations of this writing. It would be impractical, if not impossible, to mention, in this brief overview, all of his superb qualities of leadership or to grade them one above the other. It is most unusual that any one man should possess so much inherent ability to be in full control of any situation needing his attention at any time. Bishop Richards adopted the "open door" policy at the outset of his administration as the Presiding Bishop. His office door was closed only when it was necessary to insure the privacy of council meetings and to guard confidential interviews. His warm welcome to anyone who wanted to see him for any reason is known in every corner of the Church. The Presiding Bishop of the Church seems always under the urgent necessity of making decisions covering an area in Church procedure, the extent of which, very few really understand. Ever in the midst of this almost continuous avalanche of problems calling for solutions, the judicious mind of Bishop LeGrand Richards invariably suggested the unerring answer. The size or the nature of the respective problems was of little consequence so far as his powers of solution were concerned. Problems imposing the necessity for wise decisions, never seem to be a burden to him; he considers them only as opportunities. While the responsibilities of the Presiding Bishop have to do largely with the temporal affairs of the Church, there was always the warmth, depth, height, and breadth of unmeasurable spirituality brought to bear upon all matters coming under his direction. His associates could never lose sight of the fact that he wanted every council meeting, every act, every decision, influenced by love, fellowship, and a deep sense of spirituality. He held it to be essential that these virtues be in evidence even in the handling of the temporal affairs of the kingdom. HIS mind is one of unusual versatility. His decisions are studied, but they are quick and accurate. He can be interrupted in the consideration of one problem and instantly recall the details of another, wholly unrelated, with the greatest of ease. He can attract the unhesitating smile of a babe in arms. Little children delight to be near him. He exemplifies the attitude of Jesus, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Persons of all ages and on all intellectual levels are instantly at home in his presence. Becoming acquainted with him for the first time, seems but the renewal of an already established friendship. Bishop Richards has but to indicate his desires to any who work under his direction, and through his ingenious powers of leadership he gets the very best efforts they have to offer. His eagerness to always give credit to those who assist him in any way in the achievement of desired goals, sets him apart as one of the too few leaders who know how to inspire the unquestionable loyalties of associates without the slightest suggestion of command. Tens of thousands who have come up through the quorums and groups of the Aaronic Priesthood, and who now bear the Aaronic Priesthood, have come to look upon Bishop Richards as a modern-day Aaron. As the Presiding Bishop, he was President of the Aaronic Priesthood of the Church. Under his forceful leadership, the Aaronic Priesthood program was brought to its highest level in history. His charge to stake and ward leaders has always been "If you will follow the program, there is no reason why you should lose a single boy." His loyalty to the leadership of the Church is one of the most inspiring attributes in his character; it spreads its contagion over everyone who comes in contact with him. His loyalty to and defense of stake and ward leaders in the righteous discharge of their responsibilities are well known everywhere. Could it not be that his high sense of loyalty to others attracts the loyalty of others to him? He is not without the love and unqualified support of every true Latter- day Saint everywhere. Kneeling with him in prayer at the beginning of each day's work, listening to humble petitions for inspiration and guidance, always gave one the feeling that the Lord was standing near; he could not be very far away. Innumerable personal experiences with Bishop Richards added evidence upon evidence that he was recognized as the Lord's chosen servant and that he was blessed and magnified in all his ministrations. Absolute honesty, unbounded faith, unfeigned humility, generosity in abundance, unlimited kindness, a deep and abiding love for all mankind; these help to complete the portrait of a leader we all love. IT would be an unforgiveable oversight if attention were not directed to his beautiful, lovable wife who stands beside him now, as she has stood beside him in all calls made upon him. Sister Richards is loved and admired by all who know her. In any hour of discouragement or disappointment, as well as in all hours of rejoicing, her inspiration and unqualified support have been a source of great strength to him. His labors are not finished; his work is not done. We look up to him now as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. God called, through his anointed servants, and Elder Richards answered, as did Isaiah of old, "Here am I; send me." He is now a special witness to all the world that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world; that the Father and the Son appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, who became the instrument through whom the Lord restored the gospel and established the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth. Qualified in character, experience, and knowledge of the gospel, Elder Richards will become a mighty instrument in proclaiming Jesus Christ and him crucified to the world. His attitude is best expressed in the words of a beautiful hymn: I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain, or plain, or sea; I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, I'll be what you want me to be. We honor this servant of the Master, advocate and defender of the faith, good Samaritan, friend of man, apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ. The Lord bless him, the Lord keep him. May we who follow always answer the call of the Lord, as he has done from his earliest youth, "Here am I; send me." When the Lord sent his servants out in this day, he told them they were not going to be taught of men, but to teach that which he would give unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost. I do not know very much about the philosophies of men, but I know that God created the feelings of the human heart, and the human soul, and I know that God has a way of bringing joy and happiness into the souls of men, when they seek after him, and when they enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost, far beyond anything that men can purchase with their money. —From the first conference message of Elder LeGrand Richards following his appointment as a member of the Council of the Twelve, Sunday afternoon, April 6, 1952. |
ELDER LeGRAND RICHARDS
ELDER LeGRAND RICHARDS AND HIS FAMILY
Front row (on floor), left to right: Roger Boyer; Tad Callister; Paula Callister; Richard Boyer; Douglas Callister. Second row (on couch, being held), left to right: Scott Iverson; Alden L. Richards; Becky Richards; Charlotte Louise Richards. Third row (seated on couch): Mrs. J. Grant Iverson (Mercedes Richards); Ina Jane Ashton Richards (wife of Elder LeGrand Richards); Elder LeGrand Richards; George Lamont Richards. Third row (at left of couch): Janet Boyer; Alden R. Richards; (at right of couch ) : Clara Iverson; George LaMont Richards, Jr. Fourth row, standing, left to right: Mrs. Alden Richards (Laura Mae Penrose); Mrs. George LaMont Richards (Edna Fae Firmage); Reed E. Callister; Mrs. Reed E. Callister (Norinne Richards); J. Grant Iverson; Mrs. Harold Boyer (Marian Louise Richards); Harold Boyer; Richard Callister; Carolyn Boyer; David Callister. Not included in this group picture are Mrs. J. Glen Dyer (Nona Richards) and her husband and three children, who live in Washington, D.C. |