18 Facts About Evan Stephens

Evan Stephens was a Latter-day Saint composer and hymn writer.

Evan Stephens was the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 26 years.

Evan Stephens moved with his family to Willard, Utah Territory when he was twelve.

Evan Stephens's parents had converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before his birth.

When Brigham Young came to visit, Evan Stephens was embarrassed by his poverty, particularly his lack of coat or shoes, and painted his feet black with shoe polish.

At the bowery before Young entered the building, Evan Stephens became overcome with embarrassment and started to exit the building but ran into Young entering the building.

Evan Stephens had an attachment to a girl in Willard when he was in his early twenties, but she died in a freak accident while in a stage performance.

Later, Evan Stephens was engaged to a woman who made a deathbed request at the end of her brief illness that he love her through his music.

Evan Stephens had intended on marrying her, and arranged for her to come to Utah from the United Kingdom in 1902.

Evan Stephens had anticipated that she would convert to the LDS Church on coming to Utah, but when this did not happen, he arranged for her to be his housekeeper.

From 1885 to 1900, Evan Stephens directed the teaching of music at the University of Utah.

Evan Stephens served as the first public school music supervisor in Utah.

In 1899, the Missionary Song Book, edited by Evan Stephens, was distributed in the LDS Church's Southern States Mission.

Evan Stephens was the director of the choir who moved it into the field of performing concerts at non-religious events.

For part of the time that Evan Stephens was director of the choir, he held the title of president of the choir and was assisted by two counselors, echoing a system of ecclesiastical leadership used throughout the LDS Church.

Elsewhere, Quinn has theorised that the unmarried Evan Stephens had intimate relationships and shared the same bed with a series of male domestic partners and travelling companions.

However, Quinn has admitted that it is possible Evan Stephens never engaged in homosexual conduct.

Specifically, Evan Stephens maintained a large number of students as residents in his household to prevent the image of impropriety with Daniels, since if he had lived alone with her without other witnesses around, it would have opened him up to accusations of a scandalous relationship.