37 Facts About Orson Hyde

Orson Hyde was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement and a member of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Orson Hyde was the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 to 1875 and was a missionary of the LDS Church in the United States, Europe, and the Ottoman Empire.

When he was 14 years old, Orson Hyde walked from Derby, Connecticut to Kirtland, Ohio, where he settled with Wheeler.

Orson Hyde was employed as a retail clerk in Kirtland.

Orson Hyde joined the local Methodist church in 1827, and then later affiliated with the Reformed Baptist Society.

Orson Hyde was a Campbellite pastor in Mentor, Ohio, in 1830.

When Oliver Cowdery and other Latter Day Saint missionaries preached in Kirtland in late 1830, Orson Hyde spoke publicly against the Book of Mormon.

However, when his former minister, Sidney Rigdon, joined the Church of Christ, Orson Hyde investigated the claims of the missionaries and was baptized by Rigdon in October 1831.

Orson Hyde's mission proved successful as he baptized many during his time in the eastern states, which included Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Orson Hyde discussed his new faith with his old Campbellite acquaintances during these missions.

Orson Hyde was present for the founding of the School of the Prophets in 1833.

Orson Hyde then marched with Zion's Camp in 1834 and became one of the members of the first presiding high council in Kirtland, Ohio.

Orson Hyde was ordained an apostle of the church on February 15,1835, as one of the original Quorum of the Twelve, being fifth in seniority.

Orson Hyde embarked on a mission with Heber C Kimball to Great Britain in 1837, returning home in 1838.

Orson Hyde traveled to Missouri where he fell sick enough to be bed-bound.

Bed-bound, sick and isolated, Orson Hyde swore before the same justice on the same day that he either knew Marsh's statements to be true or believed them to be such.

Orson Hyde was readmitted into the Quorum the same day in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Orson Hyde stayed in Bavaria for a while to learn the German language.

Orson Hyde arrived there on Thursday, October 21,1841, and stayed until Monday, October 25,1841.

Orson Hyde recorded that before dawn on October 24,1841, he climbed up the Mount of Olives overlooking the city, then both wrote and recited a prayer, part of which reads:.

Orson Hyde traveled back by way of Regensburg, Germany where he spent a number of months working on a church publication in German.

Orson Hyde finally arrived home to his wife and two daughters in Nauvoo on December 7,1842, having been gone for a few months shy of three years.

Orson Hyde married Marinda Nancy Johnson, in Kirtland, Ohio, on September 4,1834.

Three months after his return from his mission, Orson Hyde learned about plural marriage and married two additional wives.

Orson Hyde ultimately took eight wives and fathered 32 children.

Orson Hyde served on the Nauvoo City Council from 1843 to 1845 and joined the Council of Fifty on March 13,1844.

Orson Hyde moved with them to the staging grounds at Council Bluffs, Iowa, for their trek west and to oversaw their emigration to Utah.

Orson Hyde then was sent to England, presiding over the British Mission from 1846 to 1847.

Orson Hyde was placed in charge of the church in the Midwest, remaining in Council Bluffs, Iowa, until 1852.

Orson Hyde then joined the main body of the church in Utah Territory in 1852.

Orson Hyde served as an associate judge for Utah Territory for the US Supreme Court beginning in 1852.

Orson Hyde led an expedition to the Green River in 1853.

Orson Hyde was a member of the Manti Temple Building Committee and the Utah Territorial Assembly until he was sent to settle Spring City, Utah.

So, when Orson Hyde repented in 1839, he effectively joined the quorum as a new member.

Orson Hyde died in Spring City on November 28,1878 at 72 years of age.

Orson Hyde was succeeded by Moses Thatcher in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Orson Hyde is mentioned by name in six sections of the Doctrine and Covenants: sections 68,75,100,102,103, and 124.