1. Orson Spencer was a prolific writer and prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
22 Facts About Orson Spencer
1. 2.
Orson Spencer served in several highly visible positions within the church and left an extensive legacy of theological writings.
3.
Orson Spencer is one of the examples William Mulder cites of highly educated people becoming Mormons during the time of Joseph Smith.
4.
In 1824, Orson Spencer graduated with honors from Union College at Schenectady, New York.
5.
In 1825 Orson Spencer took a job as a school teacher in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia.
6.
In 1827, Orson Spencer joined the Baptist church and decided to become a pastor.
7.
Orson Spencer attended the theological college at Hamilton, New York, and graduated as class valedictorian in 1829.
8.
Orson Spencer served as pastor at three congregations throughout New England between 1829 and 1841.
9.
News of Orson Spencer's conversion reached many of his Baptist colleagues.
10.
Orson Spencer served as the head of the University of Nauvoo.
11.
Orson Spencer was elected mayor of Nauvoo in 1845, but he appears to not have served due to the revocation of the city charter.
12.
Orson Spencer would have succeeded his brother Daniel Spencer in this office.
13.
Orson Spencer served as president of the British Mission from early 1847 until the summer of 1848.
14.
Orson Spencer was the president of one of the five Mormon pioneer companies in 1849.
15.
In 1850, when the Deseret News began publication in Salt Lake City, Orson Spencer served as assistant editor under Willard Richards.
16.
Orson Spencer was a member of the first legislative council of Utah Territory.
17.
Orson Spencer served as an editor and writer on many newspapers from his conversion and was named the first chancellor of the University of Deseret in 1850.
18.
Orson Spencer then returned to St Louis where he succumbed to this disease, passing away on October 15,1855, at the age of 53.
19.
Orson Spencer's writings were an influential force in the formation of 19th-century Latter-day Saint theology.
20.
Orson Spencer married Eliza Ann Dibble as a plural wife in January 1846 in Nauvoo.
21.
Orson Spencer later married Margaret Miller, Jane T Davis and Mary Hill as plural wives.
22.
Orson Spencer was the father of Aurelia Orson Spencer Rogers, who in 1878 founded the Primary Association, the official organization of the LDS Church for children.