Heber J. Grant

Heber J. Grant – Life, Leadership & Legacy

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Heber J. Grant (1856–1945) served as the seventh President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Learn about his early life, apostolic service, presidential initiatives, and enduring influence.

Introduction

Heber Jeddy Grant (born November 22, 1856 – died May 14, 1945) was a prominent religious leader who served as the seventh President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1918 until his death. His presidency spanned times of great turmoil and change—World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II—and his leadership left a deep imprint on the structure, welfare programs, and global expansion of the church.

Though widely known for his ecclesiastical role, Grant was also active in business, social development, and institutional growth, balancing temporal and spiritual stewardship during challenging eras.

Early Life and Family

Heber J. Grant was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Jedediah Morgan Grant and Rachel Ridgeway Ivins Grant. His father, Jedediah, served in the First Presidency under Brigham Young, but tragically died when Heber was only nine days old.

Raised by his mother Rachel under humble circumstances, Grant’s childhood was marked by financial hardship. In accounts of his youth, he and his mother endured meager provisions—sometimes going without shoes or warm hearths—and she supported them by taking in boarders and sewing. Despite constraints, Rachel’s devotion to her faith and refusal to abandon religious conviction (even when urged by relatives to leave the church in exchange for comfort) deeply influenced Heber’s character.

From a young age, Heber displayed determination. He faced teasing over his handwriting and lack of athletic agility, but responded by persistent effort—practicing penmanship until his script improved and throwing balls against a barn until his throwing improved. He later turned those skills into teaching penmanship and bookkeeping roles.

There was no free public schooling in Salt Lake during his youth, so his mother ensured he attended various institutions to ensure he received an education.

Youth, Calling & Early Service

At age 15, Grant began working as a bookkeeper and policy clerk in an insurance office. He later held positions in banking and other businesses to support his family.

Grant was called to various church positions early. He served in the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) leadership and was appointed to the presidency of Tooele Stake around 1880 (when he was in his early twenties). In October 1882, at age 25, he was ordained an Apostle and joined the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

As an apostle, Grant engaged in missions and assignments: he traveled among Native American communities, presided over the church’s first mission in Japan (early 1900s), and later led the British and European missions.

During his apostolic service, he also explored church finances and business ventures to support church stability—most notably during the financial difficulties of the 1890s.

Leadership as President of the Church

Ascension & Early Years

Joseph F. Smith died in late 1918, and Heber J. Grant succeeded him as President of the LDS Church on November 23, 1918. However, because of the influenza pandemic of 1918, the church’s general conference (where sustaining normally occurs) was delayed; Grant’s formal sustaining by general church membership occurred in June 1919.

During his presidency, Grant oversaw significant structural and doctrinal developments. Under his leadership:

• The church welfare program (then called the Church Security Plan) was instituted in 1936 to alleviate suffering during the Great Depression, aiming to provide means for self-reliance and remove reliance on handouts.

• He emphasized stricter enforcement of the Word of Wisdom (the church's health code), making adherence more vital for participation in temple ordinances and priesthood progression.

• Temple construction and dedication expanded: He dedicated temples in Laie (Hawaii), Alberta (Canada), and Arizona during his term.

• He oversaw the creation and expansion of the institutes of religion (religious education programs for church members in colleges/universities).

• Under his tenure, the church’s geographical footprint grew beyond the Intermountain West: new stakes in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Portland, and Washington, D.C., were organized.

• In 1935, he excommunicated members of the Short Creek, Arizona community who refused to sign a loyalty pledge renouncing plural marriage—this act formalized a split with Mormon fundamentalist groups.

Grant also strongly supported the Utah state and territorial prohibition (banning alcohol) and opposed President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies, viewing them as socialist.

Challenges & Crisis Response

Grant’s presidency encompassed some of the most tumultuous decades in modern history. The Great Depression tested both secular and ecclesiastical resources. His welfare program was an institutional response that aimed to help church members maintain dignity through work.

He also guided the church through financial constraints, debt, and institutional growth, applying his business acumen to stabilize church finances and to acquire assets.

Grant’s long presidency made him one of the longest-serving presidents in church history (second only to Brigham Young).

Personality, Values & Key Teachings

Grant was known for his persistence, industriousness, and faith in obedience. One recurring theme in his teachings was: “No obstacles are insurmountable when God commands and we obey.”

He expressed gratitude toward his mother’s influence, crediting her example of sacrifice, faith, and integrity with shaping his life.

He was also generous: he often purchased and gave away books—sometimes with inscriptions—and viewed his resources as tools for doing good rather than as ends in themselves.

Grant viewed hard work and self-reliance as central virtues: his welfare plan, his stance against idleness, and his own life story all reflected a conviction that people should help themselves as much as possible.

Legacy and Influence

• Grant’s welfare program remains a foundational institutional structure in the LDS Church, influencing how the church assists members in need globally.

• Under his presidency, the church’s expansion beyond Utah gained momentum, with significant growth in U.S. and international stakes and chapters.

• His insistence on higher adherence to health and spiritual standards shaped the culture and expectations of church participation.

• His administrative and business strategies helped the institutional church weather financial storms and emerge with greater stability.

• He remains a respected figure in LDS history, with multiple compilations of his sermons and writings published—Gospel Standards: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Heber J. Grant being one example.

Selected Sayings & Quotations

While not as widely quoted as some modern leaders, several teachings of Grant reflect his character and worldview:

• “No obstacles are insurmountable when God commands and we obey.”

• “I promise you … that every man and woman who obeys the commandments of God shall prosper, that every promise made of God shall be fulfilled.” (from one of his radio messages)

These reveal his emphasis on faith, obedience, promises, and divine assurance.

Conclusion

Heber J. Grant’s life bridged eras of frontier faith and modern institutional religion. Rising from a fatherless and financially modest childhood, he became a businessman, apostle, and eventual president of his church. Through economic crises, global growth, doctrinal enforcement, and institutional innovation, his leadership guided the LDS Church into new phases of expansion and stability. His legacy remains alive in the church’s welfare systems, global presence, and the values he championed: faith, work, obedience, and service.