Harold B. Lee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harold B. Lee |
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| 11th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| July 7, 1972 – December 26, 1973 | |
| Predecessor | Joseph Fielding Smith |
| Successor | Spencer W. Kimball |
| President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (with Spencer W. Kimball as Acting President) |
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| January 23, 1970 – July 7, 1972 | |
| Predecessor | Joseph Fielding Smith |
| Successor | Spencer W. Kimball |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| First Counselor in the First Presidency | |
| January 23, 1970 – July 2, 1972 | |
| Called by | Joseph Fielding Smith |
| End reason | Dissolution of First Presidency on the death of Joseph Fielding Smith |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 10, 1941 – January 23, 1970 | |
| Called by | Heber J. Grant |
| End reason | Called as First Counselor in the First Presidency |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| April 10, 1941 – December 26, 1973 | |
| Called by | Heber J. Grant |
| Reason | Death of Reed Smoot |
| Reorganization at end of term |
L. Tom Perry ordained |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Harold Bingham Lee March 28, 1899 Clifton, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | December 26, 1973 (aged 74) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W |
| Spouse(s) | Fern Lucinda Tanner (1923–1962) (her death) Freda Joan Jensen (1963–1973) (his death) |
| Children | 2 |
| Signature | |
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Harold Bingham Lee (born March 28, 1899 – died December 26, 1973) was an important American religious leader. He served as the 11th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from July 1972 until his death in December 1973.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harold B. Lee was born in Clifton, Idaho. He was the second of six children born to Samuel and Louisa Lee. His family lived on a farm, and Harold helped with chores.
His mother saved his life more than once. When he was eight, he spilled a strong chemical called lye on himself. His mother quickly poured vinegar on him, which stopped the chemical from hurting him. Another time, as a teen, he cut an artery on a broken bottle. His mother used ashes from a burned stocking to help the wound heal.
Harold was lucky to get a good education. He finished eighth grade in Clifton. His parents then let him go to Oneida Stake Academy in Preston, Idaho. There, he studied music and played several instruments, like the French horn. He also played basketball and wrote for the school newspaper. He graduated in 1916.
After high school, Harold worked to become a teacher. He attended Albion State Normal School in Albion, Idaho, during the summers of 1916 and 1917. He passed a big test to get his teaching certificates. His first teaching job was in Weston, Idaho, in 1916. He taught 25 students from first to eighth grade. When he was 18, he became the principal of a school in Oxford, Idaho.
In September 1920, when he was 21, Harold was called to serve a mission for his church. He served in the western United States, based in Denver, Colorado, until December 1922.
Marriages and Family
While serving his mission, Harold met Fern Lucinda Tanner, who was also a missionary. They met again after their missions and got married on November 14, 1923, in the Salt Lake Temple. Fern passed away in 1962.
On June 17, 1963, Harold married Freda Joan Jensen. She had been a friend of one of his mission companions. Freda passed away in 1981.
Community Leadership
In 1932, when Harold was 33, he became a community leader in Salt Lake City. He was chosen to fill an open spot on the Salt Lake City Commission. This meant he helped manage city services like streets and public improvements. A year later, he was elected to the same position.
Service in the Church
In 1930, Harold was called to be the president of the Pioneer Stake in Salt Lake City. He was the youngest stake president in the church at that time.
During the Great Depression (a time when many people lost their jobs), more than half of the members in his stake were unemployed. Harold started a special welfare program to help them. In 1932, his stake opened a Bishop's Storehouse. This place provided food and other basic needs to church members who were struggling.
In 1936, Harold became the leader of the Church Welfare Program for the entire church. He helped set up similar programs, including Bishop's Storehouses, all over the church. This program still helps people today.
Even though he also worked in city government, Harold began serving the church full-time in 1941. He was called to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Harold also worked on a committee to make the church's organization simpler and more efficient. He spent many years studying and suggesting improvements. He led the Priesthood Correlation Program under church president David O. McKay. This program helped organize different parts of the church in the 1960s.
When President McKay passed away in 1970, Joseph Fielding Smith became the church president. Harold B. Lee was then called as First Counselor in the First Presidency. This gave him important experience for his future role.
In 1972, President Smith passed away, and Harold B. Lee became the President of the Church. During his time as president, he helped organize a church branch in Jerusalem. He also led important church meetings called Area Conferences in Mexico and in Europe.
Death
Harold B. Lee's time as church president was short. He served from July 7, 1972, until his sudden death on December 26, 1973. He was 74 years old. Harold B. Lee was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Legacy and Honors
After his death, a statue of Harold B. Lee was placed where he was born. Brigham Young University also honored him by naming its main library after him. The Harold B. Lee Library is very large, with many miles of bookshelves. It is one of the biggest libraries in the western United States.
In 2002, the church used Harold B. Lee's teachings as a guide for their Sunday classes.
Images for kids
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Grave marker of Harold B. Lee
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Headstone of Harold B. Lee
