Henry Thorpe Beal Isaacson (September 6, 1898 – November 9, 1970) was a leader in

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church), serving as a counselor in the First Presidency to church president

David O. McKay David Oman McKay (September 8, 1873 – January 18, 1970) was an American religious leader and educator who served as the ninth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1951 until his death in 1970. Ordain ...

from 1965 to 1970. Isaacson was born in

Ephraim Ephraim (; he, ''ʾEp̄rayīm'', in pausa: ''ʾEp̄rāyīm'') was, according to the Book of Genesis, the second son of Joseph ben Jacob and Asenath. Asenath was an Ancient Egyptian woman whom Pharaoh gave to Joseph as wife, and the daughte ...

Sanpete County, Utah Sanpete County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 27,822. Its county seat is Manti, and its largest city is Ephraim. The county was created in 1850. History The Sanpete Valley may ...

, to Martin Isaacson and Mary Jemima Beal. Isaacson received his education at Snow Academy (now

Snow College Snow College is a public community college in Ephraim, Utah. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas, along with bachelor's degrees in music and software engineering and a four-year nursing program. Snow College is part ...

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

Utah State University Utah State University (USU or Utah State) is a public land-grant research university in Logan, Utah. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. With nearly 20,000 students living on or near campus, USU is Utah's ...

and the

University of California–Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of Californi ...

. On June 20, 1920, Isaacson married Lula Maughan Jones in the Salt Lake Temple. They eventually became the parents of two children. Isaacson worked as a school teacher and athletic coach in Idaho and later was a school district superintendent. He also was involved in insurance sales and real estate. Isaacson was a member of the Utah State University Board of Trustees. In the LDS Church, Isaacson was ordained a

high priest The term "high priest" usually refers either to an individual who holds the office of ruler-priest, or to one who is the head of a religious caste. Ancient Egypt In ancient Egypt, a high priest was the chief priest of any of the many gods rever ...

in 1941 by

Charles A. Callis Charles Albert Callis (4 May 1865 – 21 January 1947) was a leader and Missionary (LDS Church), missionary in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was ordained an Apostle (Latter Day Saints), apostle by President of t ...

of the

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly (a body that uses parliamentary procedure, such as a legislature) necessary to conduct the business of that group. According to ''Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised'', the ...

. In 1946, he became a second counselor to

LeGrand Richards LeGrand Richards (February 6, 1886 – January 11, 1983) was a prominent missionary and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served as the seventh presiding bishop of the LDS Church from 1938 to 1952, and ...

in the presiding bishopric, and then as first counselor to

Joseph L. Wirthlin Joseph Leopold Wirthlin (August 14, 1893 – January 25, 1963) was the eighth presiding bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Wirthlin was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. He served as a missionary in the ...

in 1952. In 1961, he was sustained as an

Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, commonly shortened to Assistant to the Twelve or Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, was a priesthood calling in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1941 and 1976. As the title of t ...

. On October 28, 1965, Isaacson was sustained as a counselor to church president David O. McKay in the First Presidency. Isaacson being called to be a counselor in the First Presidency was unusual since he was not an apostle. However, President McKay had a great deal of confidence in Isaacson's judgement and past service. There is evidence that Isaacson was already functioning much as a counselor to McKay at the time of his call to the First Presidency. Isaacson suffered a stroke on February 7, 1966, which severely limited his activities as a counselor.

Alvin R. Dyer Alvin Rulon Dyer (January 1, 1903 – March 6, 1977) was an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and served as a member of the church's First Presidency from 1968 to 1970. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dyer was ...

was added as a counselor to the First Presidency to fill the role Isaacson was to perform. Isaacson was released from the First Presidency upon McKay's death on January 18, 1970, and resumed his former position as an Assistant to the Twelve.He and

are only two people to return to Assistant to the Twelve after serving in First Presidency. Isaacson died in

Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...

, and was buried at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

References

*''2004 Church News Almanac'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Morning News, 2003) pp. 61–62 * Leon R. Hartshorn. ''Outstanding Stories by General Authorities''. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975) Vol. 3, p. 175. , - , colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" ,

January 23, 1970 – November 9, 1970
September 30, 1961 – October 28, 1965 , - 1898 births 1970 deaths American general authorities (LDS Church) Snow College alumni Brigham Young University alumni Utah State University alumni University of California, Berkeley alumni 20th-century American educators People from Ephraim, Utah Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Counselors in the First Presidency (LDS Church) Counselors in the Presiding Bishopric (LDS Church) Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery Latter Day Saints from Utah {{LDS-stub

See also

References