Lorin Farrar Wheelwright (December 20, 1909 – November 4, 1987) was an American

Latter-day Saint Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

writer, composer, musical instructor and educator.

Early life and education

Wheelwright was the son of David S. Wheelwright and Valborg Rasmussen. His mother was an immigrant from

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

. She immigrated at age 13 after having become a member of

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 ...

, with her elder brother. Valborg Rasmussen Wheelwright was a graduate of Ellis Shipp's School of Obstetrics. She and David Wheelwright served as missionaries in Denmark for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1904 and 1905. Valborg Wheelwright was active in the Republican Party and ran unsuccessfully for the Utah State Legislature. Wheelwright was the younger brother of D. Sterling Wheelwright, who was one of his early music teachers. He was raised in a Latter-day Saint home where singing hymns was common. While still young he was a

Sunday School A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

, and then ward choir pianist in the Ogden 12th Ward of

(LDS Church).Cornwall, J. Spencer. ''Stories of Our Mormon Hymns'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1975) pp. 15–16. Wheelwright studied under

Edward P. Kimball Edward Partridge Kimball (June 2, 1882 – March 15, 1937) was an American organist of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a Latter-day Saint hymn writer. In 1898, Kimball was appointed music teacher at the Beaver Branch of Brigham Young Academy. Fro ...

and

Alexander Schreiner Alexander Ferdinand Schreiner (July 31, 1901 – September 15, 1987)

at the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

. He had begun his musical studies at the

McCune School of Music McCune may refer to: * McCune (surname) * McCune, Kansas McCune is a city in Crawford County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 370. History The first post office in McCune was established in August, ...

. He then studied at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

and the

Juilliard School of Music The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

. He received a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

from the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

and a

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is a ...

from

Career

Wheelwright succeeded J. Spencer Cornwall as the head of music education for the Salt Lake Public Schools. He also taught at Oswego Teachers College in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. He was a professor at the Branch Agricultural College (now Southern Utah University) starting in 1933. For a time he served as the head of the Coordinating Council of Higher Education of Utah. Wheelwright was involved in printing. He founded Pioneer Music Press in 1938. He remained president of that press until 1978. He was also the founding president of the Printing Industries of Utah in 1950. He also cofounded Wheelwright Lithography Company with his brother Max Wheelwright in 1956 and Wheelwright Press, Inc. in 1958. Wheelwright Press was mainly involved in publishing college and high school year books. Wheelwright served as president of the National Yearbook Association for some of the 1960s. From 1956 until at least 1971 Wheelwright served as a member of the Sunday School General Board of

. He also served for a time as associate editor of '' The Instructor'', the Church's

magazine from 1956 until the consolidation of church magazines in 1971. Wheelwright was also for a time president of a BYU

stake Stake may refer to: Entertainment * '' Stake: Fortune Fighters'', a 2003 video game * ''The Stake'', a 1915 silent short film * "The Stake", a 1977 song by The Steve Miller Band from '' Book of Dreams'' * ''Stakes'' (miniseries), a Cartoon Netw ...

. In 1967, Wheelwright became the dean of the

BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications The BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications (CFAC) is one of nine colleges at Brigham Young University, a private university operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and located in Provo, Utah. Founded in 1925, the college ...

(

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 ...

). In 1969, Wheelwright started the ''Mormon Arts Festival''. In 1973, he was succeeded by Lael J. Woodbury as the dean and was made a special assistant to BYU President

Dallin H. Oaks Dallin Harris Oaks (born August 12, 1932) is an American religious leader and former jurist and academic who since 2018 has been the first counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was ...

. He remained an assistant to Oaks until 1976. He also served as chairman of BYU's centennial celebration. Among the hymns that Wheelwright wrote are "O Love That Glorifies the Son", "Help Me Teach With Inspiration" and "Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee". He also wrote the words and music to "Come, All Ye Saints and Sing His Praise", which is not in the 1985

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

edition of the LDS Church hymnal but was in previous editions. Wheelwright wrote the words and music of the two-part Christmas anthe
"Star Bright"
(Estrella de Luz) with words in English and Spanish, and accompaniment for guitar and keyboard. Wheelwright also wrote "Mother I Love You", a song in the

Primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Works * ...

Children's Songbook The ''Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'' is the official songbook for children in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was first published in English in 1989. These songs are for the ...

''. He edited and published an autobiography of his mother.Valborg: An Autobiography of Valborg Rasmussen Wheelwright - WHEELWRIGHT, Lorin F - Used Books

Personal life

Wheelwright and his wife, Ila Eugenia Spilsbury, had four children.

References

Sources

Lorin Farrar Wheelwright Papers
MSS 3164; 20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts; L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. {{DEFAULTSORT:Wheelwright, Lorin F. 1909 births 1987 deaths American Latter Day Saint hymnwriters Brigham Young University faculty University of Utah alumni Columbia University alumni Musicians from Ogden, Utah Southern Utah University faculty University of Chicago alumni Sunday School (LDS Church) people American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Juilliard School alumni 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American writers