Charles W. Penrose

Charles William Penrose (February 4, 1832 – May 16, 1925) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1904 to 1911. Penrose was also a member of the First Presidency, serving as a counselor to church presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant from 1911 until his death.

Life

Penrose was born in Camberwell London, England. It is said that he learned to read the Bible by the age of four. Penrose was introduced to the LDS Church and baptized at the age of eighteen on May 14, 1850, in London. He also met and married his wife, Lucetta Stratford, in London. The couple had 15 children.

Mission

After joining the LDS Church, Penrose was called on a mission, preaching throughout England. It was while on this mission he wrote the hymn O, Ye Mountains High. For the next seven years he primarily served as a missionary in agricultural areas. During this first mission he wrote "Up, Awake, Ye Defenders of Zion" as a result of the Utah War. In 1868, Penrose became the president of the church's London Conference (equivalent of a modern LDS district). He was then made president of the Cheltenham Pastorate, consisting of multiple conferences. He was then placed in charge of the Birmingham Pastorate, presiding over four conferences in the West Midlands of England.

Penrose wrote a set of mission tracts entitled "Rays of Living Light" which were widely used until about the middle of the 20th century.

Utah Territory

In 1861, Penrose emigrated to Utah Territory. After arriving in Utah he settled in Farmington. The cabin the Penrose family lived at in Farmington is now a museum of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. Besides working as a farmer and hauling logs, was also a school teacher.