A. Hamer Reiser
Encyclopedia
Albert Hamer Reiser was a prominent community leader in Utah
and a missionary
and leader of the Sunday School
in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Reiser was born in Salt Lake City, Utah
to Albert S. Reiser and Nancy Ellen Hamer. He was a graduate of the University of Utah
.
As a career, Reiser was the magager of the Deseret Book Company in Salt Lake City. Untrained in law
, he nevertheless became a member of the Utah State Bar.
Reiser was an active participant in community service in Utah. For eight years, Reiser was a member of the University of Utah Board of Regents. He was also a long-time member of the Great Salt Lake Council of Boy Scouts
. Reiser was a member of the Utah State Parks and Recreation Commission and from 1938 to 1948, he served as the secretary to the Utah Centennial Committee.
As a member of the LDS Church, Reiser held a variety of prominent positions. Beginning in 1921, David O. McKay
selected him to be the secretary to the general superintendency of the Deseret Sunday School Union, a position he would hold for over 20 years. In 1926, Reiser became a member of the general board of the Sunday School, and in 1943 he became the second assistant to general superintendent Milton Bennion
. In 1949, when George R. Hill
succeeded Bennion, Reiser became Hill's first assistant in the general superintendency of the Sunday School organization. During his time in the Sunday School, Reiser wrote a variety of books and lesson manuals, including a 1945 history of the LDS Church for children.
Reiser served in the Sunday School until 1952, when he was asked to become the president
of the British Mission
of the church. During his time in England
, Reiser organized the church's purchase of the property for the construction of the London Temple
.
Reiser returned to Utah in 1955, and became an assistant secretary to the First Presidency
of the church. He also was made the president of the Sugar House Stake of the church.
From 1920 until his death, Reiser was married to Elizabeth R. Baxter; he was the father of eight children. Reiser died in Salt Lake City.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and a missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
and leader of the Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Reiser was born in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to Albert S. Reiser and Nancy Ellen Hamer. He was a graduate of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.
As a career, Reiser was the magager of the Deseret Book Company in Salt Lake City. Untrained in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, he nevertheless became a member of the Utah State Bar.
Reiser was an active participant in community service in Utah. For eight years, Reiser was a member of the University of Utah Board of Regents. He was also a long-time member of the Great Salt Lake Council of Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. Reiser was a member of the Utah State Parks and Recreation Commission and from 1938 to 1948, he served as the secretary to the Utah Centennial Committee.
As a member of the LDS Church, Reiser held a variety of prominent positions. Beginning in 1921, David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
selected him to be the secretary to the general superintendency of the Deseret Sunday School Union, a position he would hold for over 20 years. In 1926, Reiser became a member of the general board of the Sunday School, and in 1943 he became the second assistant to general superintendent Milton Bennion
Milton Bennion
Milton Bennion was an American educator and a university and educational administrator.-Biography:Bennion was born in Taylorsville, Utah Territory. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Utah in 1897 and an M.A...
. In 1949, when George R. Hill
George R. Hill
George Richard Hill, Jr. was an American educational administrator and was the seventh general superintendent of the Sunday School organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1966...
succeeded Bennion, Reiser became Hill's first assistant in the general superintendency of the Sunday School organization. During his time in the Sunday School, Reiser wrote a variety of books and lesson manuals, including a 1945 history of the LDS Church for children.
Reiser served in the Sunday School until 1952, when he was asked to become the president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the British Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church. During his time in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Reiser organized the church's purchase of the property for the construction of the London Temple
London England Temple
The London England Temple is the 12th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Newchapel, Surrey, England....
.
Reiser returned to Utah in 1955, and became an assistant secretary to the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
of the church. He also was made the president of the Sugar House Stake of the church.
From 1920 until his death, Reiser was married to Elizabeth R. Baxter; he was the father of eight children. Reiser died in Salt Lake City.