F. Henry Edwards
Encyclopedia
Francis Henry Edwards was a British
leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church). Edwards was an apostle and a member of the church's Council of Twelve Apostles
from 1922 to 1946 and was a member of the First Presidency
from 1946 to 1966.
, England
. During the First World War Edwards, as a conscientious objector, refused to serve in the British military when conscripted
. Having been denied recognition by his local Military Service Tribunal, he was arrested, brought before the Magistrates' Court
and handed over to the army. At a court-martial
in Worcester
on 21 December 1916 he was sentenced to 112 days imprisonment with hard labour, which he served in Wormwood Scrubs
. On release back to the army he was sentenced to a longer term, but was finally released in 1919 after having spent over two years in prison.
to join the main gathering of RLDS Church members in Iowa
and became a full-time missionary
in 1920. On 13 October 1922, RLDS Church president Frederick M. Smith selected Edwards as an apostle of the church. Upon joining the Council of Twelve Apostles
, he was selected as the organization's secretary.
Frederick Smith died in 1946 and his brother Israel A. Smith was selected to succeed him. Israel Smith chose John F. Garver
and Edwards as his counselors in the First Presidency
. When Smith died in 1958 and was succeeded by his younger brother W. Wallace Smith
, Edwards was retained as a member of the First Presidency. On 18 April 1966, Edwards was honorably released from membership in the First Presidency and replaced by Duane E. Couey. At this time, Edwards was officially encouraged to "pursu[e] his talents of writing and teaching".
in studies of the church's Doctrine and Covenants
. From 1967 to 1976, Edwards updated the History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to include material from 1896 to 1976, which comprises volumes 5 through 8 of the work.
, the University of Kansas
and the University of Missouri–Kansas City
. Today at Graceland University, there is a F. Henry Edwards Chair of Religious Studies.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church). Edwards was an apostle and a member of the church's Council of Twelve Apostles
Council of Twelve Apostles (Community of Christ)
In the Community of Christ, The Council of Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy. They are disciples who hold the priesthood office of Apostle, and are responsible for the evangelistic witness of the church...
from 1922 to 1946 and was a member of the First Presidency
First Presidency (Community of Christ)
The First Presidency of the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the church's highest-ranking priesthood quorum. It is composed of the president and two counselors, and they preside over the whole church under the principles of "theocratic...
from 1946 to 1966.
Early life and imprisonment
Edwards was born to a Latter Day Saint family in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, 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...
. During the First World War Edwards, as a conscientious objector, refused to serve in the British military when conscripted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
. Having been denied recognition by his local Military Service Tribunal, he was arrested, brought before the Magistrates' Court
Magistrates' Court
A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of court in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions...
and handed over to the army. At a court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
in Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
on 21 December 1916 he was sentenced to 112 days imprisonment with hard labour, which he served in Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs, known locally as The Scrubs, is an open space located in the north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London. It is the largest open space in the Borough, at 80 ha , and one of the largest areas of common land in London...
. On release back to the army he was sentenced to a longer term, but was finally released in 1919 after having spent over two years in prison.
RLDS Church leadership
Edwards immigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to join the main gathering of RLDS Church members in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and became a full-time missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in 1920. On 13 October 1922, RLDS Church president Frederick M. Smith selected Edwards as an apostle of the church. Upon joining the Council of Twelve Apostles
Council of Twelve Apostles (Community of Christ)
In the Community of Christ, The Council of Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy. They are disciples who hold the priesthood office of Apostle, and are responsible for the evangelistic witness of the church...
, he was selected as the organization's secretary.
Frederick Smith died in 1946 and his brother Israel A. Smith was selected to succeed him. Israel Smith chose John F. Garver
John F. Garver
John Franklin Garver was an American leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints .Garver was born in Bristol, Indiana. He was educated at Graceland College...
and Edwards as his counselors in the First Presidency
First Presidency (Community of Christ)
The First Presidency of the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the church's highest-ranking priesthood quorum. It is composed of the president and two counselors, and they preside over the whole church under the principles of "theocratic...
. When Smith died in 1958 and was succeeded by his younger brother W. Wallace Smith
W. Wallace Smith
William Wallace Smith was a grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , from October 6, 1958 to April 5, 1978, when he retired to "emeritus" status....
, Edwards was retained as a member of the First Presidency. On 18 April 1966, Edwards was honorably released from membership in the First Presidency and replaced by Duane E. Couey. At this time, Edwards was officially encouraged to "pursu[e] his talents of writing and teaching".
Author and editor
In 1938, Edwards published the first edition of his Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, a resource that was updated and republished throughout Edwards's life and is still used today in the Community of ChristCommunity of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
in studies of the church's Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
. From 1967 to 1976, Edwards updated the History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to include material from 1896 to 1976, which comprises volumes 5 through 8 of the work.
Family and personal life
On 27 June 1924, Edwards married Alice Smith, a daughter of RLDS Church president Frederick M. Smith. In 1938, Edwards became a citizen of the United States. Edwards attended Graceland UniversityGraceland University
Graceland is not ranked by U.S. News & World Report, being deemed a Tier 3 institution. It is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission as a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.-Housing System:...
, the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
and the University of Missouri–Kansas City
University of Missouri–Kansas City
The University of Missouri–Kansas City is a public university located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is a branch of the University of Missouri System. Its main campus is in Kansas City's Rockhill neighborhood east of the Country Club Plaza...
. Today at Graceland University, there is a F. Henry Edwards Chair of Religious Studies.
Publications
- F. Henry Edwards (1930). Fundamentals: Enduring Convictions of the Restoration (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1932). A Study of the Doctrine and Covenants (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1933). Life and Ministry of Jesus (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1938). A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants: A Brief Historical Treatment of Each Section, Stating the Conditions under which It Was Given, Its Import for the Time It Was Given, and Its Application to the Problems and Needs of the Church Today (Independence, Mo.: Herald House) [reprinted and revised in 1986 as ISBN 0830901876]
- —— (1940). Missionary Sermon Studies (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1943). God Our Help (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1950). Studies in the Life and Ministry of Jesus (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- Elbert A. SmithElbert A. SmithElbert Aoriul Smith was an American leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
, F. Henry Edwards, and Herbert M. Scott (eds., 1951). Compendium of the Scriptures Including Texts of the Standard Books of the Church (Independence, Mo.: Herald House) - F. Henry Edwards (1951). Overviews of Church History (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1953). Challenges of the Restoration (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1956). Authority and Spiritual Power (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1959). The Whole Wide World (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1962). All Thy Mercies (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1963). For Such a Time (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1965). The Divine Purpose in Us (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1975). The Joy in Creation and Judgment (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)
- —— (1987). The Power that Worketh in Us (Independence, Mo.: Herald House)