Jacob Spori
Encyclopedia
Jacob Spori was the first principal of the Bannock Stake Academy, an institution that would eventually become Brigham Young University–Idaho
.
A native of Switzerland
, Spori was a high school principal and government officer in that country. He was also elected to the Reformed Church's Synod Council. He however resigned his seat due to disagreements with the leaders of that church. In 1877 he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1879 he emigrated to Utah. His wife, the former Magdalena Roschi, and children stayed in Switzerland because they had not joined the church. In 1884 Spori returned to Switzerland as a missionary. He baptized his wife. However one week latter he set off to serve a mission in the Ottoman Empire
. While there he baptized Mischa Markow
. In 1886, he performed the first-ever Mormon baptism in Palestine
.
In 1888 Spori was released from his mission. He went to Switzerland and gathered his family. On going to the United States they settled in Rexburg, Idaho
. It was here that Spori served as principal of the school that eventually became Brigham Young University Idaho.
Spori was a highly educated man who had degrees in "mathematics, arts and music, and metallurgy.". He was a friend of Karl G. Maeser
who instructed him on the desired set up for the new school at Rexburg, Idaho
.
Brigham Young University–Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho is a private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded in 1888, the university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001, known for the greater part of its...
.
A native of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Spori was a high school principal and government officer in that country. He was also elected to the Reformed Church's Synod Council. He however resigned his seat due to disagreements with the leaders of that church. In 1877 he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1879 he emigrated to Utah. His wife, the former Magdalena Roschi, and children stayed in Switzerland because they had not joined the church. In 1884 Spori returned to Switzerland as a missionary. He baptized his wife. However one week latter he set off to serve a mission in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. While there he baptized Mischa Markow
Mischa Markow
Mischa Markow was the first missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to preach in present-day Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Latvia and Belgium. He also served as a missionary in Hungary, Germany and Russia...
. In 1886, he performed the first-ever Mormon baptism in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
In 1888 Spori was released from his mission. He went to Switzerland and gathered his family. On going to the United States they settled in Rexburg, Idaho
Rexburg, Idaho
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,257 people, 4,274 households, and 2,393 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,534.4 people per square mile . There were 4,533 housing units at an average density of 928.4 per square mile...
. It was here that Spori served as principal of the school that eventually became Brigham Young University Idaho.
Spori was a highly educated man who had degrees in "mathematics, arts and music, and metallurgy.". He was a friend of Karl G. Maeser
Karl G. Maeser
-Brigham Young Academy:When Maeser arrived at Brigham Young Academy in 1876 it was dying. Enrollment had declined since Warren N. Dusenberry had started the school a few months before. There were only 29 students at the time of Maeser's arrival....
who instructed him on the desired set up for the new school at Rexburg, Idaho
Rexburg, Idaho
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,257 people, 4,274 households, and 2,393 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,534.4 people per square mile . There were 4,533 housing units at an average density of 928.4 per square mile...
.