Matthew Cowley
Encyclopedia
Matthew Cowley was an American missionary and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1945 until his death. He was affectionately known as the "Polynesian Apostle" because of his intimate knowledge of Polynesian culture
and the Māori language
.
and Abbie Hyde. After his birth, in the same year, his father was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and they moved from Preston
, Idaho
to Salt Lake City, Utah
. When Matthew was eight years of age, his father resigned from the quorum over the church's decision to excommunicate practitioners
of plural marriage
. In 1911, when Matthew was 14, his father was disciplined and had his priesthood temporarily rescinded. This did not stop Matthew from growing strong in the church.
He attended Latter-day Saints University in Salt Lake City, Utah
until his call as a missionary.
in New Zealand
. There he developed an unusual talent with the Māori language
and people. He was called upon to revise the translation of the Book of Mormon
in that language; this revised edition appeared in 1917. He was also called to translate the Doctrine and Covenants
and the Pearl of Great Price into Māori, with the assistance of Wiremu Duncan and Stuart Meha. The translated version of these sacred texts appeared in 1919. His mission was extended two years beyond the typical three to complete these tasks.
After returning from his mission, Cowley attended George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C.. Upon graduating, he worked for a short period under Senator Reed Smoot
. Afterwards, Cowley started his own law practice in Salt Lake City. He married Elva Eleanor Taylor in the Salt Lake Temple
on July 13, 1922. They had one daughter.
In 1938, he was called to serve as the president
over the LDS Church's New Zealand Mission
. As World War II
began, the church called the missionaries serving overseas back home to the United States
. Cowley remained in New Zealand throughout the war. During his service, he adopted a Māori boy. He called the boy Duncan Nopera Meha Cowley (Duncan currently resides in Narrogin, Western Australia). Matthew Cowley was known by both members and non-members alike for his dedication to the Māori people.
. He was ordained on October 11, 1945 by new church president George Albert Smith
.
Cowley was affectionately known as the "Polynesian Apostle." He was also known for being exceptionally compassionate. He encouraged the members of the church to openly welcome sinners rather than ostracize them. He was also known for being an eloquent speaker and writer. A number of his sermons were compiled into Matthew Cowley Speaks, which was published after his passing.
His contributions to the Māori and the church in New Zealand continued during his service as an apostle. As an apostle, he presided over all of the missions of the church in the Pacific. He played a crucial role in the building of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
and also worked in constructing a church school near the temple site.
Cowley died suddenly in Los Angeles
, California
. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
. George Q. Morris
was called to fill the void in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Polynesian culture
Polynesian culture refers to the indigenous peoples' culture of Polynesia who share common traits in language, customs and society. Chronologically, the development of Polynesian culture can be divided into four different historical eras:...
and the Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
.
Early life
Matthew Cowley was the son of Matthias F. CowleyMatthias F. Cowley
Matthias Foss Cowley , born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1897 until 1905. The town of Cowley in Wyoming is named after him. He was the father of Apostle Matthew Cowley by Abbie Hyde. ...
and Abbie Hyde. After his birth, in the same year, his father was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and they moved from Preston
Preston, Idaho
Preston is a city in Franklin County, Idaho, United States. The population was 4,682 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Franklin County. It is part of the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
to 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...
. When Matthew was eight years of age, his father resigned from the quorum over the church's decision to excommunicate practitioners
Second Manifesto
The "Second Manifesto" was a 1904 declaration made by Joseph F. Smith, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , in which Smith stated the church was no longer sanctioning marriages that violated the laws of the land and set down the principle that those entering into or...
of plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
. In 1911, when Matthew was 14, his father was disciplined and had his priesthood temporarily rescinded. This did not stop Matthew from growing strong in the church.
He attended Latter-day Saints University in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
until his call as a missionary.
Missionary
In 1914, Cowley was called to serve as a missionaryMormon 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...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. There he developed an unusual talent with the Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
and people. He was called upon to revise the translation of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
in that language; this revised edition appeared in 1917. He was also called to translate the 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...
and the Pearl of Great Price into Māori, with the assistance of Wiremu Duncan and Stuart Meha. The translated version of these sacred texts appeared in 1919. His mission was extended two years beyond the typical three to complete these tasks.
After returning from his mission, Cowley attended George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C.. Upon graduating, he worked for a short period under Senator Reed Smoot
Reed Smoot (U. S. Senator)
Reed Owen Smoot was a native-born Utahn who was first elected to the United States Senate from Utah in 1903, and served as a Senator until 1933...
. Afterwards, Cowley started his own law practice in Salt Lake City. He married Elva Eleanor Taylor in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
on July 13, 1922. They had one daughter.
In 1938, he was called to serve as 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...
over the LDS Church's New Zealand 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...
. As World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began, the church called the missionaries serving overseas back home to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Cowley remained in New Zealand throughout the war. During his service, he adopted a Māori boy. He called the boy Duncan Nopera Meha Cowley (Duncan currently resides in Narrogin, Western Australia). Matthew Cowley was known by both members and non-members alike for his dedication to the Māori people.
Apostle
Cowley was released from his mission presidency in September 1945, and that October, in general conference, he was called to serve as an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling the vacancy caused by the passing of church president Heber J. GrantHeber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
. He was ordained on October 11, 1945 by new church president George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith, Sr. was the eighth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
.
Cowley was affectionately known as the "Polynesian Apostle." He was also known for being exceptionally compassionate. He encouraged the members of the church to openly welcome sinners rather than ostracize them. He was also known for being an eloquent speaker and writer. A number of his sermons were compiled into Matthew Cowley Speaks, which was published after his passing.
His contributions to the Māori and the church in New Zealand continued during his service as an apostle. As an apostle, he presided over all of the missions of the church in the Pacific. He played a crucial role in the building of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Hamilton New Zealand Temple
The Hamilton New Zealand Temple is the 13th constructed and 11th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and also worked in constructing a church school near the temple site.
Cowley died suddenly in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
Salt Lake City Cemetery
thumb|The northern section of the cemetery at night, looking towards Salt Lake CityThe Salt Lake City Cemetery is in The Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Approximately 120,000 persons are buried in the cemetery. Many religious leaders and politicians, particularly many leaders of The...
. George Q. Morris
George Q. Morris
George Quayle Morris was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1954 until his death....
was called to fill the void in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.