Milton H. Hardy
Encyclopedia
Milton Henry Hardy was an American
educator and was the founder of and a member of the inaugural general superintendency of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). From 1876 to 1880, Hardy was the first assistant to Junius F. Wells
, the first president of the YMMIA.
, Massachusetts
, United States
. In 1852, his family emigrated to Utah Territory
after converting to Mormonism
. Hardy was baptized into the LDS Church on 17 October 1852.
in the United States. Beginning in 1875, church president Brigham Young
asked Hardy, John Henry Smith
, and B. Morris Young
to tour the wards of the church and establish YMMIA programs in each of them. When this was completed, Young asked Junius F. Wells
to be the inaugural general superintendent of the organization; Wells selected Hardy and Rodney C. Badger
as his assistants. The superintendency served until 1880, when Wells was released and replaced with Wilford Woodruff
. Hardy continued his involvement with the YMMIA, and from 1898 until his death, Hardy was a member of the general board of the YMMIA.
Beginning in 1880, Hardy was also the president of the Utah County
Stake of the LDS Church.
and was one of the first instructors at Brigham Young Academy (BYA) in Provo
, Utah Territory
. From 1876 to 1888 and from 1891 to 1896 Hardy taught physiology
and biology at BYA, and was an assistant principal under Karl G. Maeser
. In the 1886–1887 school year, Hardy became the first instructor to teach a course in psychology
at an LDS Church-owned school.
Hardy died in Provo, Utah
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and was the founder of and a member of the inaugural general superintendency of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). From 1876 to 1880, Hardy was the first assistant to Junius F. Wells
Junius F. Wells
Junius Free Wells was the first head of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, an organization which is today the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, the first president of the YMMIA.
Early life
Hardy was born in BradfordBradford, Massachusetts
Bradford is a former town in Essex County, Massachusetts. The name currently refers to the area on the south side of the Merrimack River in Haverhill, Massachusetts that was once Bradford...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1852, his family emigrated to Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
after converting to Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
. Hardy was baptized into the LDS Church on 17 October 1852.
Church service
From 1871 to 1873, Hardy was a LDS Church 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 the United States. Beginning in 1875, church president Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
asked Hardy, John Henry Smith
John Henry Smith
John Henry Smith was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, and B. Morris Young
B. Morris Young
Brigham Morris Young was one of the founders of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association , the predecessor to the Young Men program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
to tour the wards of the church and establish YMMIA programs in each of them. When this was completed, Young asked Junius F. Wells
Junius F. Wells
Junius Free Wells was the first head of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, an organization which is today the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
to be the inaugural general superintendent of the organization; Wells selected Hardy and Rodney C. Badger
Rodney C. Badger
Rodney Carlos Badger was an inaugural member of the general superintendency of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
as his assistants. The superintendency served until 1880, when Wells was released and replaced with Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...
. Hardy continued his involvement with the YMMIA, and from 1898 until his death, Hardy was a member of the general board of the YMMIA.
Beginning in 1880, Hardy was also the president of the Utah County
Utah County, Utah
Utah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000, the population was 368,536 and by 2008 was estimated at 530,837. It was named for the Spanish name for the Ute Indians. The county seat and largest city is Provo...
Stake of the LDS Church.
Career
Hardy held a doctorate degree in biologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and was one of the first instructors at Brigham Young Academy (BYA) in Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. From 1876 to 1888 and from 1891 to 1896 Hardy taught physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
and biology at BYA, and was an assistant principal under 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....
. In the 1886–1887 school year, Hardy became the first instructor to teach a course in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at an LDS Church-owned school.
Family and death
Hardy was married to Elizabeth "Libbie" Smoot and was the father of five children.Hardy died in Provo, 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...
.