Sterling W. Sill
Encyclopedia
Sterling Welling Sill was a general authority
in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
from 1954 to 1976 and was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy from 1976 to 1978. In 1978, he received general authority emeritus
status.
Born in Layton
, Utah
, Sill was a Mormon missionary
in the southern United States
from 1924 to 1926.
Sill studied at the University of Utah
and Utah State University
. He later served as a member of the University of Utah Board of Regents for many years including several years as the chairman of that board.
Prior to being called as a general authority, Sill served in many callings in the LDS Church, including ten years as a bishop. He and his wife, Doris Mary Thornley, were the parents of three children.
From his book "How to Personally Profit From the Laws of Success," comes this brief biography of Sterling's life:
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, commonly shortened to Assistant to the Twelve or Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1941 and 1976...
from 1954 to 1976 and was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy from 1976 to 1978. In 1978, he received general authority emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
status.
Born in Layton
Layton, Utah
-External links:*...
, 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...
, Sill was a Mormon 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...
in the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1924 to 1926.
Sill studied at 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...
and Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
. He later served as a member of the University of Utah Board of Regents for many years including several years as the chairman of that board.
Prior to being called as a general authority, Sill served in many callings in the LDS Church, including ten years as a bishop. He and his wife, Doris Mary Thornley, were the parents of three children.
From his book "How to Personally Profit From the Laws of Success," comes this brief biography of Sterling's life:
"The story of Sterling W. Sill's life is a personal and financial success story. As his own experience attests: 'there is no such thing as a lack of opportunity. The important thing is to believe, and then take the first step.' Readers of Mr. Sill's twenty-one books and listeners to his many radio broadcasts will welcome this new volume... ...Entering the insuranceLife insuranceLife insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
business as a salesman for New York Life in 1927, he rose quickly in the company. Under his direction the Intermountain General Office became the largest office of the entire company in sales volume and remained so for many years. Mr. Sill served on the Board of RegentsBoard of RegentsIn the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
at the University of UtahUniversity of UtahThe 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...
and a building on the campus is named in his honor. He has also served as President of the Salt Lake Exchange Club and of the Salt Lake Association of Life Underwriters. He is listed in Who's Who in AmericaMarquis Who's WhoMarquis Who's Who, a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc., is the American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies...
, 1976-1977. The quality of courage which Sterling W. Sill esteems is not absent from his own life. In 1960 he was awarded the Carnegie Hero MedalCarnegie Hero FundThe Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, also known as Carnegie Hero Fund, was established to recognize persons who perform extraordinary acts of heroism in civilian life in the United States and Canada, and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependents of those killed saving or...
for helping to save a thirteen year old boy from drowning in the ocean."