hjgrant-3
Church President Heber J. Grant, right, speaks into a microphone as part of the first radio broadcast on KZN (now KSL) on May 6, 1922. Elder George Albert Smith, middle left, and Augusta Grant, center, listen and look on. Photo courtesy of the Church History Library, courtesy of Church News.All rights reserved.This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.
By Trent Toone, Church News
The journals of Heber J. Grant, seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are now available digitally in the Church History Catalog of the Church History Library.
The digitized Heber J. Grant Collection, 1852–1945 (MS 1233), which provides rich details about his life and service in the Church, includes the following:
- 38 volumes of bound, handwritten journals from 1880 to 1925
- Eight volumes of letterpress copybooks from 1886 to 1898
- Unbound journal entries from 1886 to 1945
A February 17 article by Jeff Morley, Scott Marianno and Audrey Dunshee announcing the release of the journals was first posted on history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
hjgrant-2
Church President Heber J. Grant, and Utah Senator Reed Smoot outside the Senate Office Building in about 1907. Photo by Library of Congress, courtesy of Church News.All rights reserved.Life of Heber J. Grant
President Grant was born on November 22, 1856, to Rachel Ridgeway Ivins and Jedediah M. Grant in Salt Lake City, Utah. His father was serving as second counselor in the First Presidency with Brigham Young but died from pneumonia just nine days after Heber’s birth.
His widowed mother became the dominant influence in his life, and her commitment to the gospel left a lasting impression on him. She served as ward Relief Society president and frequently bore testimony to her son of the truthfulness of the Restoration.
He was called and ordained an Apostle in 1882, a month before he turned 26 years old.
Grant succeeded President Joseph F. Smith as president of the Church on November 23, 1918, and served until his death on May 14, 1945, at the age of 88.
hjgrant-1
In 1901, future Church President Heber J. Grant, seated in the center, was called to be a mission president and open missionary work in Japan. Picture courtesy of Deseret Book, courtesy of Church News.All rights reserved.The Journals
The Heber J. Grant Collection includes correspondence, letter books, journals, financial and business papers, family papers and subject files, and other miscellaneous papers he wrote and compiled.
Latter-day Saints can learn about his faith, dedication, hardships and perseverance during pivotal periods of the Church’s history.
The article states that those who read President Grant’s journals will encounter at least three prominent and recurring themes:
- His business interests and financial challenges.
- His missionary service and defense of truth.
- His ministry as a Church leader.
To read the full story and learn more about the Heber J. Grant digital journals, visit history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Church History Catalog
The Church History Catalog has hundreds of thousands of collections of documents and media from the history of the Church and is accessible by anyone at catalog.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Copyright 2025 Deseret News Publishing Company.