Nathan Eldon Tanner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nathan Eldon Tanner (May 9, 1898–November 27, 1982) (commonly known as N. Eldon Tanner) was a leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a politician from Alberta, Canada. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah but his family soon moved to Aetna outside of Cardston, Alberta where he was raised.
[edit] Life as a politician
Tanner was elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1935, he served in the legislature for the Alberta Social Credit Party being re-elected multiple times until 1952. During his term in office he served as Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly and Provincial Minister of Lands and Mines.
[edit] Life in the Church
Elder George Q. Morris's passing opened up a vacancy in the quorum, to which N. Eldon Tanner was called. Named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in October 1962, he was still its most junior member one year later when he was called into the First Presidency as Second Counselor to President David O. McKay. He remained in this position for the presidency of Joseph Fielding Smith (1970-1972), and then became First Counselor to Smith's successor Harold B. Lee, remaining First Counselor to Lee and Spencer W. Kimball until his own death.
It was during Kimball's presidency that Tanner was called upon to read in Church General Conference the revelation of President Kimball that race was no longer to be a barrier to ordination to the priesthood.
Not long afterward, Tanner's health deteriorated and it became impossible for him to shoulder the burdens of his office. With President Kimball and Second Counselor Marion G. Romney also ailing, the decision was made to add an additional Counselor to the First Presidency on July 23, 1981, Gordon B. Hinckley being chosen. Tanner retained the title of First Counselor until his death the following year at age 84.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: George Stringham |
MLA Cardston 1935-1952 |
Succeeded by: Edgar Hinman |
| Preceded by: George Johnston |
Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly 1936-1937 |
Succeeded by: Peter Dawson |
| Preceded by: Gordon B. Hinckley |
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles October 11, 1962–November 27, 1982 |
Succeeded by: Thomas S. Monson |
 |
This article related to the Latter Day Saint movement is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
