John Willard Young (June 23, 1844 – August 21, 1924) was an American religious leader, businessman, and public figure associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints (LDS Church). He held several high‑ranking, though non‑ordained, positions within the church hierarchy, was active in Utah’s economic development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and served in territorial and state political bodies.
Early life and education
John Willard Young was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to John Young, a son of LDS Church founder Brigham Young, and his wife, Matilda (M. J.) Kewney. He was raised in an environment closely connected to church leadership; Brigham Young served as his grandfather and later as a paternal figure. Young attended the University of Deseret (now the University of Utah), where he earned a degree in civil engineering, and briefly studied law before entering business and church service.
LDS Church service
Although never ordained to the priesthood office of apostle, Young was called to serve on the Council of the Twelve Apostles in 1900, a governing body that advised the LDS Church’s First Presidency. He remained a council member until his death, participating in administrative and financial matters.
In addition to his council role, Young held several other church positions:
- Counselor to the Presiding Bishop (1901–1918), assisting in the administration of church temporal affairs, including the management of tithing funds and welfare programs.
- Member of the General Board of the Young Men organization, contributing to youth development initiatives.
His church service was marked by a focus on financial stewardship, infrastructure projects, and the expansion of church‑owned enterprises.
Business and public affairs
Young leveraged his engineering background and family connections to become a prominent Utah entrepreneur. Key enterprises included:
- Railroad development – He was instrumental in financing and constructing the Utah and Salt Lake Railroad, facilitating transportation links between Salt Lake City and the trans‑continental rail network.
- Mining and real estate – Young invested in several mining operations in the Wasatch Range and owned extensive land holdings in the Salt Lake Valley, where he promoted residential development.
- Banking – He served on the board of the First National Bank of Salt Lake City, influencing regional credit policies.
Politically, Young was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature (1885–1889) and later participated in the Utah State Constitutional Convention of 1895, contributing to the drafting of the state’s foundational legal document. He was a noted advocate for the incorporation of church‑related charitable institutions into the public welfare system.
Personal life and death
John Willard Young married three times and was the father of ten children. His first marriage, to Ruth B. Richards in 1866, produced several offspring; subsequent marriages followed after Richards’ death. Young practiced plural marriage in accordance with LDS teachings of the period, a practice later discontinued by the church.
He died on August 21, 1924, in Salt Lake City at the age of 80. Funeral services were held at the Salt Lake Tabernacle, and he was interred at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Legacy
Young’s contributions to the LDS Church’s administrative structures and to Utah’s early economic growth are recognized in church histories and regional biographies. His involvement in railroad construction helped integrate Utah’s economy with the broader national market, while his church service exemplified the era’s intertwining of religious leadership with secular enterprise. Contemporary LDS and Utah historical works cite him as a transitional figure who bridged 19th‑century pioneer traditions and 20th‑century modernization.