John A. Widtsoe Doctrinal Compendium: Adam to Zion

The major writings, teachings, and thoughts of Elder John A. Widtsoe have been readily available to Latter-day Saints for more than half a century now. What has not been readily available, however, is an overview, compilation, or compendium of those writings, teachings, and thoughts in a topical guide with A to Z format. As a result, to fully grasp any one teaching of Elder Widtsoe required reading through all of his numerous writings to capture the highly nuanced insights and clarifications that were often a pervasive part of his own scientific and theological methodology. Out of sheer frustration with this laborious process, compiler David Martin Call began a ten-year labor of love bringing together the material that has evolved into this doctrinal compendium, which features the most salient teachings of Elder Widtsoe-a master teacher, a scientist, and an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

About the Author :
John Andreas Widtsoe was born on the island of Freya in Norway, the son of a Norwegian schoolmaster and a fishermaiden. In 1877 when John was just six years old, his father died unexpectedly of an intestinal illness. In 1881 John's mother, Anna, was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Norway and responded to the call to gather to Zion by immigrating to Utah, where John was later baptized in Logan in 1884. John graduated with honors from Harvard University and the University of Göttingen in Germany. While at Harvard he received two awards-one for demonstrating the greatest depth of knowledge, and one for displaying the greatest breadth of knowledge. He became a professor of agriculture at Utah State University and Brigham Young University. As a scientist, he was noted for his work in irrigation and dry farming. Before his call to the Council of the Twelve, John served successively as president of USU and the University of Utah. As an educator and church leader he became a champion of the Word of Wisdom, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and a rational and intelligible understanding of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. He served in the Quorum of the Twelve for more than thirty years. Elder Widtsoe died in his home at the age of eighty of kidney failure. He was a prolific author, and his classic works include A Rational Theology, Joseph Smith as Scientist, An Understandable Religion, and Evidences and Reconciliations. David M. Call graduated from Brigham Young University with a Philosophy Major and Psychology Minor. He is a published author (Within Our Reach: Obtaining the Peace and Power of the Gospel, Deseret Book Company, 1984; Mormon Grit for the Soul, Granite Publishing and Distribution, LLC, 2003) as well as an advocate for the Great Books Program and furthering one's education as an adult.