Joseph F. Merrill
| Joseph F. Merrill | |
|---|---|
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| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 8, 1931 – February 3, 1952 | |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| October 8, 1931 – February 3, 1952 | |
| Reason | Death of Orson F. Whitney |
| Reorganization at end of term |
LeGrand Richards ordained |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Francis Merrill August 24, 1868 Richmond, Utah Territory, United States |
| Died | February 3, 1952 (aged 83) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Resting place |
Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W |
Joseph Francis Merrill (August 24, 1868 – February 3, 1952) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1931 until his death.
Merrill was a key figure in the development of the Church Educational System in the early twentieth century. He served as the sixth Commissioner of Church Education from 1928 to 1933. Prior to his service as commissioner, he played a significant role in the creation of the "released time" LDS Church seminary system. His tenure as commissioner saw the creation of the Institutes of Religion and the transfer of nearly all the remaining church schools to control of the states they resided in. He also faced a crisis in 1930 and 1931 which threatened to end the released time seminary, but the LDS Church education system survived the Great Depression under his leadership . In 1931, while still serving as commissioner, Merill was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Merrill was born in Richmond, Utah Territory. The son of LDS Church apostle Marriner W. Merrill, Merrill was among the first Latter-day Saints from Utah to travel to the eastern United States to seek higher education. He studied at the University of Deseret, the University of Michigan, and Johns Hopkins University; he was the first native Utahn to receive a Ph.D. While at the University of Michigan, Merrill was the president of the Ann Arbor Branch of the LDS Church.
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