Heber J. Grant - Early Life

Early Life

Grant was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, the son of Rachel Ridgeway (née Ivins) and Jedediah Morgan Grant. Jedediah was a counselor in the first presidency to Brigham Young. Rachel was a native of New Jersey where she had converted to The Church of Jesus Christ at about age 20. Her cousin and later brother-in-law (he married her older sister Anna) Israel Ivins was the first person baptized a Latter-day Saint in New Jersey.

Jedediah Grant died when Heber was nine days old. After Jedediah's death, Rachel married Jedediah's brother George Grant, but he fell into alcoholism so she divorced him. Rachel became the dominant influence in Heber's life. Rachel served for many years as president of the 13th Ward Relief Society in downtown Salt Lake City.

Heber J. Grant was known for his determination in achieving goals seemingly beyond his reach. As a child, he wished to join the baseball team that would win the Utah Territorial championship, although others believed him to be too physically awkward to be a successful baseball player. In response, he purchased a baseball and practiced throwing the ball against his barn until he developed his skill sufficiently to join the baseball team that would win the Utah Territorial championship.

In similar fashion, he expressed a desire to be a successful bookkeeper, although many of his associates criticized his penmanship. He likewise practiced his penmanship until such a point where he was invited to teach penmanship at one of the local academies.

In the late 1890s Grant served as the business manager for the newly formed official LDS magazine, the Improvement Era.