author
Charles W. (Charles William) Penrose
1832–1925
A London-born convert who became one of the best-known Latter-day Saint writers of his era, he blended church leadership with a gift for poetry, hymn writing, and clear, persuasive prose. His life reached from Victorian England to early Utah, where he helped shape both religious journalism and public debate.
2 Audiobooks
"Mormon" Doctrine Plain and Simple; Or, Leaves from the Tree of Life
by Charles W. (Charles William) Penrose
Rays of Living Light on the One Way of Salvation
by Charles W. (Charles William) Penrose
About the author
Born in Camberwell, London, on February 4, 1832, Charles W. Penrose joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850 while still a young man. He spent years preaching in Great Britain before emigrating to Utah in 1861, where he went on to become a prominent editor, speaker, and church leader.
Penrose is remembered not only for his service in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and later in the First Presidency, but also for his writing. He worked with the Deseret News, wrote poetry and doctrinal pieces, and became well known as a hymn writer and lyricist whose work remained influential long after his lifetime.
He died in Salt Lake City on May 16, 1925. For readers today, his story is especially interesting because it brings together several worlds at once: English religious life, pioneer Utah, journalism, and the literary culture of early Latter-day Saint history.