Discovering the Saints

Born: March 28, 1899

Became President: July 7, 1972

Died: December 26, 1973

Harold Bingham Lee grew up in a rural farming community in Clifton, ID. His childhood was marked by the struggle of subsistence farming that demanded that all members of the household participate from sun-up to sun-down in caring for the needs of plant and animal. Growing up in this way, never having anything beyond the most essential basics, gave Harold an understanding and compassion for others who were experiencing the struggles of poverty.

As a student Harold participated in in the debate team, sports, and played the alto, baritone, and French horn. He received his secondary education at Albion State Normal School, becoming the teacher at a one-room schoolhouse in Weston, ID at 17 and Principal of a school in Oxford, ID at 18 where he lived through the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.

In 1920 he received a mission call from the president of the church to the Western States Mission where he served until 1922, gaining the respect of the mission president and all who heard him teach. While on his mission he met Sister Fern Tanner and they later married on November 17, 1923.

In 1930, at the age of 31, Harold was called as president of the Pioneer Stake in Salt Lake Utah. It was the period of the Great Depression, and more than half the members of the stake were without work, after much prayer and petition inspiration was received for many different projects to help provide for the welfare of the Stake. One of those projects was ensuring that the 4,800 homes in his stake that could not afford a Christmas dinner or presents for the children had what was needed so that all the members could celebrate the season with joy.

At the age of 36 he was called to organize the church welfare program and five years later on April 10, 1941 he was ordained an Apostle under President Heber J. Grant. Then on October 4, 1961, he was called to be the Chairman of church correlation program which sought to unify all the various church auxiliaries under the leadership of the Priesthood as well as bring consistency to the policies and scripture study. His wife fern passed away in 1962 and then his daughter Maurine died of a sudden illness in 1965. He became President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a counselor to President Joseph Fielding Smith on January 23, 1970.

He became President of the Church on July 7, 1972, he organized the Jerusalem Branch on September 20, 1972, and he presided at the second area conference of the Church, in Mexico City before passing away on December 26, 1973. The life and ministry of President Harold B. Lee was marked by a deep love and compassion for the needs of others.

Family Activities

• Boxing Day – The day after Christmas is called boxing day and used to be the day that servants were given the day off to celebrate the holidays and boxes were distributed to the poor. Spend part of the day collecting clothing, toys, and other items that can be donated to a local charity to help others in need.
• Great Depression – For dinner cook a meal from the Great Depression era and spend time talking about finding joy in the simple things and the importance of preparation so that in times of hardship your family can be a blessing to others.
• Family History – what are the stories of your ancestors who lived through the Great Depression?