Latter-day Saint Life

Early LDS Apostle Orson Hyde Inducted Into Derby Hall of Fame

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For 10 years, the city of Derby, Connecticut, has chosen Derby natives and residents who have shaped history to be inducted into the Derby Hall of Fame. 

And this year's lineup included the first Mormon apostle to make it into the Hall of Fame—Orson Hyde. 

"The additions to Hall of Fame this year are impressive and show the strength and vision of the Valley forefathers that made it great,” Mayor Anita Dugatto told ctpost.com

The early Mormon apostle was born in Oxford, Connecticut, but after the death of his parents was taken in by Nathan Wheeler—who lived in Derby. 

Orson stayed with the Wheelers until he was 18 and was later baptized by his friend Sidney Rigdon. He was later called as an apostle on February 15, 1835. 

Though he signed an affidavit against the Saints in Missouri and was later released as an apostle, he was sustained as an apostle again on June 27, 1839, and on October 24, 1841, climbed the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem and offered a prayer dedicating Palestine for the return of the Jews and for the building of a temple in the future.

Having lived such an incredible life full of service to others, it's not surprising to find Orson's name among other Derby Hall of Famers, which include Ann Stephens, a prolific writer in the mid-late 1800s, and J. Newton Williams, who invented his own typewriter and helped invent the first full-scale American flight helicopter. 

Of this year's selection, which also included Jerry Denny and Ambrose Beardsley, Hall of Famer Committee member Jack Walsh told ctpost.com, "This is quite a group. Every time I do research on a nominee I get blown away.”

Lead image from the ctpost.com
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