Richard L. Evans

Richard Louis Evans (March 23, 1906 – November 1, 1971) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) (1953–71); the president of Rotary International (1966–67); and the writer, producer, and announcer of Music and the Spoken Word (1929–71).[2]

Richard L. Evans
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 8, 1953 – November 1, 1971
LDS Church Apostle
October 8, 1953 – November 1, 1971
Reason	Death of Albert E. Bowen
Reorganization at end of term	Marvin J. Ashton ordained
First Council of the Seventy
October 7, 1938 – October 8, 1953
End reason	Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Personal details
Born	Richard Louis Evans March 23, 1906 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Died	November 1, 1971 (aged 65) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting place	Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W
Spouse(s)	Alice Ruth Thornley
Children	4 sons[1]

Biography

Evans was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the late 1920s, he served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the United Kingdom. While on his mission, Evans served as associate editor of the Millenial Star, a periodical published by the mission. He received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Utah. There, he joined Pi Kappa Alpha.[3]

His master's degree was in economics. Over the years he served on the boards of directors of several companies.

In the late 1920s, he took a job with KSL radio as an announcer and script writer. He was also employed as the managing editor of the Improvement Era starting in 1936. He worked with the era for 30 years and eventually became its senior editor. He was also closely involved with the changes that led to the replacement of the Improvement Era with the Ensign, New Era and Friend in 1971.

In 1937, Evans' book A Century of "Mormonism" in Great Britain was published with a copyright by Heber J. Grant, as trustee-in-trust for LDS Church. Evans also served for a time as the president of the Temple Square Mission.

Evans may have been best known as the announcer for the weekly Mormon Tabernacle Choir radio broadcast, Music and the Spoken Word: every week, he wrote, produced, and announced the radio broadcasts, including a short inspirational message. His involvement in these weekly broadcasts spanned from its inception in 1929 until his death in 1971.

Evans' voice was familiar to Latter-day Saints as the narrator of various church productions, most notably Man's Search for Happiness. He also introduced the Salt Lake City choir's contribution to Bing Crosby's annual "Christmas Sing with Bing" radio broadcasts during the 1950s, and is heard on the 1956 Decca LP of the same name, which featured the previous year's "Christmas Sing" edition.

Evans served as president of the University of Utah alumni association for three terms and as a member of the its board for 12 years.[4] He also served for a time as a member of the Utah State Board of Higher Education.

Evans first became a church general authority in 1938 when he was called as a member of the First Council of the Seventy. Evans was ordained an apostle on October 8, 1953, following the death of Albert E. Bowen.

Evans was the last LDS Church apostle to have facial hair while in office, wearing a neatly trimmed mustache until the mid-1960s.

Evans died at age 65 on November 1, 1971. The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from his death was filled by Marvin J. Ashton. Evans was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Known for his ability to reach across religious differences, the Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University was created in his honor on November 1, 1972 [5]

Grave marker of Richard L. Evans

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Published works

• Evans, Richard L. (1937). A century of "Mormonism" in Great Britain. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press. LCCN 38030638. OCLC 4322064.
• —— (1940). Unto the Hills. New York, London: Harper & Brothers. LCCN 40008173. OCLC 3189422.
• —— (1942). This day...and always. Harper & Brothers. LCCN 42050833. OCLC 3189434.
• —— (1945). ...and "The Spoken Word". Harper & Brothers. LCCN 45006083. OCLC 1439410.
• —— (1949). At this same hour. Harper & Brothers. LCCN 49009729. OCLC 1439435.
• —— (1952). Tonic for our times. Harper & Brothers. LCCN 52012774. OCLC 444780.
• —— (1955). From the crossroads. Harper & Brothers. LCCN 55009688. OCLC 3068520.
• Richards, LeGrand; et al. (1955). The Ten Commandments today: a discussion of the decalog. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. OCLC 55056948.
• Evans, Richard L. (1957). The Everlasting Things. Harper & Brothers. LCCN 57010532. OCLC 2489723.
• —— (1959). From within these walls. Harper & Brothers. LCCN 59014531. OCLC 1245208.
• —— (1961). May peace be with you. Harper & Brothers. LCCN 61013283. OCLC 13961602.
• —— (1963). Faith in the future. New York: Harper & Row. LCCN 63021589. OCLC 2503657.
• —— (1966). Faith, Peace and Purpose. Cleveland: World Publishing Corporation. LCCN 66025880. OCLC 914294.
• —— (1966). Thoughts for 100 Days Vol. I. Salt Lake City: Publishers Press. LCCN 86220105. OCLC 3724643.
• —— (1967). An Open Door (Vol. II Thoughts for 100 Days). Publishers Press. OCLC 22013438.
• —— (1968). An Open Road (Vol. III Thoughts for 100 Days). Publishers Press.
• —— (1970). Thoughts for 100 Days Vol. IV. Publishers Press.
• —— (1972). Thoughts for 100 Days Vol. V. Publishers Press.
• —— (1984) [1937]. A century of "Mormonism" in Great Britain. Publishers Press. ISBN 978-0-916095-07-9. OCLC 11642406.
• —— (1984) [1971]. Richard Evans' quote book. Publishers Press. LCCN 86186298. OCLC 13960823.
• ——; Kinard, J. Spencer; Newell, Lloyd D. (2003). Messages from Music and the Spoken Word. Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain. ISBN 978-1-57008-961-9. LCCN 2003008844. OCLC 52091978.

Notes

1. Alice Ruth Evans on findagrave.com
2. "History > Richard L. Evans" at musicandthespokenword.com
3. 1932 Utonian Yearbook. University of Utah. 1932. p. 252. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
4. Marion D. Hanks bio of Evans
5. "Religious Educator 9, no. 2 (2008) Building Bridges: The Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding" at https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/volume-9-number-2-2008/building-bridges-richard-l-evans-chair-religious-understanding

References

• Evans, Richard L., Jr. (1973). Richard L. Evans: The Man and the Message. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft. ASIN B0006CA03E. OCLC 790539.
• Hanks, Marion D. (December 1971). "Elder Richard L. Evans: Apostle of the Lord (1906–1971)". Ensign. LDS Church: 32.
• "Funeral Services for Elder Richard L. Evans". Ensign. LDS Church. December 1971.