David John

Who was David John?

David John was a leading figure in Utah at the dawn of the 20th century. He served as a stake president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a member of the Brigham Young University board of trustees.

John was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales. He was raised in a Baptist family and studied for the ministry. He joined the LDS Church in 1847. His parents were so opposed to the Church at that time that, on the advice of Orson Pratt, John ended his association with it for a time and continued to study for the Baptist ministry.

In 1856 he returned to association with the LDS Church. He was rebaptized on Feb. 6, 1856. John was ordained an elder on March 29, 1856 and in June began to serve as an LDS missionary in various parts of Wales. By December he was the president of the Flintshire Conference in which position he served a year. He also served as a counselor in the Presidency of the Welsh Mission from December 1857-December 1858. In January 1859 he was reassigned to the Nottingham Conference in the British Mission. He also served as president here from that time until March 1860.