Charles L. Walker
Encyclopedia
Charles L. Walker was a Latter-day Saint hymnwriter, most noted for having written the words to the hymn "Dearest Children, God is Near You".
Walker was born in Leek
, Stafforshire, England. His family moved to Manchester
when he was seven. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1845 when he was baptized by his father, William Gibson Walker. He left England bound for Utah in 1849. He traveled as far as St. Louis that year, but many who he was with suffered from Cholera
. He moved to Kentucky and began to work to earn money to bring his parents over. He later returned to St. Louis where he served as second counselor in the bishopric of a ward there.
In 1855 he got a job as a teamster transporting merchandise and in that way came to Salt Lake City. His sister Ann Agatha was married to Parley P. Pratt
and so Walker was able to get a job working for Pratt.
Walker then became a blacksmith. In 1861 he married Abigail Middlemass, also a convert to the LDS Church and a native of Pope's Harbor, Nova Scotia. In August 1862 Walker was called to go to St. George, Utah
as part of the Cotton Mission. It was here that Walker's gift for writing songs was first utilized. According to J. Spencer Cornwall
many said that Utah's Dixie was settled with "faith, toil, and Charley's songs". In times of death or other distress Erastus Snow
, the presiding Church authority in Southern Utah, would come to Walker and ask "Charley, write a song to lift our sadness".
Walker also kept a daily journal of his life in St. George. A version of Walker's diary was published by Utah State University Press in 1980. This diary was edited by Karl Larson and Katherine Larson. In 1893 Walker recorded in his journal that John Alger had reported in Sacrament Meeting
in their ward in St. George the account of the First Vision
that Joseph Smith had told with Alger present when Alger was a small boy. This is the last recording of an account given by someone who had heard Joseph Smith tell of the first vision, although since it is a report by Walker of what Alger reported it is hardly a second hand account.
Walker along with Orson Pratt, Jr., Joseph Orton and George A. Burgon published the first newspaper in St. George.
Besides marginally successful attempts at growing fruit trees and successful work as a blacksmith, Walker also worked as a stonemason on both the St. George Temple and the St. George Tabernacle
. The choir at the dedication of the temple sang a song by Walker written for the event, and Walker was also one of the two witnesses to the first baptism for the dead
performed in the St. George Temple.
Walker was also the assistant City Marshall and a lieutenant in the local contingent of the Nauvoo Legion
. He also served as a counselor in a bishopric in St. George.
In 1877 Walker took a second wife, Sarah Smith. Walker had eight children with each of his wives, for a total of 16. Four of Walker's children died while still children and two of his married daughters also died before him.
Walker was born in Leek
Leek
The leek, Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum , also sometimes known as Allium porrum, is a vegetable which belongs, along with the onion and garlic, to family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae...
, Stafforshire, England. His family moved to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
when he was seven. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1845 when he was baptized by his father, William Gibson Walker. He left England bound for Utah in 1849. He traveled as far as St. Louis that year, but many who he was with suffered from Cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. He moved to Kentucky and began to work to earn money to bring his parents over. He later returned to St. Louis where he served as second counselor in the bishopric of a ward there.
In 1855 he got a job as a teamster transporting merchandise and in that way came to Salt Lake City. His sister Ann Agatha was married to Parley P. Pratt
Parley P. Pratt
Parley Parker Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 until his murder in 1857. He served in the Quorum with his younger brother, Orson Pratt...
and so Walker was able to get a job working for Pratt.
Walker then became a blacksmith. In 1861 he married Abigail Middlemass, also a convert to the LDS Church and a native of Pope's Harbor, Nova Scotia. In August 1862 Walker was called to go to St. George, Utah
St. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
as part of the Cotton Mission. It was here that Walker's gift for writing songs was first utilized. According to J. Spencer Cornwall
J. Spencer Cornwall
Joseph Spencer Cornwall was a conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the mid-20th century.Cornwall was born at Mill Creek, Utah Territory....
many said that Utah's Dixie was settled with "faith, toil, and Charley's songs". In times of death or other distress Erastus Snow
Erastus Snow
Erastus Fairbanks Snow , born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1849 to 1888. Snow was also a leading figure in Mormon colonization of Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.Snow Canyon State Park Erastus...
, the presiding Church authority in Southern Utah, would come to Walker and ask "Charley, write a song to lift our sadness".
Walker also kept a daily journal of his life in St. George. A version of Walker's diary was published by Utah State University Press in 1980. This diary was edited by Karl Larson and Katherine Larson. In 1893 Walker recorded in his journal that John Alger had reported in Sacrament Meeting
Sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting is the weekly worship service held on Sunday in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .Sacrament meetings are held in individual wards or branches in the chapel of the meetinghouse. The bishop or branch president of the ward or branch presides, unless a higher authority...
in their ward in St. George the account of the First Vision
First Vision
The First Vision refers to a vision that Joseph Smith, Jr. said he received as a youth in a wooded area in Manchester, New York, which his followers call the Sacred Grove. Smith described it as a personal theophany in which he received a forgiveness of sins...
that Joseph Smith had told with Alger present when Alger was a small boy. This is the last recording of an account given by someone who had heard Joseph Smith tell of the first vision, although since it is a report by Walker of what Alger reported it is hardly a second hand account.
Walker along with Orson Pratt, Jr., Joseph Orton and George A. Burgon published the first newspaper in St. George.
Besides marginally successful attempts at growing fruit trees and successful work as a blacksmith, Walker also worked as a stonemason on both the St. George Temple and the St. George Tabernacle
St. George Tabernacle
The St. George Tabernacle is a historic building in St. George, Utah. It opened in 1876 to serve as a public works building, originally hosting church services and court hearings. Today, it is open to the public and hosts many public events, such as concerts....
. The choir at the dedication of the temple sang a song by Walker written for the event, and Walker was also one of the two witnesses to the first baptism for the dead
Baptism for the dead
Baptism for the dead, vicarious baptism or proxy baptism is the religious practice of baptizing a living person on behalf of one who is dead, with the living person acting as the deceased person's proxy...
performed in the St. George Temple.
Walker was also the assistant City Marshall and a lieutenant in the local contingent of the Nauvoo Legion
Nauvoo Legion
The Nauvoo Legion was a militia originally organized by the Latter Day Saints to defend the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, . To curry political favor with the ambiguously-political Saints, the Illinois state legislature granted Nauvoo a liberal city charter that gave the Nauvoo Legion extraordinary...
. He also served as a counselor in a bishopric in St. George.
In 1877 Walker took a second wife, Sarah Smith. Walker had eight children with each of his wives, for a total of 16. Four of Walker's children died while still children and two of his married daughters also died before him.
Sources
- Cornwall, J. Spencer. Stories of Our Mormon Hymns. Salt Lake City: bookcraft, 1975, p. 189-191.
- Chapter on Walker from Saints Without Halos
- bio of Charles Walker