SALT LAKE CITY—The Church Historian’s Press today announced the online publication of three additional volumes of the journal of George F. Richards, who served as an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1906 to 1950. Seventeen volumes of a planned twenty-four are now available to the public.

The newly released volumes, dating from August 1911 to February 1915, document Richards’s travels and activities as an apostle and also cover many family and personal developments. These three journals also document his observations of tragedy, the beginning of international conflict, and war.

In early 1912, Richards wrote about the loss of the Titanic and many of its passengers after the steam liner struck an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean. He called it “one of the catastrophies of this century” in his 18 April 1912 entry. Little did he know that two years later, World War I would begin. On 8 September 1914, after war had broken out throughout much of Europe, Richards wrote, “The war news of Europe claims a part of my time each day though I scarcely ever mention it in my diary.” Less than twenty days later, however, he commented on the growing crisis in Europe: “The war in France between the Allies French & English and the Germans is being waged with continued fierceness. Also the Russians & Austrians are doing bloody work. Other nations are also at war and Mexico is just in the throes of another revolution which may however, be averted by the Kind offices of the United States government. Surely there never was so far as I have heard such a battle of world powers. The casulties are reported by the thousands almost daily.” But Richards had reason for personal concern: immediately following these comments, he recorded, “My son LeGrand is still in Holland presiding over the Netherlands Mission” (25 September 1914).

Richards wrote faithfully to LeGrand, who had been called to preside over the Netherlands Mission in 1913. The beginning of World War I must have worried both men. On 1 October 1914, Richards wrote that the church’s First Presidency received a “cable gram” giving word of the safe arrival in England of the missionaries from the Swiss and German mission and reporting that “all Continental missionaries released: All well.” Richards interpreted that message “to include Holland so suppose LeGrand & family will soon be leaving Holland for home or some other mission.” However, two weeks later Richards summarized a letter from LeGrand stating that LeGrand’s wife, Ina Jane, was “not in a condition to make the journey home & that they will be obliged to remain in Holland or England for some time” (13 October 1914). Ina Jane was in the final stages of her pregnancy; two and half months later, Richards noted, “A letter from our son LeGrand now in Holland dated Dec 9th announces the birth of a fine baby girl on the 8th” (28 December 1914).

His personal connection likely intensifying the experience, Richards observed and processed in his journal the horrors of the war as reported in the newspapers. He wrote on 28 September 1914: “To-days paper announces that Siberia has declared war against Austria & Germany in Sympathy with Russia. The war news indicates bloody fighting on enormous scale both in Austria and France with thousands laying down their lives every day and many thousands wounded daily. I think of the widows & fatherless; of Parents, sisters & others in mourning, and the poverty & distress & pestilence to follow. May the Lord over rule all for good and strengthen those who are tried for their trials. I thank the Lord for peace here & pray its extension.” Perhaps feeling a sense of helplessness, he wrote in his journal on 1 December 1914 that he “sent to LeGrand in Holland $20.00 to distribute among the poor. Also mailed to him a copy of the Oct. Con[ference] Pamphlet at his request.”

The transcripts of the journal are available at churchhistorianspress.org/george-f-richards.

About the Church Historian’s Press

The Church Historian’s Press was announced in 2008 by the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Joseph Smith Papers was the first publication to bear the imprint. The press publishes works of Latter-day Saint history that meet high standards of scholarship. For more information, visit the Church Historian’s Press website.