Biographies of Deaf Latter-day Saint Leaders
Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
2012-2021
2012-2021
Because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a long history in Utah and has a significant influence on the Utah Deaf community, religion is addressed on this biography page.
In 1917, the Ogden Branch for the Deaf was founded in Ogden, Utah, with branch president Max W. Woodbury, who was hard of hearing himself. Woodbury and Elsie M. Christiansen (Deaf) were instrumental in establishing a Deaf Sunday School in the Ogden region.
Max Woodbury presided over the Deaf Ogden Branch for fifty-one years. Many Deaf members grew up to become teachers and leaders in their home areas under his leadership. Eventually, the branch served as a model for other deaf units around the world, including the Salt Lake Valley Deaf Ward, Los Angeles Deaf Branch, Portland Heights Deaf Branch, Fremont Deaf Branch, Gooding Deaf Branch, and others (Walker, 2006).
Deaf branches and wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have evolved into a central focus for worship and social events, where both deaf and signing LDS and non-LDS come together to communicate in sign language.
This material will be useful to the family members of the subjects of these biographies for historical preservation and genealogy research. It can also help to preserve the life narrative of the biography for future generations to appreciate and remember.
Jodi Becker Kinner
Max Woodbury presided over the Deaf Ogden Branch for fifty-one years. Many Deaf members grew up to become teachers and leaders in their home areas under his leadership. Eventually, the branch served as a model for other deaf units around the world, including the Salt Lake Valley Deaf Ward, Los Angeles Deaf Branch, Portland Heights Deaf Branch, Fremont Deaf Branch, Gooding Deaf Branch, and others (Walker, 2006).
Deaf branches and wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have evolved into a central focus for worship and social events, where both deaf and signing LDS and non-LDS come together to communicate in sign language.
This material will be useful to the family members of the subjects of these biographies for historical preservation and genealogy research. It can also help to preserve the life narrative of the biography for future generations to appreciate and remember.
Jodi Becker Kinner
Ogden Branch for the Deaf, 1924
Laron Pratt
Laron Pratt was appointed as assistant superintendent of the Deaf Mute Sunday School in Salt Lake City's 19th Ward on January 10, 1892. He became a stake Sunday School missionary, giving speeches and signing hymns with his daughter as the vocalist at local and general church gatherings.
Photo courtesy of God Made Me Deaf Accounts from Deaf Latter-day Saints 1836-1916
Biography of Laron Pratt (PDF)
Photo courtesy of God Made Me Deaf Accounts from Deaf Latter-day Saints 1836-1916
Biography of Laron Pratt (PDF)
Laron Pratt
Max W. Woodbury
Max W. Woodbury dedicated his life to deaf education at the Utah School for the Deaf, where he worked as a teacher, teacher-supervising teacher, and finally teacher-principal. From 1917 through 1968, he was president of the Ogden Branch for the Deaf, a position he held for 51 years. Serving the staff and students of Utah School for the Deaf, as well as members of the Deaf community, he is "believed to have set a record in the Church."
Photo courtesy of the UAD Bulletin, Winter 1967
Biography of Max W. Woodbury (PDF)
Photo courtesy of the UAD Bulletin, Winter 1967
Biography of Max W. Woodbury (PDF)
Max W. Woodbury
Rodney W. Walker
In 1998, Rodney W. Walker, then 84, a descendant of Utah pioneers, was called as the first Deaf temple sealer.
Biography of Rodney W. Walker (PDF)
Biography of Rodney W. Walker (PDF)
Rodney W. Walker