The following biographical sketch is adapted from the L.D.S. Biographical Encyclopedia
Levi Edgar Young, one of the first seven presidents
of Seventies, was born Feb. 2, 1874, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of
Seymour
B. Young and Elizabeth Riter. He was baptized in 1882 by Seymour B.
Young and soon afterwards ordained to the lesser Priesthood.
For several years he was prominently identified with
educational work in the district and Church schools and also at the University
of Utah. He was graduated from that university in 1895. The following two
years he was engaged as a teacher in the Lowell school, Salt Lake City.
He also taught two years in the L. D. S. College, and later went to the
University of Utah, where he became instructor in history for two years.
After being ordained a Seventy, June 18, 1897, by
Seymour B. Young, he filled a mission to Europe in 1901-1904. He presided
over the Swiss and Austrian Mission in 1902-1904.
Soon after his return from Germany, in 1907, he married
Valeria Brinton (daughter of Bishop David B. Brinton of Big Cottonwood
and Susan Huffaker Brinton), who was born Dec. 13, 1878. This marriage
was blessed with three children, Harriet Wollerton, Jane Seymour and Eleanor
Brinton.
After the death of George Reynolds,
Bro. Young was chosen and sustained as one of the first seven presidents
of Seventies at the general conference held in Salt Lake City in October,
1909. He was set apart to that position Jan. 23, 1910, by Apostle John
Henry Smith in New York. As a General Authority he served as a member
of the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. from 1913 to 1929.
Brother Young was educated in the public schools
in Salt Lake City and in 1915 received his B. S. degree from the University
of Utah. After that he spent two seasons in Harvard University and one
year in Columbia, New York, doing graduate work in history. He held the
degree of M. A. from Columbia, and for his doctor's degree in philosophy
his theses was the "Economic and social development of Utah under Brigham
Young's leadership."
As an academician he also spent much time in archeological
work in Utah. In 1916 he took charge of an exploring expedition in San
Juan county, Utah, returning to Salt Lake City July 26, 1916.
President Young continued his long and valiant service
in the Fierst Council of the Seventy until his death December 13, 1963
in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of eighty-nine. At his death, he had
been a General Authority for over fifty years and had been the Seventh
(senior) President for twenty-two years..
