LeGrand Richards: Beloved Apostle
By Lucile C. Tate
Synopsis: A biography of LeGrand Richards, who was the Presiding Bishop of the Church from 1938-1952, and an apostle from 1952 until his death (in 1983 - not documented in this book).
Strong Points: This book was an excellent read: it is well-written, informative, and easily captures the interest of the reader. LeGrand Richard's life is fascinating; on virtually every page of the biography there is some mention of a high profile General Authority with whom he rubbed shoulders throughout his long life. His heritage, well documented in this book, is also fascinating: LeGrand Richards was the third generation of apostles in his direct family line (grandfather Franklin D. Richards and father George F. Richards). Elder Richards' interesting experiences, his missionary stories, his devotion to the Gospel cause, his command of the scriptures, and his singular personality make a reading of his life a very beneficial and satisfying experience. Appropriately, an entire chapter was devoted to his great book, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, on its formulation and its influence on those whom it touched. I found this biography of Elder Richards to be immensely enjoyable.
Weak Points: This book was written during the lifetime of Elder Richards. While that fact no doubt enhanced its content greatly, drawing upon Elder Richards himself as a resource for its writing, I generally do not prefer biographies written during the lifetime of the individual. Without the cradle-to-grave documentation, there is more to the story that is yet missing.
Interesting: 5/5
Must Read: 3/5
Overall: 4.9/5