Stephen L. Richards

Stephen L Richards (1879–1959) was a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for thirty-four years and as First Counselor in the First Presidency under President David O. McKay. A trained lawyer with a keen intellect, Richards was known for his thoughtful approach to reconciling religious faith with scientific understanding and his emphasis on the practical application of gospel principles.

Born in Mendon, Cache County, Utah, Richards was the son of a local bishop and grandson of Willard Richards, an early apostle and church historian. He graduated from the University of Utah and the University of Chicago Law School, practicing law in Salt Lake City before his call to full-time church service. His legal training shaped his analytical approach to theological questions and church administration.

Richards was ordained an apostle in 1917 at age thirty-seven. Over the following decades, he became known for addresses that addressed the relationship between science and religion with nuance and openness. He taught that if the evolutionary hypothesis of creation is ultimately found correct, the biblical account is sufficiently comprehensive to include the whole process. This perspective reflected his broader conviction that truth is truth, whether discovered through revelation or scientific inquiry.

In 1951, when David O. McKay became church president, Richards was called as First Counselor in the First Presidency. He served in this capacity until his death eight years later. During this period, the church experienced significant growth and modernization. Richards contributed to efforts to professionalize church administration and expand its educational programs.

Richards’s approach to faith and reason reflects themes central to Mormon transhumanist thought. His willingness to embrace scientific findings as compatible with religious truth, his emphasis on human agency and moral development, and his conviction that the gospel encompasses all truth anticipated later discussions about the harmony between religious and scientific worldviews. His teachings suggest that human progression—intellectual, moral, and spiritual—is central to the divine purpose.