George Darling

March 12, 1812 (age 69)

Manchester, United Kingdom

In 1837, Latter Day Saint missionaries Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Willard Richards, and Joseph Fielding traveled to Preston and were given permission by James Fielding to preach in his chapel. Watt was baptized a Latter Day Saint on July 30, 1837 by Heber C. Kimball in the River Ribble. In 1842, Watt left England to join the gathering of the Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois. Watt used his skill at Pitman shorthand in serving as a clerk to mission president George Q. Cannon. In late 1850, the Watts returned to America and joined the new gathering of Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah Territory. In Utah, Watt worked as a reporter for the Deseret News and as a private clerk for Brigham Young. Beginning in 1853, Watt published these sermons in a periodical known as the Journal of Discourses. Watt remained the primary editor of the Journal until 1868. In 1852, Watt was appointed by Young to a committee that was charged with creating a new phonetic alphabet that would assist non-English speaking Latter-day Saint immigrants learn English. The result was the Deseret Alphabet. Although the alphabet was largely a failure, Watt remained a strong promoter of the language system. Watt was identified as one of the leaders of the "Godbeites" and was disciplined by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Watt"s obituary describes him as "honest truthful and sincere although perhaps misguided being a self made man of strong character and exercising vast influence there is not a little in his career which is remarkable." Like many early Latter Day Saints, Watt practiced plural marriage. He had six wives.

George Darling

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Missionary

Background

Watt was born in Manchester, England.

Career

In 1837, Latter Day Saint missionaries Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Willard Richards, and Joseph Fielding traveled to Preston and were given permission by James Fielding to preach in his chapel. Watt was baptized a Latter Day Saint on July 30, 1837 by Heber C. Kimball in the River Ribble. In 1842, Watt left England to join the gathering of the Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Watt used his skill at Pitman shorthand in serving as a clerk to mission president George Q. Cannon.

In late 1850, the Watts returned to America and joined the new gathering of Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah Territory. In Utah, Watt worked as a reporter for the Deseret News and as a private clerk for Brigham Young.

Beginning in 1853, Watt published these sermons in a periodical known as the Journal of Discourses. Watt remained the primary editor of the Journal until 1868.

In 1852, Watt was appointed by Young to a committee that was charged with creating a new phonetic alphabet that would assist non-English speaking Latter-day Saint immigrants learn English.

The result was the Deseret Alphabet. Although the alphabet was largely a failure, Watt remained a strong promoter of the language system. Watt was identified as one of the leaders of the "Godbeites" and was disciplined by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Watt"s obituary describes him as "honest truthful and sincere although perhaps misguided being a self made man of strong character and exercising vast influence there is not a little in his career which is remarkable."

Like many early Latter Day Saints, Watt practiced plural marriage.

He had six wives.

Membership

While living in Preston as a young man, Watt was a member of the Reverend James Fielding"s congregation.

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George Darling

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