Background
Moench was born in Neuffen, Germany.
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Louis Frederick Moench
Edit Profilepresident of Weber Stake Academy
Education
He was educated in Germany, but before completing studies at a gymnasium came to Chicago with his family. He eventually graduated from Bryant & Stratton College there.
Career
He then headed west with the intention of becoming an educator in California. Foreign a short time beginning in 1867, Moench was an instructor at the University of Deseret (the predecessor of the University of Utah). In 1870, he moved to Brigham City and established the “Select School.” In 1872, he accepted a position to organize and teach at Ogden, Utah at the Ogden Seminary.
In 1875, as he continued to teach, he accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools for Weber County, retiring in 1883.
In Ogden, Moench was supervisor of the city and county schools. He is considered the first president of Weber State University as he was, beginning in 1889, the first principal of Weber Stake Academy.
A second term began in 1894. He was succeeded as head of the academy in 1902 by David O. McKay.
While on this mission he published many materials in German.
The most notable of these was the hymn "Hark, All Ye Nations" set to music by George F. Root. This hymn became the most loved hymn of the German-speaking Latter-day Saints and was translated into English and published as part of the 1985 version of the Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) hymnbook. Moench was also the assistant superintendent of the Sunday Schools of the Weber Stake under Richard Ballantyne.
