By Catherine Romney
As an influential civic and ecclesiastical leader in Cache Valley during the late 1800s, Charles Ora Card penned diaries that can provide a glimpse into the life of the early Latter-day Saints living in Utah.
BYU''s Religious Studies Center recently published a new book of Card''s journals from his time spent in the Cache Valley area, 'The Diaries of Charles Ora Card: The Utah Years, 1871-1886,' edited by Donald G. Godfrey and Kenneth W. Godfrey.
'Charles Ora Card is one of those men who spent his life in public and church service,' Kenneth Godfrey said. 'He made a real contribution to the Cache Valley area.'
Card''s diaries provide a valuable history of Cache Valley, the American West and the early pioneers in Utah, as well as details of how stakes, wards and church leadership functioned in the 19th century.
His diaries are significant in reflecting the history of the period and they give a more detailed look into the background of the life of the early Latter-day Saints.
'These diaries give us real insight into the types of lives they were living,' Kenneth Godfrey said. 'They are an insight into their faithfulness and give us an appreciation for the dedication of their church service.'
Among his many contributions, Card was superintendent of the construction of both the Logan Tabernacle and the Logan Temple. He was one of the first school teachers in Cache Valley and served as president of the Cache Valley Stake. He also had frequent contact with prominent Church leaders during his years of service.
'Charles Ora Card was a significant figure in Church history and a dedicated pioneer,' Donald Godfrey said.
After publishing a book of Card''s diaries from his Canadian years, Donald Godfrey, a great-great grandson of Card, became interested in the diaries from Card''s Utah years.
At the time, the Card family had donated most of these records to the L. Tom Perry Special Collections at the Harold B. Lee Library. Donald spent five years gathering, compiling and organizing Card''s 23 journals.
Needing someone with knowledge of the history of Cache Valley, Donald Godfrey enlisted Kenneth Godfrey, no relation, a former CES administrator, to help him on this project.
Kenneth Godfrey spent a year editing the transcripts and adding footnotes. It took another four years to publish the book, during which time it was peer reviewed by scholars and other professionals.
David J. Whittaker, curator of Western and Mormon Manuscripts, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, wrote in a Religious Studies Center news release: 'Charles Ora Card is usually remembered for his pioneering leadership of the Mormon settlements in Alberta, Canada, after 1885. But his experience and preparation were anchored in his earlier life in Cache Valley, Utah. Here he served in a number of important civic, educational, and ecclesiastical callings ... In these professionally edited 23 journals are the records of both the rich history of a Mormon community and also the life experiences of a major contributor to that community.'
Donald G. Godfrey is a professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He edits the 'Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media,' and his articles on Mormon history have appeared in the 'Journal of Mormon History' and the 'American Review of Canadian Studies.'
Kenneth W. Godfrey spent 37 years in the Church Educational System as a teacher and administrator and has published several articles on Mormon history in various publications throughout the country.
'The Diaries of Charles Ora Card: The Utah Years, 1871-1886,' is now available at the BYU Bookstore.