In the Company of Prophets

by Heidi S. Swinton

Personal experiences of D. Arthur Haycock with Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, David O. McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, and Ezra Taft Benson.

Genres: Religion, Church, Lds, Biography, Nonfiction, Lds Non Fiction

124 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1993

About the author

Heidi Sorensen Swinton (born 1948) is an author, screenwriter and historian who has written several books to accompany historical documentaries created by film-maker Lee Groberg.
Swinton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Frederick Christian Sorensen and his wife Harriet Horne. Swinton is a stepdaughter of Leonard J. Arrington.

Swinton is a descendant of George A. Smith. She and her husband, Jeffrey C. Swinton, also a descendant of George A. Smith, spent their honeymoon in England seeking for where in England the earliest Smith ancestors came from.[2]
Swinton is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In the LDS Church, she served for a time as a member of the Relief Society General Board as well as at different times as both a Primary and Young Women president at the ward level. Her husband Jeffrey has served as an area seventy, stake president, and bishop in the LDS Church. He spent his career as a lawyer, working for the Salt Lake City lawfirm of Stoker and Swinton at the time he was called to preside over the England London South Mission in 2006.

Swinton attended the University of Utah and the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Among works that Swinton has contributed writing to are Trail of Hope, American Prophet, Sacred Stone which was the story of the Nauvoo Temple, Sweetwater Rescue, and America's Choir about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She also written biographies of D. Arthur Haycock and Joseph Anderson. She has also co-authored articles on buildings such as the Hotel Utah and the Relief Society Building.

From 2006-2009 she was serving as a missionary in England along with her husband Jeffrey Swinton who was president of the England London South Mission. While in England Swinton contributed a column to Meridian Magazine entitled "Mission Mum".

Heidi and Jeffrey Swinton are the parents of five sons.

In September 2010 a biography of Thomas S. Monson written by Swinton was released.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so I am biased because this is my grandpa's book, but I really do love it and have met numerous other people who have loved it also. For most people this will be a book of Church history; for me it is also family history. If I had 100 stars to give it, I would do it.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in my student days I attended a young adult ward, and we often had guest speakers in our sacrament meetings. One Sunday I was barely listening, daydreaming about something else, when I realized the speaking was telling stories about different prophets he had known. I sat up straight and listened. He had been introduced as the father of a girl in our ward, and it turned out he was D. Arthur Haycock, secretary to seven of the presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The stories he told were stunning. In the Company of Prophets tells of his experiences over the many years he worked as a secretary to these great men, traveled with them, and stood at their bedsides when they died. A great book about a wonderful man!

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring book about D. Arthur Haycock's personal experiences with six presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I was impressed that a portion of a talk given by Pres. Harold B. Lee at Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho, on October 26, 1973, was included as "one of the finest speeches Arthur ever heard."
My second husband, John H. Thompson, and I were in attendance at that talk and we liked it so much I still have two copies of it.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really incredible book about D. Arthur Haycock's interactions with various Church Presidents. One of my favorites, the examples and stories of latter-day prophets are inspiring, and Haycock's example of service and dedication has always inspired me and pushed me to be a better disciple and to serve others.

[Jason Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short book about D. Arthur Haycock. Some interesting insights about working closely with prophets, but a little more focused on the prophets themselves than I thought it would be.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating stories about the man who acted as executive secretary to 7 modern-day prophets, his interactions with them, and the humorous and sublime experiences they shared.

[Bskidmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fun and quick glimpse into the personal lives of the prophets. Sometimes we forget they are actually real human beings! Who would've thought that a prophet would ever go on a diet or take a nap on his desk or on the floor of the office?! I wish it had more details on their lives, but it was just a quick peek. My favorite thing about each prophet is that, even though their schedules are so packed, and they have stewardship over the whole earth, they truly care about the "one," and will drop everything to help just one person, even a child. That's a quality I need to work on in myself....

[Shane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book better than I did. Most of the stories are great, and I'm sure I wouldn't have learned them anywhere else. However, the strange organization in each chapter and seemingly random placement of quotes bothered me. Finally, I regret to say that the stories in this book really make D. Arthur Hancock sound a little toadyish and fawning toward the church leaders, and it reminded me just a little of Uriah Heep from David Copperfield.

[Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working with D. Arthur Haycock, who for more than half of the twentieth century associated closely with seven presidents of the LDS Church, historian Dr. Heidi S. Swinton brings Heber J. Grant, George Albet Smith, David O. McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer WS. Kimball and Ezra Taft Benson to life.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and sweet book about Arthur Haycock's personal experiences as the secretary to several prophets. Great little personal vignettes, but Swinton's writing style is not my favorite. I guess I prefer Sherri Dew, when it comes to prophets' biographies. :) Plus, I found a few errors--two punctuation and one grammatical.

[Breanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was alright. There are better church books out there, but I don't regret reading this. I liked how it showed that the prophets are people just like us and that even they aren't perfect. I also liked how each prophet mentioned had their own unique personality that was essential in continuing God's work on the earth.

[Jeni Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's not just because it's about my grandfather's life, but it gave me wonderful insights into the lives of our prophets.

[Jeniann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many interesting stories of the prophets from a man who was a personal secretary of many of them

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading personal stories about the prophets, from the perspective of their personal secretary, Arthur Haycock.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides great inside information about the prophets by their personal secretary, D. Arthur Haycock. Very uplifting and inspiring.

[Kathy Marler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experiences of D.Arthur Haycock, personal secretary of many of the latter-day LDS Prophets, Heber J. Grant to Ezra Taft Benson. Heart warming, testimony building...

[Donilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting to hear some behind the scenes stories of our prophets.

[John Brassell · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my all-time favs

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the accounts of prophets as ordinary men going about their lives. Some great insight.

[Dil7worth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of interesting but mostly stuff I'd heard or read about before

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading real life experiences