Grandson tells story of famous LDS scientist

Henry J. Eyring, grandson of Henry Eyring, the scientist, never had any illusions or even serious thoughts about writing his grandfather's biography. But Elder Neal Maxwell, former University of Utah vice president and member of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, now deceased, suggested many years ago that he do so.

Elder Maxwell was a neighbor of the Eyrings on Herbert Avenue in Salt Lake City, and he had great admiration for the scientist. Initially, he said, "Henry, you need to write the story of your grandfather."

"He didn't elaborate," said Henry J. Eyring, during a phone interview from BYU-Idaho, where he serves as an administrator. "I'm not a good enough scientist to do justice to the science, as a one-time geology student, and I was also concerned that my father, Henry B. Eyring (an LDS apostle and a member of the LDS First Presidency), was very high profile. How is a grandson going to write such a book when the sons know the story so much better?"

The younger Eyring said he understood Elder Maxwell's interest. "He wanted young church members to get the benefit of the faith and testimony of an eminent scientist. He wanted to demonstrate that a young person could go away and learn everything that is true and still keep his faith."

Eyring thought about it, but he didn't want to do it. Then came the second request from Elder Maxwell, "and I got a good case of guilt just before leaving to preside over an LDS mission in Japan. My kids went to general conference with my father. In my father's office, there is a bronze bust of his father — and my toddler planted a kiss on the face of his grandfather. That incident caused me to reconsider doing the book."

So, in the several weeks left before he went to Japan, Eyring did intensive research in the U. archives. "I thought I'd discovered gold. It's hard to cheer and dance in an archive, but I couldn't believe what I'd found."

Among the things Eyring discovered were stacks of letters. His grandfather had apparently corresponded with everyone who ever wrote to him, including "children, critics and people with crazy schemes. We might think some of these did not deserve a reply. But it was miraculous to see the way he treated people. He wrote to them with such respect. He had the ability to love and nurture strangers. It was a key discovery for me."