Eldin Ricks, 76, of Provo, passed away at Utah Valley Hospital of heart failure on a beautiful fall morning, Monday, Sept. 7, 1992. He left this life following a difficult fight with a heart that wanted to quit before his spirit was ready to leave. Brother Ricks has now gone on to a loving Father-in-Heaven to continue his lifelong work of building His Kingdom on the other side of the veil as he has so powerfully done during his mortal existence.
Born in Rexburg, Idaho on March 26, 1916 to Hyrum Ricks Jr. and Alice Cheney Ricks. He later moved to Huntington Park, California where he attended high school. He served a mission for the LDS Church to the East Central States Mission from 1936-1938. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1941 and taught English and Seminary in Overton, Nevada before joining the US Army and serving as an LDS Chaplain with the armed forces in the North African and Italian military theatres. While in the Mediterranean, he made his first visit to Palestine, where he began his great love and interest in the land of Israel. This was the first of over 25 personal expeditions to the land of Jesus's birth. While in Rome, Chaplain Ricks had the unique experience of having a personal audience with Pope Pius XII, to whom he presented a Book of Mormon and bore personal testimony of its divinity, explaining to him, "...it is a message for all people everywhere, and we are certain of its truth." This was one of many testimonies which he bore of the book which he loved so deeply and spent so much of his life studying and teaching and writing about.Shortly before leaving for Italy, Brother Ricks finished his final draft of the "Combination Reference" and this powerful book became a staple of missionaries, speakers, and students of the Four Standard Works and has become known as the "Ricks Ready Reference" to three generations of missionaries. Brother Ricks received his Masters degree from the University of Southern California in 1949 and began teaching in the College of Religion at BYU where he shared his insights and testimony with thousands of students over a 36 year period. He received his Ph.D. from Dropsie College in 1974 in Israeli Studies.
Brother Ricks loved researching and studying the scriptures in his comfortable chair in the Joseph Smith Building and wrote over 10 books and numerous articles, papers and pamphlets for students of the Book of Mormon and the New Testament, including the "Wide Margin Edition of the Book of Mormon" and "King of Kings, a Harmony of the Four Gospels". He also did much of the preliminary research in putting the scriptures on computer tape which later became the basis for the new edition of the scriptures which has been published by the LDS Church since 1981.
Brother Ricks married Irene Hailes June 9, 1949 and had four children. Eldin and Irene traveled extensively throughout the world and have been constant companions as they globe-trotted throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the South Pacific and Central America. He and Irene served a mission for the LDS Church together at the Genealogical Library in London, England in 1984-85. They have had great fun together going overseas two to three times yearly, oftentimes, using Eldin's ongoing research as the excuse to hop a plane to Jerusalem or London or New Delhi. They often took groups of friends along to share with them their enthusiasm for the world. Eldin Led the first tour for the predecessor to BYU Travel Study to Israel in 1949.
Brother Ricks served as a stake mission president, High Councilor, Bishop, Gospel Doctrine teacher, temple worker, and home teacher. As Priests Quorum advisor in the Oak Hills 1st Ward, he helped send 49 of 50 priests on missions.
Brother Ricks is survived by his wife, Irene; and children, Harold, Dennis, and Stanford Ricks; and Mrs. (Jim) Marjorie Swindler; 19 grandchildren; his brothers and sisters, Marc, Lavell, Artel, Welby and Clyde Ricks and Norma Durfey and Wanda Wyler. He is preceded in death by his brother, Marvin.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Sept. 10, 11:30 a.m. at the Oak Hills 7th Ward Chapel, 1038 North 1200 East, Provo. A Viewing for his many family members, friends, colleagues and former students will be held 9:30 a.m. that morning as well as at 6-8 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Berg Mortuary, 200 East Center, Provo.
All those who would like to share of their love with Irene and the Ricks family are invited to attend. Brother Ricks will be sorely missed by his beloved wife, family and friends. He has always been a great example of devoted service and love of the Gospel. He has led a fulfilling and rewarding life teaching others selfless Christian principles of service, honesty and integrity. The family is grateful that their separation from him will only be for a short time, and they will meet again at Jesus's feet in the due time of the Lord. They would also like to express their sincere appreciation for the love, skill and devotion of the doctors, nurses, and medical staff at Utah Valley Hospital who treated Brother Ricks with such tender and personal care.
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