William Clayson

William Clayson was a composer and some of his music is included in the 1985 Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those include “The Day Dawn Is Breaking” (52), “Nearer, Dear Savior, to Thee” (99), “Hope of Israel” (259), “O Thou Rock of Our Salvation” (258), “The Iron Rod” (274), and “Oh, What Songs of the Heart” (286).

Clayson was born on February 9, 1840, in England. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ in 1855. He served as branch president in Irchester in 1859 and immigrated to Utah Territory in 1861. After he settled in Payson, Utah, he married Susan Moulton. He died on July 28, 1887.