Carrie Stockdale Thomas

Caroline “Carrie” Stockdale Thomas wrote the words to “Great King of Heaven” (#63), which was included in the 1985 Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It originally appeared in the 1948 hymnal.

She was born on April 22, 1848, at Stoke Damerel, Devon, England, the daughter of Michael Stockdale and Jane Johnson. She emigrated from London with her family to New York in July 1864. She then came to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving in November 1864. She married Richard Thomas in September 1865 and they had twelve children.

She served in the Church on the Relief Society general board under Bathsheba W. Smith and Emmeline B. Wells. She was appointed as a missionary to assist the Relief Society general board by visiting stake Relief Societies from 1897 to 1912.

Carrie died on April 5, 1931, in Salt Lake City.