George D. Pyper

George D. Pyper served as fifth general superintendent of the Sunday School of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He previously served as second assistant to David O. McKay. He was also general superintendent of the Deseret Sunday School Union.

Pyper was a leading tenor in the Salt Lake Opera Company and also the manager and a member of the Tabernacle Choir. He managed the choir’s 1911 American tour, which took them to Madison Square Gardens as well as the White House. He chaired the Church Pageant Committee in 1929 and served as technical advisor for the 1940 Hollywood film Brigham Young. He authored the 1930 book Stories of the Latter-day Saint Hymns, Their Authors, and Composers. He composed music for the hymn “Does the Journey Seem Long?,” which was included in the 1985 Church hymnal.

He was involved in publications of the Church and served as an associate editor of The Contributor, editor of the Juvenile Instructor, and became the first editor of The Instructor where he served until his death.

Pyper was born on November 21, 1860, in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. He and his wife, Emmaretta Smith Whitney, were the parents of two children. He passed away on January 17, 1943.