Kate Holbrook (born January 13, 1972) died August 20, 2022, her mortal life ended by a rare cancer of the eye that threatened for a decade before taking her from us over the course of the last year. We are utterly bereft, and we are also filled with the joy of her existence. Kate was born in Santa Barbara, California, in the desperate confusion of the early 1970s, to Kathleen Stewart and Robert Holbrook. Kate was raised by her mother and her grandmother, Belle Fillmore Stewart, in Provo, Utah. After serving a Church mission to Samara Russia and graduating from Brigham Young University, she moved to Boston because she’d loved a rainy afternoon spent there when she was 13. There she worked at Boston University, graduated from Harvard Divinity School with a Master of Theological Studies, and began a doctorate in Religious Studies at Boston University. She also met and married Sam Brown. In their middle 30s they realized that they were at heart mountain people and returned to Utah. They are the proud parents of three wonderful children: Amelia, Lucia, and Persephone Holbrook-Brown. In Utah, Kate completed her PhD (remotely) and started her career as an historian of Latter-day Saint women, employed by the Church History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She edited and/or wrote many books, articles, and other expressions of her careful thought and warm caring. She paid special attention in her scholarship to the relationships between food and religious community. Kate lived with abiding passion and care. She read voraciously and with great sympathy. In the last year of her mortal course, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Kenya, driven by her childhood reading of Out of Africa. Her entire being sparkled with the possibilities of literature, including the stories of East Africa and Karen Blixen.
Kate loved Jesus with her whole heart. There wasn’t a part of her that didn’t breathe God and Gospel. She was honored to lead teams to tell the story of the Latter-day Saints to outsiders and the stories of women to her fellow Saints. As she contemplated her passage from mortality with great sadness, it was not because she lacked confidence in the reality of an afterlife. Instead, she mourned her physical absence from the mortal lives of her beloveds. She held in her hands and her heart both the certainty that death is not the end of us and the terrible tragedy of mortality cut short.
Her father and her grandmother (beside countless generations of the ancestors she honored with her scholarly work) preceded her in death. The others remain, hallowed by her memory and her abiding presence. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 27 at 11am at the Bonneville Stake Center, 1535 Bonneview Drive in Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held the evening before from 5–7pm at the Larkin mortuary at 260 E South Temple in Salt Lake City. Kate loved flowers the way she loved food, viscerally. However, she asks that instead of giving flowers, well-intended friends donate to the Kate Holbrook Endowed Scholarship Fund at BYU for primary caregivers of young children pursuing graduate work in the humanities: https://kateholbrook.org/scholarship
For those unable to attend, the recorded service may be viewed by selecting the "Watch Service" button above.
I hope that, from "there," she will see the hosts of those who love her here. Many thanks to Larkin for the livestream for those of us who cannot manifest by our presence our love for her and deep sense of loss - personal and professional.
Dear Sam, Amelia, Lucia, Persephone and Kathleen. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We recently saw her on the Follow Up program on the BYU channel. She was brilliant and beautiful. We are so proud of her.
Love, Florence Romney and family
I was so saddened to see this in the Deseret News. I watched the F2F church history broadcast in Sept. 2018 with Kate, Elder Cook, and Matt Grow. She was an articulate speaker and phenomenal historian. She was a wonderful gift to her family and to the Church. I express appreciation to her family for sharing her with the world and my heartfelt condolences on her much-too-soon passing. I'm sure Emma and Joseph were near, if not at, the head of the line to welcome her. God bless you all.
I am so saddened by Kate's death. What a legacy she has left us and countless women in the church will continually be blessed by her work. I loved listening to her podcasts and feeling her warmth for others, as well as her knowledge of those that have gone before us that we should admire and learn from. I'm sure she has important work waiting for her beyond the veil. May Sam and her daughters be comforted by knowing how many loved and appreciated her here in mortality and that they are bound to her for eternity.
So sorry, Sam, for losing Kate at such a young age and in the prime of her life. So many of us loved her and felt her influence in our lives--through her articulateness, her warmth, her seriousness, and her love of women and history. I feel privileged to have worked with her while she was part of Exponent II and always appreciated her ideas, her writing, her thoughtfulness, and her concern. I hope you and your three girls will receive the comfort you need to get through this terrible time.
The world has lost a fantastic woman. Our hearts are weeping for the loss and particularly the empty spot in Sam and the girls lives. She has three smart and beautiful girls which will carry her spirit with them. Group hugs to all of you!
Kathleen, sorry to hear about your daughter!
From reading her obituary she was a amazing and
had a wonderful and beautiful life!
Our prayers are with you and your family!
Sue
I live thousands of miles away and never met Kate but I have thought so much about her and I’m so grateful for her influence on me. Every time I saw or heard her speak I thought I want to be a generous listener and have gracious conversations just like her. I wanted to connect to life and to others through lovingly prepared food. I wanted to not be afraid of looking at the messiness in our history and in the present but be brave and gently hold a space for questions and compassion for the questioner. I and so many women have been blessed by your influence on us. Aloha oe and mahalo nui loa
Kate was one of my first mission companions and taught me so much. She was incredibly happy even on the coldest day! She and I purchased our furry Russian winter hats together and I still have our pictures of that fun day. She will be forever a part of my growing testimony of the gospel. My deepest condolences to her family and all who loves her so dearly! Dawna Barney Kennedy
Sam and beautiful daughters, We love you and pray for you at this time. May the Lord bless you with peace and comfort.
We are humbled and grateful for Kate's example of service and devotion and the victorious life she lived, enduring well to the end. We watched her grow and blossom in our own ward in Provo and are not surprised that she accomplished so much in her short span of 50 years. She has left an unforgettable legacy for her daughters and family and it is a privilege to have known her. - Bill & Hawley Barrett
Kate was such a light. I always loved spending time with her and Sam — from our first encounters in Cambridge to more recent visits she made to Seattle some years back and occasional discussions about the work of the Widtsoe Foundation. Her work and her scholarship and her enthusiasm for history is an example to all of us. She was a remarkable soul who always exemplified grace and kindness. We send our love to Sam as well as to their dear children. God speed, Kate.
Sam,
I'm so heartbroken for you and the girls. Amy and I thought so much of Kate. I don' t believe anything I say can soften the pain of your loss. Just know we love all of you and are here for you.
With our deepest sympathy and love,
Clayton and Amy Morgan
My deepest condolences. She will never be forgotten.
I’m so, so sorry for Kate’s passing. I’m forever grateful for that Face to Face event, where I got to hear her for the first time. Her words and the way she shared them, her testimony, solid trust and love for the Savior touched me deeply. What a wonderful, inspiring woman! A certain woman indeed.
My heartfelt condolences to Kate's family, Sam, and your three lovely girls. It has been an honor and privilege working with Kate in the Church History Department. We will profoundly miss her.
I was tremendously saddened to read of the passing of Kate Holbrook. I had the privilege of being her school teacher at Farrer Junior High School in Provo many years ago. Kate was one of the best students I taught in my 37 years of teaching junior high students. She was always respectful, and she was very kind-hearted and Christ-like. I taught her in 8th grade English. She was an exemplary student, and her countenance was bright and happy! I hope to be able to go to the place where I know she has gone when my life comes to an end! Dennis Holley
"The weight of this sad time we must obey,
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath borne most. We that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long."
I didn't know Kate for very long, but I was lucky enough to be assigned to be her research assistant during a summer internship at the Church History Library. Her approach to history was different than any I had ever seen before. She was quietly enthusiastic about everything she learned and found rich beauty in meaning in things others may have found mundane. Her influence changed my entire career, and I owe her a great debt. Her memory is a blessing to all who knew her. Please know that the prayers of thousands are with your family.
I want to share how much of a positive influence Kate’s words and talks have been on me. I have always been a member of the church and a believer and a woman of faith. But a few years back there were a few things culturally that I was struggling with. I started listening to Kate’s talks and her intelligence and incredible sweet spirit were (are) so powerful. I looked for every one of her talks that I could find. They were such a strength to me. And so helpful in a harder time for me.
I am sorry for your loss in this mortal life. And am so grateful for her and your family. I was moved by all of your words at the service.
With love,
Janice (and Galen) Lowe
Our family sends our love and best wishes for yours. It was beautiful to see the tributes all over social media this last week, as well as hear those precious daughters speak of their mothers love and to you Sam, best wishes for everything to come.
Been thinking about and praying for your family all week, Sam. Kate was inspiring to me and I cherish the time both of you spent in Cambridge. It hasn't been the same since! The entire world just lost an incredible woman, but we gained an angel to keep guiding us. I know she will be with you and the girls every day. Sending you a hug. Tracie
Dear Sam, We are so saddened to hear about Kate's passing. John and I have thought about both of you so much over the past many days, remembering all of the good times we had together in Cambridge and later. Kate is such a pure, wise soul. What a gift she has been to all of us.
We are thinking of you and send our love to you during this painful time.
Love, Jennifer and John.
I sit at this moment in El Paso, Texas, reflecting on the incredible life of Kate, while my wife waits in Salt Lake City for the funeral to begin. I have watched her from afar and marvelled at the gifts she so willingly shared with the world around her. She was a bright light for many of us, though I imagine in her humility she rarely if ever gave that much consideration. I always wanted to be more like her, and will keep the memory of the example she has been in my heart for the rest of time.
I thank God for allowing our family the privilege of mortal association with such an incredible woman of faith.
Kathleen,
I have no words to convey the tenderness I feel for you and for Kate's family knowing your world has turned upside down for a bit. Such a difficult, yet glorious time, because your beautiful daughter has made it safely home. That knowledge doesn't make the days ahead easy, or hurt any less, but it will bring peace. Friends both earthside and heavenside are sorrowing with you and cheering you on--I'm one of those. I remember meeting a delightful. 7-year-old Kate when you and I were both teaching at Grandview Elementary. I have supped often from her published writings and spoken words in the years since. I named my own daughter Kate, in part, because I had felt such love and kindness from you and knew of her goodness. May you feel encircled with love and enjoy blessings and power from Heaven.
Dear Family of Sister Holbrook,
I am so sorry and saddened to learn of your loss. I just wanted to send my sincere condolences during this time, as well as wishes of peace, comfort, and healing to all of you.
I met Sister Holbrook during the filming of “Our Journey from Palmyra” in Kirtland, OH, for a North America West Singles Conference last year. She interviewed me for the project, and I was so inspired by her strength, testimony, knowledge and faith. It was truly an honor to meet her, learn from her, and feel her spirit. Although our meeting was brief, she impacted my life tremendously for good. She truly had an ability to uplift others, radiate the light of the Gospel, and convey the pure love of Christ.
During the filming, we also had the chance to talk about my mother, the first baptism of the Church in China, some of her experiences, and how much I miss her after her passing. As we drove back to the airport, Sister Holbrook was so gracious and asked me if I would ever consider working for the Church History Department, a surprising question, but one that has since deepened my desire and interest to learn as much about Church History as I can.
Although we will all miss her on this side of the veil, I am certain that her influence and ministry continues - on both sides. I am glad that my mother and father may now have the chance to meet Sister Holbrook as well. Thank you for sharing her so generously with the Church and the world. I am grateful to have met her. May the Lord’s choicest blessings be with you, and may the Balm of Gilead sustain you in the coming days ahead.
With utmost sympathy and warm regards,
Arthur Jue
I knew Kate through her talks, interviews and writings. To me, she exemplified what I believed an LDS woman to be. Her love of Jesus and our Heavenly Father radiated throughout her whole being. I am saddened she died so young. I rejoice, though, that she left a wealth of her wisdom behind so that I may continue to access it. May the memories of her support and nourish you, your three daughters and her mother through this difficult time and in the future.
Judith-Blythe Barnard, Vancouver, BC, Canada
In the orbit of Kate's life, I was a fairly dim point in the galaxy of lives that touched hers. But the light of her influence remained a lodestar for me. In her passing, it feels like that where she was once bright, she has gone supernova; even those only obliquely aware of her life and work are now noticing her passing as that shockwave carries through the inter-spiritual medium of our lives. I have a burled-maple frame that, for years, has held a postcard of the Tetons that sits high on a bookshelf in my library. I think I will take it down and replace it with a picture of Kate, so that as the light of this moment fades in time, I will remember her light and example and allow it to guide me back to where she has gone. Thank you, Kate.
I came to Kate late, around the time she was introducing the release of a new edition of Saints. I was charmed by her facility with the language of testimony as she spoke of her experiences with this volume. I was sufficiently impressed to research her background, and was dazzled by her credentials. Last evening I enjoyed a rare, in-person visit with my sister, with whom I regularly swap book titles. She recommended Every Needful Thing, and I was astonished to learn of Kate's passing. Our appreciation to Kate for her intelligent and ebullient way of testifying and promoting truth.