Voices from the Past originated as a contest in 1980 through the Continuing Education Department at Brigham Young University as a part of Education Week. Notices of the contest were published, inviting people to submit excerpts from family records containing tales of adventure, history, patriotism, and inspiration. Special attention was given to personal records that related to lives of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints between 1830 and 1980. Entries were reviewed by an editorial board consisting of Leonard J. Arrington as editor, and Thomas G. Alexander, Donald Q. Cannon, Richard H. Cracroft, and Neal E. Lambert as associate editors. Scott Froerer of the Dept. of Continuing Education coordinated the project. Selections were made from the entries to be published in the volume "Voices from the past."

Leonard J. Arrington (1917-1999) was editor of the Voices from the Past contest.

Leonard J. Arrington served as editor to the Voices from the Past contest. Leonard J. Arrington was born July 2, 1917. He was an author and an academic founder of the Mormon History Association. He is known as "the father of Mormon History" due to his work in the field. He died February 11, 1999.