Dean L. Larsen

Mormon leader

Dean L. Larsen

First Quorum of the Seventy

October 1, 1976 (1976-10-01) – October 4, 1997 (1997-10-04)

Called by

Spencer W. Kimball

End reason

Designated as an emeritus general authority

Presidency of the Seventy

February 22, 1980 (1980-02-22) – August 15, 1993 (1993-08-15)

Called by

Spencer W. Kimball

End reason

Honorably released

Emeritus General Authority

October 4, 1997 (1997-10-04) – October 28, 2019 (2019-10-28)

Called by

Gordon B. Hinckley

Personal details

Born

Dean LeRoy Larsen
(1927-05-24)May 24, 1927
Hyrum, Utah, United States

Died

October 28, 2019(2019-10-28) (aged 92)
Provo, Utah, United States

Dean LeRoy Larsen (May 24, 1927 – October 28, 2019) was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1976^[1] until his death. He was the eighteenth Church Historian and Recorder from 1985 to 1997.^[2]

Larsen was born in Hyrum, Utah. After briefly serving in the United States Navy at the end of the Second World War, Larson attended the University of Utah and Utah State University, graduating from Utah State with a degree in English and Spanish.

In 1962, Larsen was appointed the secretary of the LDS Church Indian Committee. He taught for one year at the Institute of Religion at the University of Utah and then was asked to become president of the church's Texas South Mission. Upon completing this three-year assignment, Larsen taught at the Institute of Religion in Ogden, Utah. In the LDS Church, Larsen has served as a bishop and regional representative. In 1976, Larsen became the editor of all church magazines.

Later in 1976, he became a general authority and member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, where he served until being designated an emeritus general authority in 1997.^[2] From 1980 to 1993, Larsen was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy;^[1] he was the senior member of the presidency from 1986 to 1993. He also served a term as Church Historian and Recorder, succeeding G. Homer Durham. After he was released in 1997,^[2] the office of Church Historian remained vacant until Marlin K. Jensen was called in 2005.^[3]

From 1998 to 2001, Larsen was the president of the church's Provo Utah Temple.^[4]

Larsen married Geneal Johnson and they became the parents of six children. Larsen died at his home in Provo, Utah on October 28, 2019, at age 92.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b Lewis, William O, III. "Dean L. Larsen, General Authority". Grandpa Bill's G. A. Pages. Retrieved June 12, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c Faust, James E. (October 1997). "The Sustaining of Church Officers". 167th Semiannual General Conference. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
^ Lloyd, R. Scott (May 28, 2005). "Historian by yearning' collects, preserves: Elder Marlin K. Jensen is historian/recorder". Church News. Deseret Morning News.
^ Satterfield, Rick. "Presidents of the Provo Utah Temple", ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org, 2020. Retrieved on 20 March 2020.
^ "Elder Dean L. Larsen dies at age 92", Church News, October 28, 2019

External links

General Authorities and General Officers: Elder Dean L. Larsen
Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Dean L. Larsen

Official Church Historian and Recorder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Church Historian and Recorder
Church Historian and Recorder	Cowdery (1830–31, acting) Whitmer (1831–35) Cowdery (1835–37)
Church Historian^[a]	Corrill (1838) Higbee (1838–40) Thompson (1840–41) Sloan (1841–42)
Church Recorder^[a]	Robinson (1837–40) Higbee (1840–42)
Church Historian and Recorder	W. Richards (1842–54) G.A. Smith (1854–71) Carrington (1871–74) Pratt (1874–81) Woodruff (1881–83, acting) Woodruff (1883–89) F.D. Richards (1889–99) Jenson (1899–1900, acting) Jaques (1899–1900, acting) Lund (1900–21) J.F. Smith (1921–70) Hunter (1970–72) Arrington (1972–78)

Church Historical Department ^[b]
Church Historian	Arrington (1978–82) Durham (1982–85) Larsen (1985–97)
Executive director^[c]	Carmack (1989–91) Dunn (1991–93) Nadauld (1993–96) Jensen (1996–98) Carmack (1998–99) Dunn (1999–2000) Christofferson (2000–04) Jensen (2004–05).

Church Historian and Recorder^[d]
Church Historian and Recorder	Jensen (2005–12) Snow (2012–19) Curtis (2019–)

Notes
^ ^a ^b In 1837 the callings of Church Historian and Church Recorder were separated, but in 1842 these callings were again merged. ^ Starting in 1978, the duties of Church Historians fell to the Executive director of the historical department. ^ While Larsen was still technically Church Historian until 1997, others succeeded him as Executive Director of the Historical Department, and those men were sometimes referred to as the Official Church Historians. ^ In 2005 the callings of Church Historian and Church Recorder was restored.

Notes

^ ^a ^b In 1837 the callings of Church Historian and Church Recorder were separated, but in 1842 these callings were again merged.
^ Starting in 1978, the duties of Church Historians fell to the Executive director of the historical department.
^ While Larsen was still technically Church Historian until 1997, others succeeded him as Executive Director of the Historical Department, and those men were sometimes referred to as the Official Church Historians.
^ In 2005 the callings of Church Historian and Church Recorder was restored.