Dean L. Larsen
Encyclopedia
Dean LeRoy Larsen has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1976 and was the eighteenth Church Historian and Recorder
from 1985 to 1997.
, 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.
Larsen married Geneal Johnson and they became the parents of five children.
In 1962, Larsen was appointed the secretary of the Church Indian Committee. He taught for one year at the Institute of Religion
at the University of Utah and then was asked to become the president
of the Texas
South Mission
of the church. Upon completing this three-year assignment, Larsen taught at the Institute of Religion in Ogden, Utah
. In the church he also served as a bishop and as a Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles. In 1976, Larsen became the editor of all church magazines.
general authority
in 1997. From 1980 to 1993, Larsen was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. He also served a term as Church Historian and Recorder
, succeeding G. Homer Durham
. After he was released in 1997, the office of Church Historian remained vacant until Marlin K. Jensen
was called in 2005.
From 1998 to 2001, Larsen was the president
of the church's Provo Utah Temple
. He is occasionally mistaken for a different Dean L. Larsen who was president
of the Lima Peru Temple
from 2001 to 2004.
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1976 and was the eighteenth Church Historian and Recorder
Church Historian and Recorder
Church Historian and Recorder is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The role of the Church Historian and Recorder is to keep an accurate and comprehensive record of the church and its activities...
from 1985 to 1997.
Biographical background
Larsen was born in HyrumHyrum, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there are 6,316 people, 1,683 households, and 1,497 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,617.2 people per square mile . There are 1,744 housing units at an average density of 446.5 per square mile...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. After briefly serving in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
at the end of the Second World War, Larson attended the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
, graduating from Utah State with a degree in English and Spanish.
Larsen married Geneal Johnson and they became the parents of five children.
In 1962, Larsen was appointed the secretary of the Church Indian Committee. He taught for one year at the Institute of Religion
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
at the University of Utah and then was asked to become the president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
South Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church. Upon completing this three-year assignment, Larsen taught at the Institute of Religion in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. In the church he also served as a bishop and as a Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles. In 1976, Larsen became the editor of all church magazines.
General authority
Later in 1976, he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, a position he retained until he became an emeritusEmeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
in 1997. From 1980 to 1993, Larsen was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. He also served a term as Church Historian and Recorder
Church Historian and Recorder
Church Historian and Recorder is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The role of the Church Historian and Recorder is to keep an accurate and comprehensive record of the church and its activities...
, succeeding G. Homer Durham
G. Homer Durham
George Homer Durham was an American academic administrator and was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977 until his death.-Early Life:...
. After he was released in 1997, the office of Church Historian remained vacant until Marlin K. Jensen
Marlin K. Jensen
Marlin Keith Jensen has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989 and has been the official Church Historian and Recorder of the church since 2005. He is the 19th man to hold that calling since it was established in 1830.- Biographical background...
was called in 2005.
From 1998 to 2001, Larsen was the president
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
of the church's Provo Utah Temple
Provo Utah Temple
The Provo Utah Temple is the 17th constructed and 15th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. He is occasionally mistaken for a different Dean L. Larsen who was president
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
of the Lima Peru Temple
Lima Peru Temple
The Lima Peru Temple is the 38th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Because of the growth of the Church in Peru, Mormon leaders announced in 1981 that a temple would be built in the city of Lima. The six-spired Lima Peru Temple was constructed on of undeveloped...
from 2001 to 2004.