H. Burke Peterson
Encyclopedia
Harold Burke Peterson has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1972.
Peterson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah
and was raised in Phoenix
, Arizona
, where he became an Eagle Scout
. Beginning in 1940, Peterson attended Phoenix College
, and in 1942 he joined the United States Navy
. He completed a civil engineering
course of study at the University of Oklahoma
and became a Seebee, working on projects in the Pacific Ocean theater
of World War II
.
After the war, he earned a bachelor's degree
from the University of Arizona
and taught at the Utah State Agricultural College while he earned his master's degree
there. After graduating, he worked in Phoenix with the United States Department of Agriculture
. In 1955, he and two other Latter-day Saints founded a civil engineering firm.
In 1947 Peterson married Brookie Cardon in the Mesa Arizona Temple
. They eventually had five daughters.
Prior to his call as a general authority
of the LDS Church, Peterson was a bishop and a stake president of the church in Phoenix; later he became a Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles for the Phoenix, Mesa
, and Tempe
regions of Arizona. On 6 April 1972, Peterson became the first counselor to Victor L. Brown
, the presiding bishop
of the LDS Church. Peterson acted in this capacity until 1985, when Brown was succeeded by Robert D. Hales
.
When he was released from the presiding bishopric, Peterson became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the church. In this capacity, he was made the president
of the Jordan River Utah Temple
of the church, a position he held for three years. Peterson continued his activities as a general authority until he was given emeritus
status in October 1993.
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 1972.
Peterson was born in Salt Lake City, 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...
and was raised in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, where he became an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
. Beginning in 1940, Peterson attended Phoenix College
Phoenix College
Phoenix College is a community college located in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country....
, and in 1942 he joined 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...
. He completed a civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
course of study at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
and became a Seebee, working on projects in the Pacific Ocean theater
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the war, he earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and taught at the Utah State Agricultural College while he earned his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
there. After graduating, he worked in Phoenix with the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
. In 1955, he and two other Latter-day Saints founded a civil engineering firm.
In 1947 Peterson married Brookie Cardon in the Mesa Arizona Temple
Mesa Arizona Temple
The Mesa Arizona Temple is the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Mesa, Arizona, it is the first of five LDS temples built or planned in the state.-History:...
. They eventually had five daughters.
Prior to his call as a 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...
of the LDS Church, Peterson was a bishop and a stake president of the church in Phoenix; later he became a Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles for the Phoenix, Mesa
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, and Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
regions of Arizona. On 6 April 1972, Peterson became the first counselor to Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown
Victor Lee Brown was the tenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1972 and 1985. He was a general authority of the LDS Church from 1961 until his death....
, the presiding bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
of the LDS Church. Peterson acted in this capacity until 1985, when Brown was succeeded by Robert D. Hales
Robert D. Hales
Robert Dean Hales is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the eighth most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church...
.
When he was released from the presiding bishopric, Peterson became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the church. In this capacity, he was made 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 Jordan River Utah Temple
Jordan River Utah Temple
The Jordan River Utah Temple is the 20th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in South Jordan, Utah, it was built with a modern single-spire design....
of the church, a position he held for three years. Peterson continued his activities as a general authority until he was given emeritus
Emeritus
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:...
status in October 1993.
Publications
- H. Burke Peterson (1986). A Glimpse of Glory (Salt Lake City, Utah: BookcraftBookcraftBookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-History:In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant asked the church's Improvement Era magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G...
) ISBN 0884945901