John M. Madsen
Encyclopedia
John Max Madsen is an emeritus
member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has been a general authority
of the LDS Church since 1992.
Madsen was born in Washington, D.C.
His family lived in Beltsville
, Maryland
until Madsen was six when his father took a position at Utah State University
. From 1950 to 1953, Madsen's father, Louis L. Madsen
, was president of Utah State. He then took a position as a dean
at Washington State University
and the family moved to Pullman, Washington
. John Madsen served as an LDS Church missionary
from 1959 to 1961 in the North Central States Mission
of the church.
In 1963, Madsen married Diane Dursteler. They have six children, four of whom are currently alive.
Madsen received a degree in zoology
with a minor in chemistry
from Washington State University. One of Madsen's associates at Washington State was Gary J. Coleman, who Madsen baptized into the LDS Church. Coleman also became a general authority of the LDS Church.
Madsen planned to go to dental school but instead became a seminary
teacher, thus beginning a long career with the Church Educational System
(CES). He was recruited into the system by Dale T. Tingey, who was then assistant administrator of the Church Educational System. For a time Madsen served as a CES coordinator in England. He also served as an institute instructor and later as a religion professor at Brigham Young University
(BYU). Madsen got both his master's
and Ed.D. from BYU. Madsen has also for a time been an employee of the church's Melchizedek Priesthood Department and fulfilled other administrative roles in the church's central operations.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Madsen served as a regional representative of the Twelve
and a mission president
. He was president of the England
Southwest Mission from 1970 to 1973. In 1992, Madsen became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. In 1997 he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy. As a general authority, Madsen has also served in the general presidency of the church's Young Men organization. Madsen had also served as member of the Young Men General Board prior to his call as a general authority. Madsen was made General Authority Emeritus in the Oct 2009 conference.
Assignments that Madsen has had as a general authority have included serving as president of the Mexico
North Area
of the church, and in the presidency of the North America West, North America Northwest, Philippines, and Australia/New Zealand areas.
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:...
member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has been 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 since 1992.
Madsen was born in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
His family lived in Beltsville
Beltsville, Maryland
Beltsville is a census-designated place in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15,691 at the 2000 census. Beltsville includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.-Geography:...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
until Madsen was six when his father took a position at 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....
. From 1950 to 1953, Madsen's father, Louis L. Madsen
Louis L. Madsen
Louis Linden Madsen was an American agricultural scientist who served as president of Utah State University from 1950-1953 and then as a member of the Washington State University faculty....
, was president of Utah State. He then took a position as a dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
and the family moved to Pullman, Washington
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
. John Madsen served as an LDS Church missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
from 1959 to 1961 in the North Central States 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.
In 1963, Madsen married Diane Dursteler. They have six children, four of whom are currently alive.
Madsen received a degree in zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
with a minor in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from Washington State University. One of Madsen's associates at Washington State was Gary J. Coleman, who Madsen baptized into the LDS Church. Coleman also became a general authority of the LDS Church.
Madsen planned to go to dental school but instead became a seminary
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
teacher, thus beginning a long career with the Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
(CES). He was recruited into the system by Dale T. Tingey, who was then assistant administrator of the Church Educational System. For a time Madsen served as a CES coordinator in England. He also served as an institute instructor and later as a religion professor at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU). Madsen got both his master's
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...
and Ed.D. from BYU. Madsen has also for a time been an employee of the church's Melchizedek Priesthood Department and fulfilled other administrative roles in the church's central operations.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Madsen served as a regional representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve, commonly shorted to regional representative or regional rep, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1968 and 1995...
and a mission 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...
. He was president of the England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Southwest Mission from 1970 to 1973. In 1992, Madsen became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. In 1997 he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy. As a general authority, Madsen has also served in the general presidency of the church's Young Men organization. Madsen had also served as member of the Young Men General Board prior to his call as a general authority. Madsen was made General Authority Emeritus in the Oct 2009 conference.
Assignments that Madsen has had as a general authority have included serving as president of the Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
North Area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
of the church, and in the presidency of the North America West, North America Northwest, Philippines, and Australia/New Zealand areas.