Marion D. Hanks
Encyclopedia
Marion Duff Hanks was a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1953 until his death.
. As a young man he served in the Northern States Mission of the LDS Church, which was headquartered in Chicago. He was in the United States Navy during World War II. He received a J.D. from the University of Utah
. Prior to his call as a general authority, he worked as an instructor in the Church Educational System
. Hanks married Maxine Christensen and became the father of five children.
from 1968 to 1976. During a three year period in the early 1960s, Hanks was the president
of the LDS Church mission
in England
; among the missionaries
in his mission were Jeffrey R. Holland
and Quentin L. Cook
, who both later became apostles of the church.
In the mid-1970s Hanks served for a time as managing director of the church's Melchizedek Priesthood MIA. From 1982 to 1985, he was the president
of the Salt Lake Temple
. For a time Hanks served as a member of the Church Board of Education. In October 1992, Hanks was given general authority emeritus status.
Outside of his formal church responsibilities, Hanks preferred to be referred to as "Duff", his middle name.
(for which he received its Distinguished Service Award) and the President’s Citizens Advisory Committee on Children and Youth. In 1988, Hanks was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award
by the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA). Hanks served for a time as a member of the National Council of the BSA. He also served as a member of the boards of Weber State University
and Southern Utah University
.
Hanks wrote the words to "That Easter Morn", which is hymn #198 in the LDS Church's 1985 hymnal
.
general authority after Eldred G. Smith
.
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) from 1953 until his death.
Early life
Hanks was born in Salt Lake City, UtahUtah
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...
. As a young man he served in the Northern States Mission of the LDS Church, which was headquartered in Chicago. He was in the United States Navy during World War II. He received a J.D. from 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...
. Prior to his call as a general authority, he worked as an instructor in 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...
. Hanks married Maxine Christensen and became the father of five children.
General authority
Hanks served in the Presidency of the Seventy twice following the 1976 reconstitution of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Previously, he also served on the First Council of the Seventy from 1953 to 1968 and as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesAssistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, commonly shortened to Assistant to the Twelve or Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1941 and 1976...
from 1968 to 1976. During a three year period in the early 1960s, Hanks was 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 LDS Church 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...
in 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...
; among the missionaries
Mormon missionary
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...
in his mission were Jeffrey R. Holland
Jeffrey R. Holland
Jeffrey Roy Holland is an American educator and religious leader. He served as the ninth President of Brigham Young University and is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Holland is accepted by...
and Quentin L. Cook
Quentin L. Cook
Quentin LaMar Cook is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the thirteenth most senior apostle in the ranks of the Church....
, who both later became apostles of the church.
In the mid-1970s Hanks served for a time as managing director of the church's Melchizedek Priesthood MIA. From 1982 to 1985, he 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 Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
. For a time Hanks served as a member of the Church Board of Education. In October 1992, Hanks was given general authority emeritus status.
Outside of his formal church responsibilities, Hanks preferred to be referred to as "Duff", his middle name.
Other activities
He was a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and SportsPresident's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition , is an American government organization that aims to "promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sport"...
(for which he received its Distinguished Service Award) and the President’s Citizens Advisory Committee on Children and Youth. In 1988, Hanks was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
by the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(BSA). Hanks served for a time as a member of the National Council of the BSA. He also served as a member of the boards of Weber State University
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
and Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
.
Hanks wrote the words to "That Easter Morn", which is hymn #198 in the LDS Church's 1985 hymnal
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
.
Death
Hanks died at the age of 89. At the time of his death, Hanks was the oldest living former member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and the second-oldest 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 after Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith
Eldred Gee Smith holds the position of patriarch emeritus to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held the calling of Patriarch to the Church of the same church between 1947 and 1979. In 2009, Smith surpassed Joseph Anderson as the oldest-lived general authority in the history of...
.