William H. Bennett
Encyclopedia
William Hunter Bennett was a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1970 until his death.
Bennett was born in Taber, Alberta
, Canada
. He attended the School of Agriculture in Raymond, Alberta
, and earned bachelor's
and master's degree
s in agriculture
from Utah State University
and a Ph.D.
in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He joined the faculty of Utah State University as a professor of agronomy
.
Bennett married Patricia June Christensen. They were the parents of six children.
Bennett was an avid sportsman and in 1936 tried out for the Canadian Summer Olympics team in the shot put
and discus throw
.
In 1970, while serving as a regional representative of the Twelve Apostles, Bennett was asked by the LDS Church to become an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
and a general authority of the church. Bennett served in this position until 1976, when the position of Assistant to the Twelve was abolished by the church. At this time, Bennett became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Bennett served actively as a general authority until 1978, when he was granted general authority emeritus
status.
Bennett died at his home in Bountiful
, Utah
.
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 1970 until his death.
Bennett was born in Taber, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He attended the School of Agriculture in Raymond, Alberta
Raymond, Alberta
Raymond is a town in Warner County, Alberta, Canada. It is located in southern Alberta south of Lethbridge on Highway 52. Raymond is known for its annual rodeo and its large Mormon population...
, and earned bachelor's
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...
and 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...
s in agriculture
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
from 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....
and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He joined the faculty of Utah State University as a professor of agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
.
Bennett married Patricia June Christensen. They were the parents of six children.
Bennett was an avid sportsman and in 1936 tried out for the Canadian Summer Olympics team in the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
and discus throw
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
.
In 1970, while serving as a regional representative of the Twelve Apostles, Bennett was asked by the LDS Church to become an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant 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...
and a general authority of the church. Bennett served in this position until 1976, when the position of Assistant to the Twelve was abolished by the church. At this time, Bennett became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Bennett served actively as a general authority until 1978, when he was granted general authority 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.
Bennett died at his home in Bountiful
Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42,552, a three percent increase over the 2000 figure of 41,301...
, 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...
.