Howard W. Hunter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howard W. Hunter |
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| 14th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| June 5, 1994 – March 3, 1995 | |
| Predecessor | Ezra Taft Benson |
| Successor | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| May 20, 1988 – June 5, 1994 | |
| Predecessor | Marion G. Romney |
| Successor | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| November 10, 1985 – May 20, 1988 | |
| Reason | Due to Marion G. Romney's poor health |
| End reason | Became President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 10, 1959 – June 5, 1994 | |
| Called by | David O. McKay |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| October 15, 1959 – March 3, 1995 | |
| Called by | David O. McKay |
| Reason | Death of Stephen L Richards and addition of Henry D. Moyle to First Presidency |
| Reorganization at end of term |
Henry B. Eyring ordained |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Howard William Hunter November 14, 1907 Boise, Idaho, United States |
| Died | March 3, 1995 (aged 87) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W |
| Education | Secondary Education, 1926, Boise High School Bachelor's in Law cum laude, 1939, Southwestern Law School |
| Spouse(s) |
Clara May Jeffs
(m. 1931; died 1983)Inis Stanton
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 3 |
| Signature | |
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Howard William Hunter (born November 14, 1907 – died March 3, 1995) was an American lawyer. He became the 14th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served from 1994 to 1995.
His time as president was the shortest in the church's history, lasting nine months. Howard W. Hunter was the first church president born in the 1900s. He was also the last one to pass away in that century. He became an apostle at age 51. He served as a general authority for over 35 years.
Contents
Early Life and Interests
Howard W. Hunter was born in Boise, Idaho. His parents were John William and Nellie Marie Hunter. His father joined the church in 1927. Howard was baptized when he was 12 years old. He became an Aaronic priesthood holder a few months later. He was the second person in Idaho to become an Eagle Scout.
In 1923, his church group, called a Ward, split. He joined the new Boise 2nd Ward. They first met in a Jewish synagogue for free. When people were asked to help build the Boise LDS Tabernacle, Hunter was the first to promise money. He offered $25.
Howard loved music and played many instruments. These included the piano, violin, drums, saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet. He even started a band called Hunter's Croonaders. They played at many events and on a cruise ship to Asia.
Professional Journey
In 1928, Hunter tried a business idea. He published train and bus schedules and sold advertising space in hotels. This worked well in some cities like Nampa and Twin Falls. But it didn't work in Pocatello, Idaho. After this, Hunter moved to southern California.
In California, he first worked in a citrus factory and sold shoes. A few weeks later, he got a job at a Bank of Italy branch in April 1928. He studied at the American Institute of Banking while working at the bank. He also continued to play the saxophone for dances.
In 1930, Hunter helped with the merger of the Bank of Italy. It combined with the Bank of America of California. This formed the Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association. Soon after, Hunter became a junior officer at the First Exchange Bank of Inglewood. This bank closed in 1932. For the next two years, Hunter did many different jobs. He painted bridges and sold laundry soap. In 1934, he got a job as a title examiner. This was with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. In 1935, he began studying at Southwestern Law School. He later had a successful career as a lawyer.
Leadership in the Church
Before becoming an apostle, Hunter held important roles in the LDS Church. He was the first president of the church's Pasadena California Stake. He had also served as a bishop there.
In 1959, Hunter became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He filled a spot that opened when Henry D. Moyle joined the First Presidency. This happened after Stephen L Richards passed away.
Developing the Polynesian Cultural Center
In January 1965, Hunter became the president of the board for the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). The PCC was two years old and losing a lot of money. Hunter made changes to the board. He focused on "good, smart business practices." Within three years, the PCC started making a profit. He led the PCC board until 1976.
Other Key Assignments
As an apostle, Hunter helped the church buy land in Jerusalem. This land was for the BYU Jerusalem Center. He dedicated the center in 1989.
In 1970, when Joseph Fielding Smith became church president, Hunter took his place as Church Historian and Recorder. Hunter held this role until 1972. Leonard J. Arrington then took over.
In November 1985, Ezra Taft Benson became church president. Hunter was named Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve. This was because Marion G. Romney was ill. Hunter became the full quorum president when Romney passed away in 1988.
Becoming Church President
Hunter became church president in June 1994, after President Benson's death. He kept Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson as his advisors in the First Presidency. At his first press conference, he shared a message of hope. He said, "To those who have done wrong or been hurt, we say, 'Come back.'"
Some of Hunter's important contributions as church president include:
- Creating the church's 2000th stake.
- Helping to write "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." This important document was released after his death.
- Encouraging people to live like Christ and attend the temple.
- Dedicating the Orlando Florida and Bountiful Utah temples. He did this shortly before he passed away.
His teachings as an apostle were studied in church classes in 2016.
Other Church-Owned Endeavors
Hunter also served in other church-related roles. He was on the Board of Trustees for Brigham Young University. He was also involved in starting the J. Reuben Clark Law School. He was a board member for the New World Archaeology Foundation. He was chairman of the PCC board. He also served as president of the Genealogical Society of Utah.
Facing a Difficult Moment
On February 7, 1993, Hunter was about to speak at Brigham Young University. A person rushed onto the stage and made threats. The audience of thousands began to sing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" on their own. Students and security then helped to resolve the situation. After the person was taken away, Hunter calmly gave his speech. It was titled, "An Anchor to the Souls of Men.".
Health and Passing
When Hunter was four years old, he had polio. This affected his back, and he could never bend forward to touch the ground again.
Later in his life, while serving as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, he had many health problems. These included a heart attack and broken ribs from a fall. He also had heart bypass surgery, bleeding ulcers, and kidney failure. In January 1995, he was admitted to LDS Hospital for exhaustion. Doctors found that he had prostate cancer that had spread.
Howard W. Hunter passed away at age 87 in Salt Lake City. His wife, Inis, his nurse, and his secretary were with him. His funeral was held on March 8, 1995, at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Gordon B. Hinckley led the service. Hunter was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. His wife, Inis, passed away in 2007.
Family Life
In June 1928, Hunter met Clara May "Claire" Jeffs from Salt Lake City. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 10, 1931. Their first son, William, passed away before Hunter started law school. They had two more sons, Richard and John, who both became lawyers. After his first wife passed away in 1983, Hunter married Inis Stanton in 1990.
Legacy and Recognition
- Howard W. Hunter Law Library: Named in 1995 at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.
- Howard W. Hunter Professorship: Started in 1989 at the J. Reuben Clark Law School to support faculty research.
- Howard W. Hunter Foundation
- Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies: At Claremont Graduate University.
Works
Images for kids
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Grave marker of Howard W. Hunter.
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Grave marker of Howard W. Hunter and his wife Clara Jeffs Hunter.
See also
In Spanish: Howard W. Hunter para niños
