Dean L. Larsen

Dean L. Larsen is an emeritus General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on October 1, 1976. He served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy from February 22, 1980, until August 15, 1993. He was designated emeritus status on October 4, 1997. He served as Church Historian and Recorder from 1985 to 1997. He presided over the Texas South Mission. From 1998 to 2001 he served as president of the Provo Utah Temple. He also served as a bishop, high councilor, member of the Church Priesthood Missionary Committee, member of the Sunday School General Board, and regional representative.

Larsen was born on May 24, 1927, in Hyrum, Utah. He served briefly in the United States Navy at the end of World War II. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from the Utah State University. During his career, he taught at the Institute of Religion at the University of Utah and in Ogden, Utah. He also served as assistant coordinator of Indian Seminaries at Brigham Young University and secretary of the Church Indian Committee. In March 1972 he became coordinator of curriculum planning for the Church; he also served as director of instructional materials before becoming the editor of Church Magazines.

Larsen and his wife, Geneal, are the parents of five children.