Donnell Hunter: Mormon Poet

Donnell W. Hunter was the author of over two hundred poems and was included in 75 Significant Mormon Poets. He wrote the words for “The Lord Gave Me a Temple,” which is found in the LDS Children’s Songbook. He also made fine furniture, painted with oils and watercolors, sculpted, and owned a printing press. He also played the saxophone.

Hunter was born on June 5, 1930, in Rigby, Idaho. He studied at Ricks College and Utah State University and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in English, literature, and fine arts from the University of Montana. He taught at Madison High School, Ricks College, the Church College of Hawaii, and Brigham Young University.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a missionary to Mexico. Later he presided over the Veracruz Mexico mission. He also served as president of the Santiago Chile Temple and was an area welfare agent for two years in Central America.

He passed away on February 4, 2013. He and his wife, Nita, were the parents of eight children.