Joe J. Christensen

Joe Junior Christensen (born 21 July 1929 in Banida, Idaho) was the president of Ricks College from 1985 to 1989 and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989. He was also president of the San Diego California Temple from 1999 to 2002.

Christensen served as an officer in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, from 1953 to 1955. He received a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and a PhD from Washington State University. He then worked for several years as a Seminary and Institute instructor and supervisor. From 1962 to 1970, Christensen was the head of the Institute of Religion adjacent to the University of Utah.

For a few months in 1970 Christensen served as president of the Church mission headquartered in Mexico City. He was, however, appointed to work under Neal A. Maxwell in administering seminaries and institutes throughout the Church, and therefore was released as mission president.

He was associate commissioner of the Church Educational System from 1970 to 1985, interrupted by a four-year term as president of the Church's Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. In 1985, Christensen became president of Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho.

In 1989, Christensen was called as a general authority of the Church, where he served in the First Quorum of the Seventy and the Presidency of the Seventy. He was given general authority emeritus status in 1999.

He served in various assignments from the First Presidency and is a stake patriarch. He and his wife, Barbara Kohler Christensen, are the parents of six children. He is the author of several Ensign articles and a few books, including One Step at a Time: Building a Better Marriage, Family, and You, To Grow in Spirit: A Ten-Point Plan for Becoming More Spiritual, Welcome Home! Advice for the Returned Missionary, and Making Your Home a Missionary Training Center (with his wife, Barbara Christensen).

Speeches

• "Resolutions"
• "Powerful Truths That Make a Difference in Our Lives"
• "On Making Revelation a Personal Reality"
• "The Responsibility of Our Heritage"
• The Prophet Joseph and Standing for Truth
• Latter-day Temples and Temple Worship
• Toward Greater Happiness and Success

Books

• One Step at a Time: Building a Better Marriage, Family, and You
• Making Your Home a Missionary Training Center (with Barbara K. Christensen)
• To Grow in Spirit: A Ten-Point Plan for Becoming More Spiritual
• Welcome Home! Advice for the Returned Missionary

External links

• Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Joe J. Christensen