Paul R. Warner

Paul R. Warner is the executive director of the Freedom Festival held annually in Provo, Utah. He is a former educator and chaplain. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Warner was raised in Wyoming where he graduated from Evanston High School. He attended the University of Utah and Carbon College prior to serving a full-time mission in the Great Lakes Mission. He then attended Brigham Young University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in history and education. He earned his doctorate in education from BYU in 1974.

He worked in the Church Educational System in California and Utah for the Church of Jesus Christ. He also worked at the Church Human Resource Department in Salt Lake City.

Warner taught seminary in Ogden, Utah, for three years. He was transferred within the Church Educational System to the Los Angeles area and served as director of the Institutes of Religion at Los Angeles State and Long Beach State Colleges. In 1971, he returned to Utah and served as teacher trainer in the Church Educational System until 1975. For five years he was the Administrator of Seminaries in Utah Valley. He was Director of Teacher Training at BYU for seven years before he transferred to the Institute at Utah Valley Community College (now Utah Valley University). He was then Manager of Organizational Training for the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ before transferring to BYU where he served in BYU Development and then Director of Student Leadership Services. In April 1999, he filled the position of Director and Chaplain of the Student Athlete Center. He became faculty in the Religious Education department. He is also BYU Emeriti Alumni president.

He is currently the Executive Director of the Freedom Festival. Previously he was vice president. He also served on the Provo City Council.

Warner and his wife, Karen, are the parents of six children and live in Utah.