A biographical overview of the life of Howard W. Hunter,
the fourteenth President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ
Following is a brief summary of some major events in the life of Howard W. Hunter, the fourteenth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Howard William Hunter was born in Boise, Ada County, Idaho on November 14, 1907. His parents were John William (Will) Hunter and Nellie Marie Rasmussen Hunter.
- He was baptized in the Natatorium, an indoor swimming pool in Boise on April 4, 1920 (age 12). He was ordained a deacon by his bishop on June 21, 1920.
- He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth.
- Howard was accomplished on several musical instruments as a teenager, and even formed his own performing band.
- After spending his youth in Idaho, he moved to California in 1928.
- He married Clara (Claire) May Jeffs in the Salt Lake Temple on June 10, 1931 (age 23). She died in 1983.
- After completing his undergraduate requirements, he attended Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles, and graduated Cum Laude with his JD degree in 1939.
- He served as a bishop for several years in the Los Angeles area, and was then called to serve as the President of the Pasadena Stake at age 43.
- He was ordained an apostle by President David O. McKay on October 15, 1959 at the age of 51.
- In 1989, at the age of 81, Elder Hunter dedicated the BYU Jerusalem Center, marking the completion of a decade-long endeavor.
- He married Inis Bernice Egan on April 10, 1990, at the age of 82.
- Sustained as the 14th President of the Church on October 1, 1994. He chose as his counselors Elder Gordon B. Hinckley and Elder Thomas S. Monson.
- He dedicated the Orlando Florida Temple on October 9, 1994 and the Bountiful Utah Temple on January 8, 1995.
- He presided over the creation of the Church’s 2000th stake (the Mexico City Mexico Contreras Stake) on December 11, 1994.
- He passed away on March 3, 1995 at the age of 87, having served as President of the Church for only 9 months.
Click here to return to the Prophets’ Biographies Menu page
Click here to return to the Prophets Menu page
Click here to return to the Main Menu page