Henry B. Eyring is a prominent American educational administrator, author, and religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
. He has had a notable academic and religious career, serving multiple times in the church’s First Presidency.
Early life and education
- Birth and family: Born Henry Bennion Eyring on May 31, 1933, in Princeton, New Jersey. His father was renowned chemist Henry Eyring, and his mother was Mildred Bennion Eyring. His uncle by marriage was Spencer W. Kimball, a former president of the LDS Church.
- Military service: Served a two-year tour in the U.S. Air Force, where he was stationed at Sandia Base in New Mexico.
- Academic degrees: Earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Utah, followed by both a master’s and a doctorate in business administration from Harvard University.
Academic and professional career
- Stanford University: Taught as an associate professor of business at the Stanford Graduate School of Business from 1962 to 1971.
- Ricks College: Served as the president of Ricks College (now Brigham Young University-Idaho) from 1971 to 1977.
- Church Educational System (CES):Served two separate terms as the Commissioner of Church Education, from 1980 to 1985 and again from 1992 to 2005.
LDS Church leadership
- First Presidency: Served three times as a counselor in the First Presidency, the highest governing body of the church:
- Second Counselor: To President Gordon B. Hinckley (2007–2008) and later to President Russell M. Nelson (2018–2025).
- First Counselor: To President Thomas S. Monson (2008–2018).
- Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Became a member of this quorum in 1995 and served until his first call to the First Presidency in 2007.
- Other callings: His church service also includes time as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and as the First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.
Personal life
- Marriage and family: He married Kathleen Johnson in 1962, and they had four sons and two daughters.
- Writing and artwork: Eyring is known for his authorship and also for his sketching and artwork, which have been included in his biography, I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring.
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