Alexander B. Morrison
Encyclopedia
Alexander Baillie Morrison (born 22 December 1930) is a Canadian
scientist, academic, and public servant and has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1987.
, Alberta
, Canada
, Morrison gained degrees in nutrition
and pharmacology
from the University of Alberta
and Cornell University
. He was an academic at the University of Guelph
in Ontario
and was chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee to the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in the World Health Organization
. In 1984, Morrison was the recipient of the David M. Kennedy
International Service Award from the Kennedy International Center at Brigham Young University
. Morrison was also an Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Protection Branch with Health Canada
and oversaw issues of environmental, drug and food safety
.
into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after being introduced to Mormonism
by a friend. At the time, Morrison's branch president
was N. Eldon Tanner and his Sunday School
instructor was Hugh B. Brown
.
In 1987, Morrison became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the LDS Church. Prior to his call as a general authority
, Morrison had served as a church branch president
, bishop, and Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles. In 1989, Morrison was transferred to the newly-created Second Quorum of the Seventy, but was returned to the First Quorum in 1991. He served as a general authority until 2000, when he was given general authority emeritus
status.
Morrison and his wife are the parents of eight children.
Morrison is the author of seven books on topics related to Mormonism and has become one of Mormonism's foremost voices on the plight of the mentally ill.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
scientist, academic, and public servant and has been a general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1987.
Professional life
Born in EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Morrison gained degrees in nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
and pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. He was an academic at the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and was chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee to the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
. In 1984, Morrison was the recipient of the David M. Kennedy
David M. Kennedy
David Matthew Kennedy was an American businessman, economist and Cabinet secretary.Born in Randolph, Utah, he attended public school and graduated from Weber College, then a Mormon college, in 1928. He served a two-year mission, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to England...
International Service Award from the Kennedy International Center at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. Morrison was also an Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Protection Branch with Health Canada
Health Canada
Health Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health.The current Minister of Health is Leona Aglukkaq, a Conservative Member of Parliament appointed to the position by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.-Branches, regions and agencies:Health Canada...
and oversaw issues of environmental, drug and food safety
Food safety
Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards....
.
Church service
During his time as a student at the University of Alberta, Morrison was baptizedBaptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after being introduced to Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
by a friend. At the time, Morrison's branch president
Branch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
was N. Eldon Tanner and his Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
instructor was Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown
Hugh Brown Brown was an attorney, educator and author and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
.
In 1987, Morrison became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the LDS Church. Prior to his call as a general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
, Morrison had served as a church branch president
Branch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
, bishop, and Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles. In 1989, Morrison was transferred to the newly-created Second Quorum of the Seventy, but was returned to the First Quorum in 1991. He served as a general authority until 2000, when he was given general authority emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
status.
Morrison and his wife are the parents of eight children.
Morrison is the author of seven books on topics related to Mormonism and has become one of Mormonism's foremost voices on the plight of the mentally ill.
Publications
- Alexander B. Morrison (1990). The Dawning of a Brighter Day: The Church in Black Africa (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) ISBN 0-87579-338-X
- —— (1992). Feed My Sheep: Leadership Ideas for Latter-day Saint Shepherds (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) ISBN 0-87579-605-2
- —— (2003). His Name Be Praised: Understanding Christ's Ministry and Mission (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) ISBN 1-57008-768-7
- —— (2005). Turning From Truth: A New Look at the Great Apostasy (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) ISBN 1-59038-395-8
- —— (2003). Valley of Sorrow: A Layman's Guide to Understanding Mental Illness for Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) ISBN 1-59038-087-8
- —— (1993). Visions of Zion (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) ISBN 0-87579-788-1
- —— (1997). Zion: A Light in the Darkness (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) ISBN 1-57345-260-2
External links
- David M. Kennedy International Service Award Ceremony and Speech Video
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Alexander B. Morrison
- KSL Radio interview (2002)
- KSL Radio interview (2005)
- "Mental Illness and the Family" : paper delivered by Morrison at BYU's 2004 Families Under Fire Conference