Bruce C. Hafen
Encyclopedia
Bruce Clark Hafen is an American
attorney
, academic and religious leader. He was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the LDS Church from 1996 to 2010. During that time he served in several assignments. He served as Area
President in Australia/New Zealand, as well as the Europe Central Area of the church. He is a strong advocate of the continued presence of religious thought in higher education.
from 1978 to 1985. From 1985 to 1989 he served as the dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School
at Brigham Young University
(BYU). From 1989 to 1996, he was the Provost
of BYU. While in this position he was noted as an advocate of religion in higher education, and specifically for his strong belief that it was the duty of BYU to have faculty who strongly supported its religious principles.
Hafen has written a biography of Neal A. Maxwell
, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church. Hafen has also written insightful pieces on Latter-day Saint doctrine.
Hafen was raised in southern Utah. He served as an LDS Church missionary
in the West German Mission
. In 1964, Hafen married Marie Kartchner and they now have seven children.
Hafen received a bachelor's degree in political science and humanities from BYU and his juris doctorate from the University of Utah
.
Hafen then worked at Strong, Poelman and Fox. In 1971 to 1976 Hafen worked as an assistant to the president of BYU. He also was a professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School starting in 1973. From 1976 to 1978 Hafen worked for the Church's correlation department.
On June 4, 2006 Hafen organized an LDS Stake in Hungary
, the first stake in that nation. It was the second stake organized in the former Eastern Bloc
, although there had also been two stakes organized in East Germany when it was a communist country.
Hafen was a professor of law at BYU
from 1973 to 1996. A sample of his scholarly articles includes publications in the Harvard Law Review, Harvard International Law Journal
, Michigan Law Review, Duke Law Journal, Ohio State Law Journal, and the American Bar Association Journal. Two of his articles were cited in opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 2009 Hafen spoke at an Evergreen International conference. He acknowledged that Church leaders and members reach out in love to those with unwanted same-gender attractions. In the context of describing the universal fatherhood of God, Hafen stated, "Having same-gender attraction is NOT in your DNA, but being a child of God clearly IS in your spiritual DNA." Hafen also remarked, "You are not simply a child of God. You are a son or a daughter of God, with all the masculine or feminine connotations of those words."
Hafen said the decision of the American Psychological Association
to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders was “politically motivated.” He further stated “society and laws have long endorsed marriage between a man and a woman with an honored priority as a significant institution. The result is children...thriving best in a formal family with their own father and mother in a setting befitting society's long-term interests and well-being.”
On October 2, 2010, Hafen was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and given general authority emeritus status at the LDS Church's semi-annual general conference
. He became president
of the St. George Utah Temple
in November 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, academic and religious leader. He was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the LDS Church from 1996 to 2010. During that time he served in several assignments. He served as Area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
President in Australia/New Zealand, as well as the Europe Central Area of the church. He is a strong advocate of the continued presence of religious thought in higher education.
Biography
Hafen served as president of Ricks College in Rexburg, IdahoRexburg, Idaho
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,257 people, 4,274 households, and 2,393 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,534.4 people per square mile . There were 4,533 housing units at an average density of 928.4 per square mile...
from 1978 to 1985. From 1985 to 1989 he served as the dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School
J. Reuben Clark Law School
The J. Reuben Clark Law School is a professional graduate school located in Provo, Utah at Brigham Young University. Founded in 1973, the school is named after J. Reuben Clark, Jr.—former U.S. Ambassador, Undersecretary of State, and LDS Church General Authority—and its charter dean was former...
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...
(BYU). From 1989 to 1996, he was the Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of BYU. While in this position he was noted as an advocate of religion in higher education, and specifically for his strong belief that it was the duty of BYU to have faculty who strongly supported its religious principles.
Hafen has written a biography of Neal A. Maxwell
Neal A. Maxwell
Neal Ash Maxwell was an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1981 until his death.-Life:...
, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church. Hafen has also written insightful pieces on Latter-day Saint doctrine.
Hafen was raised in southern Utah. He served as an LDS Church missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in the West German Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
. In 1964, Hafen married Marie Kartchner and they now have seven children.
Hafen received a bachelor's degree in political science and humanities from BYU and his juris doctorate from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.
Hafen then worked at Strong, Poelman and Fox. In 1971 to 1976 Hafen worked as an assistant to the president of BYU. He also was a professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School starting in 1973. From 1976 to 1978 Hafen worked for the Church's correlation department.
On June 4, 2006 Hafen organized an LDS Stake in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, the first stake in that nation. It was the second stake organized in the former Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
, although there had also been two stakes organized in East Germany when it was a communist country.
Hafen was a professor of law at BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
from 1973 to 1996. A sample of his scholarly articles includes publications in the Harvard Law Review, Harvard International Law Journal
Harvard International Law Journal
The Harvard International Law Journal is the oldest and most-cited academic journal of international law in the United States. It is run and edited by students at Harvard Law School, but relies on input from peer reviewers...
, Michigan Law Review, Duke Law Journal, Ohio State Law Journal, and the American Bar Association Journal. Two of his articles were cited in opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 2009 Hafen spoke at an Evergreen International conference. He acknowledged that Church leaders and members reach out in love to those with unwanted same-gender attractions. In the context of describing the universal fatherhood of God, Hafen stated, "Having same-gender attraction is NOT in your DNA, but being a child of God clearly IS in your spiritual DNA." Hafen also remarked, "You are not simply a child of God. You are a son or a daughter of God, with all the masculine or feminine connotations of those words."
Hafen said the decision of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders was “politically motivated.” He further stated “society and laws have long endorsed marriage between a man and a woman with an honored priority as a significant institution. The result is children...thriving best in a formal family with their own father and mother in a setting befitting society's long-term interests and well-being.”
On October 2, 2010, Hafen was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and given general authority emeritus status at the LDS Church's semi-annual general conference
General Conference (LDS Church)
General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...
. He became president
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
of the St. George Utah Temple
St. George Utah Temple
The St. George Utah Temple is the first temple completed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after the forced exodus of the body of the Church from Nauvoo, Illinois, after the death of its founder Joseph Smith, Jr.-Description:The building is located in the SW Utah city of St....
in November 2010.