H. David Burton
Encyclopedia
Harold David Burton has been the thirteenth Presiding Bishop
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 27 December 1995. He has been a general authority
of the LDS Church since October 1992.
Born in Salt Lake City
, Utah
to Latter-day Saint parents, Burton served as a missionary for the Church in southern Australia
in the late 1950s. He graduated from the University of Utah
with a bachelor's degree in economics and completed his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Michigan
.
Before beginning his work for the LDS Church, Burton worked for the Utah Tax Commission and for Kennecott Utah Copper
. In 1977, Burton was hired as the assistant budget officer for the Church. A year and a half later, he accepted a position as the executive secretary to the Church's Presiding Bishopric
.
In October 1992, Burton was called by Presiding Bishop
Robert D. Hales
to be the first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. In 1994, he was again called as first counselor to the new Presiding Bishop, Merrill J. Bateman
. In 1995, when Bateman was asked by the church to become the president of Brigham Young University
, Burton was elevated to position of Presiding Bishop
. He formally began his tenure on 27 December 1995. Burton called Richard C. Edgley
as his first counselor and Keith B. McMullin
as his second counselor.
Burton married Barbara Matheson in September 1960. They have five children and nineteen grandchildren.
Burton is the great-great-grandson of Robert T. Burton
, who was a counselor to Presiding Bishop
s Edward Hunter and William B. Preston between 1874 and 1907.
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 27 December 1995. He 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 LDS Church since October 1992.
Born in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to Latter-day Saint parents, Burton served as a missionary for the Church in southern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the late 1950s. He graduated 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...
with a bachelor's degree in economics and completed his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Before beginning his work for the LDS Church, Burton worked for the Utah Tax Commission and for Kennecott Utah Copper
Kennecott Utah Copper
Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation , a division of Rio Tinto Group, is a mining, smelting, and refining company. Its corporate headquarters are located in South Jordan, Utah, USA. Kennecott operates one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the world in Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah. ...
. In 1977, Burton was hired as the assistant budget officer for the Church. A year and a half later, he accepted a position as the executive secretary to the Church's Presiding Bishopric
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
.
In October 1992, Burton was called by Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
Robert D. Hales
Robert D. Hales
Robert Dean Hales is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the eighth most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church...
to be the first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. In 1994, he was again called as first counselor to the new Presiding Bishop, Merrill J. Bateman
Merrill J. Bateman
Merrill Joseph Bateman is an emeritus general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . From 2003 to 2007, Bateman was a member of the Presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy of the church...
. In 1995, when Bateman was asked by the church to become the president of 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...
, Burton was elevated to position of Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
. He formally began his tenure on 27 December 1995. Burton called Richard C. Edgley
Richard C. Edgley
Richard Crockett Edgley has been the first counselor in the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. Edgley has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992.Born in Preston, Idaho, Edgley was called to be the second counselor...
as his first counselor and Keith B. McMullin
Keith B. McMullin
Keith Brigham McMullin has been the second counselor in the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a general authority of the LDS Church since 27 December 1995....
as his second counselor.
Burton married Barbara Matheson in September 1960. They have five children and nineteen grandchildren.
Burton is the great-great-grandson of Robert T. Burton
Robert T. Burton
Robert Taylor Burton was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1874 until his death...
, who was a counselor to Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
s Edward Hunter and William B. Preston between 1874 and 1907.