Harold G. Hillam
Encyclopedia
Harold Gordon Hillam has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1990. Hillam was the fifteenth general president of the LDS Church's Sunday School
organization from 1995 to 2000 and was the president
of the Boise Idaho Temple
from 2005 to 2008.
Hillam was born in Sugar City
, Idaho
. As a young man, he was a LDS Church missionary
in Brazil
. Hillam was trained as a dentist
and an orthodontist at Northwestern University
.
In 1981, Hillam was asked to become the president
of the Portugal
Lisbon Mission
of the LDS Church. In 1990, he became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, and in 1991 he was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy. Hillam became a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy in 1995; while in this position, Hillam was the general president of the Sunday School
organization. Hillam was released from the Presidency of the Seventy and as general Sunday School president in 2000, but continued as a general authority
of the church until 2005, when he was granted emeritus
status and asked to be the president
of the Boise Idaho Temple
of the church. He was released as temple president in 2008, when he was succeeded by President Wenden W. Waite.
Hillam is married to Carol Rasmussen and is the father of seven children.
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 1990. Hillam was the fifteenth general president of the LDS Church's 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:...
organization from 1995 to 2000 and was the 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 Boise Idaho Temple
Boise Idaho Temple
The Boise Idaho Temple is the 29th constructed and 27th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Boise, Idaho it was built with a sloping roof & six-spire design. The temple will close on 11 July 2011 for extensive renovations.Mormon leaders...
from 2005 to 2008.
Hillam was born in Sugar City
Sugar City, Idaho
Sugar City is a city in Madison County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,242 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rexburg, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. As a young man, he was a LDS Church missionary
Mormon missionary
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 Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Hillam was trained as a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
and an orthodontist at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
In 1981, Hillam was asked to become the president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Lisbon 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...
of the LDS Church. In 1990, he became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, and in 1991 he was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy. Hillam became a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy in 1995; while in this position, Hillam was the general president of the 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:...
organization. Hillam was released from the Presidency of the Seventy and as general Sunday School president in 2000, but continued 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...
of the church until 2005, when he was granted 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 and asked to be the 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 Boise Idaho Temple
Boise Idaho Temple
The Boise Idaho Temple is the 29th constructed and 27th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Boise, Idaho it was built with a sloping roof & six-spire design. The temple will close on 11 July 2011 for extensive renovations.Mormon leaders...
of the church. He was released as temple president in 2008, when he was succeeded by President Wenden W. Waite.
Hillam is married to Carol Rasmussen and is the father of seven children.
Publications and sermons
- "Strength in Adversity", BYU Speeches, 1996-06-26
- “Sunday School: Oil for Our Lamps”, Ensign, Aug. 1999, 15
- “Teachers, the Timeless Key,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 62