Henry B. Eyring
Encyclopedia
Henry Bennion Eyring is an American
educational administrator, author, and religious leader. In 2008 Eyring became First Counselor in the First Presidency
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Eyring was the Second Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley
in the First Presidency from October 6, 2007 until Hinckley's death on January 27, 2008. On February 3, 2008, Eyring was called to be the First Counselor to Thomas S. Monson
in the First Presidency, serving with Second Counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf
.
Eyring has also served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presiding Bishopric
, First Quorum of the Seventy, and as Commissioner of Church Education of the LDS Church. Currently, he is the tenth most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church.
, the second child of Henry Eyring
, the dean of the graduate school at the University of Utah
and president of the American Chemical Society
, and his wife Mildred Bennion. His father's sister, Camilla Eyring, married Spencer W. Kimball
, making Henry B. the nephew of LDS Church President Spencer W. Kimball (1973–1985).
Henry B. Eyring lived in Princeton until his early teenage years. Until the start of World War II they attended LDS meetings at the branch in New Brunswick, New Jersey
, but with the gasoline rationing of the war they received permission to hold meetings in their home, which often only consisted of the Eyring family. As a teenager Eyring and his family moved to Salt Lake City when his father took a post at the University of Utah
.
He spent two years in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Sandia Base
in New Mexico. He received his BS degree
in physics
from the University of Utah. He went on to earn a Masters and Doctorate
in Business Administration from Harvard Business School
before embarking on a career in academia.
Eyring has served twice as Commissioner of Church Education, from September 1980 to April 1985, and from September 1992 to January 2005, when he was replaced by W. Rolfe Kerr
. Eyring was an associate professor of business at the Stanford Graduate School of Business
from 1962 to 1971. He was also a Sloan Visiting Faculty Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
Eyring served as president of Ricks College from 1971 to 1977, as a counselor to Presiding Bishop
Robert D. Hales
from 1985 to 1992, and as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy from 1992 to 1995.
Following the death of Church President Howard W. Hunter
, Eyring was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church on April 1, 1995 and ordained an apostle later that same week.
Eyring was sustained as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency
of the church on October 6, 2007, filling the vacancy left by the death of President James E. Faust
on August 10, 2007. He was called as First Counselor in the First Presidency of the church on February 3, 2008 when the First Presidency was reorganized following the death of Gordon B. Hinckley
. The new First Presidency, with Thomas S. Monson
as president, was announced on February 4, 2008. The new First Presidency was ordained and set apart the day before.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educational administrator, author, and religious leader. In 2008 Eyring became First Counselor in the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Eyring was the Second Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
in the First Presidency from October 6, 2007 until Hinckley's death on January 27, 2008. On February 3, 2008, Eyring was called to be the First Counselor to Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
in the First Presidency, serving with Second Counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf is a German former aviator and airline executive. He currently serves as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is the eleventh most senior apostle in the ranks of the Church.-Early life and education:Uchtdorf...
.
Eyring has also served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the 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:...
, First Quorum of the Seventy, and as Commissioner of Church Education of the LDS Church. Currently, he is the tenth most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church.
Biography
Eyring was born in Princeton, New JerseyPrinceton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, the second child of Henry Eyring
Henry Eyring
Henry Eyring was a Mexican-born American theoretical chemist whose primary contribution was in the study of chemical reaction rates and intermediates....
, the dean of the graduate school at 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...
and president of the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
, and his wife Mildred Bennion. His father's sister, Camilla Eyring, married Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
, making Henry B. the nephew of LDS Church President Spencer W. Kimball (1973–1985).
Henry B. Eyring lived in Princeton until his early teenage years. Until the start of World War II they attended LDS meetings at the branch in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, but with the gasoline rationing of the war they received permission to hold meetings in their home, which often only consisted of the Eyring family. As a teenager Eyring and his family moved to Salt Lake City when his father took a post at 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...
.
He spent two years in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Sandia Base
Sandia Base
Sandia Base was, from 1946 to 1971, the principal nuclear weapons installation of the United States Department of Defense. It was located on the southeastern edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico...
in New Mexico. He received his BS degree
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from the University of Utah. He went on to earn a Masters and Doctorate
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Business Administration from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
before embarking on a career in academia.
Eyring has served twice as Commissioner of Church Education, from September 1980 to April 1985, and from September 1992 to January 2005, when he was replaced by W. Rolfe Kerr
W. Rolfe Kerr
William Rolfe Kerr is the president of the Logan Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. Eyring was an associate professor of business at the Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
from 1962 to 1971. He was also a Sloan Visiting Faculty Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
.
Eyring served as president of Ricks College from 1971 to 1977, as 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:...
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...
from 1985 to 1992, and as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy from 1992 to 1995.
Following the death of Church President Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter
Howard William Hunter was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1995. His nine month presidential tenure is the shortest in the history of the Church...
, Eyring was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church on April 1, 1995 and ordained an apostle later that same week.
Eyring was sustained as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
of the church on October 6, 2007, filling the vacancy left by the death of President James E. Faust
James E. Faust
James Esdras Faust was an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician. Faust was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until his death, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35...
on August 10, 2007. He was called as First Counselor in the First Presidency of the church on February 3, 2008 when the First Presidency was reorganized following the death of Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
. The new First Presidency, with Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
as president, was announced on February 4, 2008. The new First Presidency was ordained and set apart the day before.
See also
- Church Educational SystemChurch Educational SystemThe Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
- Council on the Disposition of the TithesCouncil on the Disposition of the TithesThe Council on the Disposition of the Tithes is a leadership body in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of the First Presidency, the Presiding Bishopric, and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Council determines how the tithing funds of the church will be spent...
- Glenn L. PaceGlenn L. PaceGlenn Leroy Pace has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1985. He as served as a member of the presiding bishopric and the First Quorum of Seventy and in 2010 became an emeritus general authority...
, counselor with Eyring in the presiding bishopric