Jeffrey R. Holland
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Roy Holland is an American
educator and religious leader. He served as the ninth President of Brigham Young University
and is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Holland is accepted by the LDS Church as a prophet, seer, and revelator
. Currently, he is the ninth most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church.
, Utah
. His father, Frank D. Holland, was a convert to the LDS Church while his mother, Alice, came from a long line of Latter-day Saints. As a young man, Holland served a mission to England
; his mission president
was Marion D. Hanks
, a general authority
of the church. He and Quentin L. Cook
were missionary companions.
Holland graduated from Dixie High School. He helped the Flyers capture the high school state championships in football and basketball. He began his college education at Dixie College before his mission. After his return from his mission, he served as co-captain of the Dixie basketball
team. In 2011, the school broke ground for the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons Building, a $48 million, five-story building that honors both Elder Holland and the school's 2011 centennial.
Holland then transferred to Brigham Young University
where he graduated with a BA
in English. He then received an MA
in Religious Education from BYU while also teaching religion classes part time. After earning his master's degree, Holland became an Institute of Religion
teacher in Hayward
, California
. He next served as an institute director in Seattle, Washington. While in Seattle, Holland served as the bishop of a single adults ward. Holland attended Yale University
and earned a second master's degree, this time in American Studies, and later a Ph.D in the same subject. At Yale, Holland studied with American literary scholar and critic R. W. B. Lewis
and authored a dissertation on the religious sense of Mark Twain
. While in Connecticut, Holland served as a counselor in the presidency of the Hartford Connecticut Stake, which had been organized in 1966.
at Brigham Young University; during this period of time, he was the youngest dean at BYU. He went from that position to being the eleventh commissioner of the Church Educational System
, a position he held from 1976 to 1980. He was then appointed president of BYU as the successor to Dallin H. Oaks
. The most notable achievement of his presidency was the founding of the BYU Jerusalem Center. He also led a $100,000,000 fundraising campaign. During his presidency, Holland renamed the BYU Center for International Studies the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies and re-emphasized its role at BYU.
As president of BYU, Holland also sought to encourage academic excellence in an atmosphere of faith. Like future BYU president Cecil O. Samuelson
, Holland emphasized that BYU could not do everything, but would seek excellence in what it did choose to do.
Holland served as the president of the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities (AAPICU) and as a member of the NCAA's president's committee. He also received the "Torch of Light" award from the Anti-defamation League
.
Holland was ordained an apostle
of the LDS Church on June 23, 1994 by Howard W. Hunter
, following the death of Church President Ezra Taft Benson
, and was sustained
a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 1, 1994.
Beginning August 2002, Holland presided personally as president of the Chile
Area
of the church for one year.
In General Conferences in fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Holland gave two sermons that directly answered accusations that Latter-day Saints are not within the accepted realm of Christianity. At the spring 2009 General Conference Holland gave a sermon about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the importance of Christ's statement, "my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me". This talk was later reformatted with music and put on an LDS Church website, where by August 2009 it had been viewed well over 500,000 times.
, was appointed as the President of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah in 2009. His younger son, David F. Holland, is a professor at UNLV.
Articles
Speeches
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and religious leader. He served as the ninth 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...
and is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Holland is accepted by the LDS Church as a prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator is an ecclesiastical title used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is currently applied to the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
. Currently, he is the ninth most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church.
Early life and education
Holland was born in St. GeorgeSt. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
, 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...
. His father, Frank D. Holland, was a convert to the LDS Church while his mother, Alice, came from a long line of Latter-day Saints. As a young man, Holland served a mission to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; his mission 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...
was Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks
Marion Duff Hanks was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1953 until his death.-Early life:...
, 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. He and Quentin L. Cook
Quentin L. Cook
Quentin LaMar Cook is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the thirteenth most senior apostle in the ranks of the Church....
were missionary companions.
Holland graduated from Dixie High School. He helped the Flyers capture the high school state championships in football and basketball. He began his college education at Dixie College before his mission. After his return from his mission, he served as co-captain of the Dixie basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team. In 2011, the school broke ground for the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons Building, a $48 million, five-story building that honors both Elder Holland and the school's 2011 centennial.
Holland then transferred to 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...
where he graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English. He then received an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Religious Education from BYU while also teaching religion classes part time. After earning his master's degree, Holland became an Institute of Religion
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
teacher in Hayward
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He next served as an institute director in Seattle, Washington. While in Seattle, Holland served as the bishop of a single adults ward. Holland attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and earned a second master's degree, this time in American Studies, and later a Ph.D in the same subject. At Yale, Holland studied with American literary scholar and critic R. W. B. Lewis
R. W. B. Lewis
Richard Warrington Baldwin Lewis was an American literary scholar and critic. He gained a wider reputation when he won a 1976 Pulitzer Prize for biography, the first National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction, and a Bancroft Prize for his biography of Edith Wharton...
and authored a dissertation on the religious sense of Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
. While in Connecticut, Holland served as a counselor in the presidency of the Hartford Connecticut Stake, which had been organized in 1966.
Leadership at BYU and the Church Educational System
Holland served as an institute director in Salt Lake City after getting his Ph.D. He then served as director of the Melchizedek Priesthood MIA. In 1974, Holland was appointed Dean of Religious EducationBYU College of Religious Education
The BYU College of Religious Education runs the various programs related to teaching Mormonism at Brigham Young University . In the past it has granted various masters degrees and Doctor of Religious Education degrees...
at Brigham Young University; during this period of time, he was the youngest dean at BYU. He went from that position to being the eleventh commissioner of the Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The 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...
, a position he held from 1976 to 1980. He was then appointed president of BYU as the successor to Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin Harris Oaks is an American attorney, jurist, author, professor, public speaker, and religious leader. Since 1984, he has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. The most notable achievement of his presidency was the founding of the BYU Jerusalem Center. He also led a $100,000,000 fundraising campaign. During his presidency, Holland renamed the BYU Center for International Studies the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies and re-emphasized its role at BYU.
As president of BYU, Holland also sought to encourage academic excellence in an atmosphere of faith. Like future BYU president Cecil O. Samuelson
Cecil O. Samuelson
Cecil Osborn Samuelson, Jr. is the 12th and current president of Brigham Young University and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1994...
, Holland emphasized that BYU could not do everything, but would seek excellence in what it did choose to do.
Holland served as the president of the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities (AAPICU) and as a member of the NCAA's president's committee. He also received the "Torch of Light" award from the Anti-defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
.
LDS Church leadership
After the end of his term as president of Brigham Young University, Holland was called as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on April 1, 1989. As a member of the Seventy, Holland was a counselor in the general presidency of the church's Young Men organization in 1989 and 1990. Prior to his call as a general authority, Holland had been a bishop, regional representative of the Twelve Apostles, and a counselor in a stake presidency.Holland was ordained an apostle
Apostle (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, an Apostle is a "special witness of the name of Jesus Christ who is sent to teach the principles of salvation to others." In many Latter Day Saint churches, an Apostle is a priesthood office of high authority within the church hierarchy. In many churches, apostles...
of the LDS Church on June 23, 1994 by 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...
, following the death of Church President Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of...
, and was sustained
Common consent
Common consent is a democratic principle established by the Latter Day Saint movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., who taught in 1830 that "all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith." As it is most frequently used by the Church of Jesus Christ of...
a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 1, 1994.
Beginning August 2002, Holland presided personally as president of the Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
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...
of the church for one year.
In General Conferences in fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Holland gave two sermons that directly answered accusations that Latter-day Saints are not within the accepted realm of Christianity. At the spring 2009 General Conference Holland gave a sermon about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the importance of Christ's statement, "my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me". This talk was later reformatted with music and put on an LDS Church website, where by August 2009 it had been viewed well over 500,000 times.
Family
Holland and his wife, the former Patricia Terry, were married on June 7, 1963 in the St. George Temple. They have three grown children. His son, Matthew S. HollandMatthew S. Holland
Matthew Scott Holland is the president of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.- Biography :Matthew S. Holland is president of in Orem, Utah. Holland was selected as UVU's sixth president by the Utah Board of Regents in the spring of 2009 and officially began his tenure on June 1 of that year...
, was appointed as the President of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah in 2009. His younger son, David F. Holland, is a professor at UNLV.
Works
BooksArticles
Speeches