Lance B. Wickman
Encyclopedia
Lance Bradley Wickman has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1994 and is the current general counsel
of the LDS Church. In 2010, he became an emeritus general authorty.
Wickman was born in Seattle, Washington
. He was raised in New Jersey and Glendale
, California
. From 1961 to 1963, Wickman was a LDS Church missionary
in the church's Central British
Mission
. After his mission, he married Patricia Farr in the Los Angeles California Temple
.
Wickman graduated from the University of California at Berkley in 1964 with a bachelor's degree
in political science
. In 1966, Wickman, a U.S. Army Ranger, was sent to fight in Vietnam
as a platoon leader in the United States Army
and on a second tour of duty as a military advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
. During the war he was awarded the Bronze Star
, the Purple Heart
, the Valorous Unit Award
and the Combat Infantryman Badge
.
After his return from Vietnam, Wickman graduated from Stanford Law School
in 1972. He practiced law in Los Angeles
and San Diego with the law firm of Latham & Watkins
. Wickman has been awarded the Silver Beaver and Silver Buffalo by the Boy Scouts of America
.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Wickman was a bishop, stake president, and regional representative in the LDS Church. He became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy in 1994. In 2000, Wickman was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy.
On June 24, 2008 Wickman issued a plea to the media to make clear the distinction between the LDS Church and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
.
On October 2, 2010, at the LDS Church's semi-annual General Conference, he was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and given general authority emeritus status.
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 1994 and is the current general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
of the LDS Church. In 2010, he became an emeritus general authorty.
Wickman was born in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. He was raised in New Jersey and Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, 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...
. From 1961 to 1963, Wickman was a 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 church's Central British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
. After his mission, he married Patricia Farr in the Los Angeles California Temple
Los Angeles California Temple
The Los Angeles California Temple , the tenth operating and the second-largest temple operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is on Santa Monica Boulevard in the Westwood district of Los Angeles, California...
.
Wickman graduated from the University of California at Berkley in 1964 with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. In 1966, Wickman, a U.S. Army Ranger, was sent to fight in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as a platoon leader in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and on a second tour of duty as a military advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
. During the war he was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the Purple Heart
The Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a 1944 American war film directed by Lewis Milestone.It is a dramatization of the trial of a number of US airmen by the Japanese during the Second World War...
, the Valorous Unit Award
Valorous Unit Award
The Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit and is considered the unit equivalent of the Silver Star...
and the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
.
After his return from Vietnam, Wickman graduated from Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
in 1972. He practiced law in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and San Diego with the law firm of Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins LLP is a global law firm, one of the largest in the world. Latham currently employs approximately 2,000 attorneys in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was started in Los Angeles in 1934 and has extensive Californian roots, but its largest office is now...
. Wickman has been awarded the Silver Beaver and Silver Buffalo by the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Wickman was a bishop, stake president, and regional representative in the LDS Church. He became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy in 1994. In 2000, Wickman was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy.
On June 24, 2008 Wickman issued a plea to the media to make clear the distinction between the LDS Church and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of the largest Mormon fundamentalist denominations and one of the largest organizations in the United States whose members practice polygamy. The FLDS Church emerged in the early twentieth century when its founding members left...
.
On October 2, 2010, at the LDS Church's semi-annual General Conference, he was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and given general authority emeritus status.
External links
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Lance B. Wickman
- Same-Gender Attraction : interview with Wickman and Dallin H. OaksDallin H. OaksDallin 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...
on LDS Church's position on homosexuality - Letter from Wickman to the media on the need to distinguish clearly between the LDS and FLDS Churches