Merrill J. Bateman
Encyclopedia
Merrill Joseph Bateman is an emeritus general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). From 2003 to 2007, Bateman was a member of the Presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy of the church. He was president of Brigham Young University
(BYU) from January 1, 1996 until May 1, 2003 and was the twelfth presiding bishop
of the LDS Church in 1994 and 1995. He has been a general authority of the church since 1992, when he was made a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. In 2003 and 2004, Bateman was the general president of the church's Sunday School
organization. In 2007, Bateman became the president
of the church's Provo Utah Temple
.
, Utah
. As he was starting the third grade his family moved to American Fork
. He served as a missionary in Great Britain in the mid-1950s. After returning from his mission he married Marilyn Scholes. Bateman earned a bachelor's degree in economics at the University of Utah
in 1960 and went on to receive his doctorate in that subject from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1965.
, 1963; assistant professor of economics at the United States Air Force Academy
, 1964–1967; associate professor of economics at BYU, 1967–1969; professor of economics at BYU, 1969–1971; and former dean of the BYU business school, now the Marriott School of Management
, 1975–1979.
Bateman wrote or co-wrote at least three scholarly papers on the cocoa industry and Ghana.
and the United States
.
Bateman and his wife, the former Marilyn Scholes, are the parents of seven children.
Due to his work in the cocoa business, Bateman made many trips to Africa
. In 1977, James E. Faust
—then president
of the International Mission
of the LDS Church—asked Bateman to contact church members and people who had asked for church material on his next visit to Ghana, Bateman did this in early 1978. Later in 1978, shortly after the church decided to allow blacks to receive the priesthood
, Bateman was sent on a special assignment by the First Presidency
with International Mission counselor Edwin Q. Cannon
to Africa to lay the groundwork for the opening of missionary work there. They visited people who desired to join the church in both Ghana
and Nigeria
, including Billy Johnson
.
After his time as president of BYU, Bateman was made a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. While in this capacity he went on a tour of Africa in November 2005 with Richard G. Scott
. They visited Ghana
, Tanzania
and other countries.
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). From 2003 to 2007, Bateman was a member of the Presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy of the church. He was 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...
(BYU) from January 1, 1996 until May 1, 2003 and was the twelfth 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:...
of the LDS Church in 1994 and 1995. He has been a general authority of the church since 1992, when he was made a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. In 2003 and 2004, Bateman was the general president of the 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. In 2007, Bateman became 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 church's Provo Utah Temple
Provo Utah Temple
The Provo Utah Temple is the 17th constructed and 15th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
.
Early life and education
Bateman was born in LehiLehi, Utah
-Attractions:Lehi Roller MillsLehi Roller Mills was founded in 1906 by a co-op of farmers. George G. Robinson purchased the mill in 1910, and since then it has remained in the family. It is run today by grandson R. Sherman Robinson....
, 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...
. As he was starting the third grade his family moved to American Fork
American Fork, Utah
American Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, at the foot of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range, north of Utah Lake. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 26,263 at the 2010 census, nearly a 20% growth since the 2000 census...
. He served as a missionary in Great Britain in the mid-1950s. After returning from his mission he married Marilyn Scholes. Bateman earned a bachelor's degree in economics 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...
in 1960 and went on to receive his doctorate in that subject from 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...
in 1965.
Academic background
Bateman's academic assignments included lecturer in economics at the University of GhanaUniversity of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
, 1963; assistant professor of economics at the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
, 1964–1967; associate professor of economics at BYU, 1967–1969; professor of economics at BYU, 1969–1971; and former dean of the BYU business school, now the Marriott School of Management
Marriott School of Management
The Marriott School of Management is a business school located in Provo, Utah at Brigham Young University , a private university in the United States owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, 1975–1979.
Bateman wrote or co-wrote at least three scholarly papers on the cocoa industry and Ghana.
BYU presidency
During Bateman's administration at BYU, the school's endowment was significantly increased through the Lighting the Way Campaign. Emphasis on the school's Honor Code was a hallmark of his administration. The Mentored Learning program, involving undergraduates more directly in research, was inaugurated as well.Work and family
Bateman also headed his own consulting and capital management companies and was an executive with Mars, Inc. in EnglandEngland
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...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Bateman and his wife, the former Marilyn Scholes, are the parents of seven children.
Religious assignments
In the early 1980s Bateman served as president of the Provo Utah Sharon East Stake.Due to his work in the cocoa business, Bateman made many trips to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. In 1977, 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...
—then 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 International 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—asked Bateman to contact church members and people who had asked for church material on his next visit to Ghana, Bateman did this in early 1978. Later in 1978, shortly after the church decided to allow blacks to receive the priesthood
Priesthood (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the priesthood is the power and authority to act in the name of God for the salvation of humankind...
, Bateman was sent on a special assignment by 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...
with International Mission counselor Edwin Q. Cannon
Edwin Q. Cannon
Edwin Quayle "Ted" Cannon, Jr. was a Utah politician and businessman and was a prominent leader and missionary in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
to Africa to lay the groundwork for the opening of missionary work there. They visited people who desired to join the church in both Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, including Billy Johnson
Billy Johnson (Mormon)
Joseph William Billy Johnson was one of the first converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana. Prior to his baptism, he had worked for many years to spread the doctrines of the LDS Church to many of his fellow countrymen.Johnson was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in...
.
After his time as president of BYU, Bateman was made a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. While in this capacity he went on a tour of Africa in November 2005 with Richard G. Scott
Richard G. Scott
Richard Gordon Scott is an American nuclear engineer and a current member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the seventh most senior apostle among the ranks of the church.-Early years:Richard G...
. They visited Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and other countries.