Mervyn B. Arnold
Encyclopedia
Mervyn Bennion Arnold is an American
religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and has been a general authority
of the church since 2003.
to Jasmine Bennion and John Everett Sorensen Arnold. In 1971, Arnold married Devonna Kress in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
. They have six children.
Arnold earned a bachelor's degree
in Business Administration from Brigham Young University
(BYU) in 1972, and a master's degree in Public Administration from BYU in 1984.
Professionally, Arnold worked in real estate, building and development, and later expanded into banking.
to Northern Mexico Mission
from 1967 to 1969, a teacher in the church's Sunday School
, an elders quorum president, a Stake Young Men
president, a bishop, a high councilor, a counselor in stake presidency, and the president
of the Costa Rica
San José
Mission from 1985 to 1988. Since 1990, Arnold was Director of Training and Field Services in the LDS Church's Missionary Department. In 2003, he became a member of the Second Quorum of Seventy. In 2009, he was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is currently President of the South America South Area.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and has been 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 since 2003.
Background
Arnold was born in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
to Jasmine Bennion and John Everett Sorensen Arnold. In 1971, Arnold married Devonna Kress in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is the tenth constructed and eighth operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Idaho Falls, Idaho it was the first LDS temple built in Idaho, and the first temple built with a modern single-spire design.The LDS temple...
. They have six children.
Arnold earned 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 Business Administration from 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) in 1972, and a master's degree in Public Administration from BYU in 1984.
Professionally, Arnold worked in real estate, building and development, and later expanded into banking.
Church service
Arnold has served in many LDS Church positions, including as a missionaryMormon 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...
to Northern Mexico 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...
from 1967 to 1969, a teacher in 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:...
, an elders quorum president, a Stake Young Men
Young Men (organization)
The Young Men is a youth organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
president, a bishop, a high councilor, a counselor in stake presidency, and 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 Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
Mission from 1985 to 1988. Since 1990, Arnold was Director of Training and Field Services in the LDS Church's Missionary Department. In 2003, he became a member of the Second Quorum of Seventy. In 2009, he was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is currently President of the South America South Area.