Paul L. Anderson
Encyclopedia
Paul L. Anderson is a Latter-day Saint architectural historian, museum curator and hymnwriter.
Anderson was born in Pasadena, California
and as a young man served a mission
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Japan.
Anderson received a B.A.
with honors
from Stanford University
in 1968 and a Master of Architecture
from Princeton University
in 1972. He was an architect in Pasadena, California and received his license in 1976.
Anderson married the historian Lavina Fielding
in 1977. They lived in Salt Lake City, Utah
and had one son, Christian, who was born in 1980. During the 1993 conflict between some intellectuals
and LDS leadership (in which Lavina was excommunicated), Paul publicly called for peace and reconciliation between the parties.
In 1973, Anderson received a fellowship from the LDS Church's Historical Department to study historical Mormon architecture, which led to a position restoring the church's historic buildings. He helped in the planning of the Museum of Church History and Art
, which opened in 1984, and later in designing its exhibits. He helped launch the Brigham Young University Museum of Art
in 1992 and since then has served as head of design and curator. Anderson was heavily involved with the work of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc.
Anderson has been a longtime member of the Mormon History Association
(MHA), and planned its 1987 conference in England, for which he was awarded a Special Citation from the MHA. He served as MHA president from 2007–8.
Anderson also has a strong musical interest. For several years he sang in the Utah Symphony Chorus. He has written the text of four hymns in the 1985 LDS hymnbook
: #139 "In Fasting We Approach Thee", #148 "Sabbath Day", #291 "Turn Your Hearts", and #311 "We Meet Again as Sisters".
Anderson was born in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
and as a young man served a mission
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...
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Japan.
Anderson received a B.A.
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...
with honors
Honors student
An honors student is a person recognized for achieving high grades or high marks in their course work.Honors students may refer to# Students recognized for their academic achievement on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as honor rolls, varying from school to school, and...
from Stanford University
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...
in 1968 and a Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.-Overview:...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1972. He was an architect in Pasadena, California and received his license in 1976.
Anderson married the historian Lavina Fielding
Lavina Fielding Anderson
Lavina Fielding Anderson is a Latter Day Saint scholar, writer, editor, and feminist. Anderson holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington...
in 1977. They lived in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt 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...
and had one son, Christian, who was born in 1980. During the 1993 conflict between some intellectuals
September Six
The September Six were six members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were excommunicated or disfellowshipped by the LDS Church in September 1993 for speaking against Church doctrine and leadership. The term "September Six" was coined by The Salt Lake Tribune and the term was...
and LDS leadership (in which Lavina was excommunicated), Paul publicly called for peace and reconciliation between the parties.
In 1973, Anderson received a fellowship from the LDS Church's Historical Department to study historical Mormon architecture, which led to a position restoring the church's historic buildings. He helped in the planning of the Museum of Church History and Art
Museum of Church History and Art
The Church History Museum is the premier museum operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is opposite the west gates of the church's Temple Square...
, which opened in 1984, and later in designing its exhibits. He helped launch the Brigham Young University Museum of Art
Brigham Young University Museum of Art
The Brigham Young University Museum of Art, located in Provo, Utah, is the university's primary art museum and is one of the best attended university-campus art museums in the United States. The museum, which had been discussed for more than fifty years, opened in a space in October 1993 with a...
in 1992 and since then has served as head of design and curator. Anderson was heavily involved with the work of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc.
Anderson has been a longtime member of the Mormon History Association
Mormon History Association
The Mormon History Association is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field...
(MHA), and planned its 1987 conference in England, for which he was awarded a Special Citation from the MHA. He served as MHA president from 2007–8.
Anderson also has a strong musical interest. For several years he sang in the Utah Symphony Chorus. He has written the text of four hymns in the 1985 LDS hymnbook
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
: #139 "In Fasting We Approach Thee", #148 "Sabbath Day", #291 "Turn Your Hearts", and #311 "We Meet Again as Sisters".
Sources
- listing of Mormon Historical Association committee members
- Karen Lynn DavidsonKaren Lynn DavidsonKaren Lynn Davidson is a Latter-day Saint hymnwriter, author and literary critic. Davidson has written widely on the hymns of both The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and of the Community of Christ....
. Stories of our Latter-day Saint Hymns. (Salt Lake City: Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
, 1988) p. 341. - Ensign, November 1989 "Nauvoo Symposium Held at BYU", p. 109-111.
- Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985.