Jeffrey R. Holland
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| Jeffrey R. Holland | |
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| Full name | Jeffrey Roy Holland |
| Born | December 3, 1940 |
| Place of birth | St. George, Utah |
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| Called by | Howard W. Hunter |
| Ordained | June 23, 1994 (aged 53) |
| Reason for ordination | Death of Ezra Taft Benson; reorganization of First Presidency |
Jeffrey Roy Holland (b. December 3, 1940) 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.
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[edit] Early life and education
Holland was born in St. George, Utah. His father, Frank D. Holland, was a convert to the LDS Church while his mother came from a long line of Latter-day Saints.[1] As a young man, Holland served a mission to England; his mission president was Marion D. Hanks, a general authority of the church.
Holland began his education at Dixie College before his mission. After his return from his mission, he served as co-captain of the Dixie basketball team.[2] Holland later 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.[1] 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.[3]
[edit] 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.[2] In 1974, Holland was appointed Dean of Religious Education 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 lead a $100,000,000 fundraising campaign.[1] 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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
[edit] 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.[7]. 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.[7]
Holland was ordained an apostle of the LDS Church on June 23, 1994, 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.
In 2002, Holland was assigned to preside personally as president of the Chile Area of the church. In an interview, Holland pledged to involve himself deeply in the local congregations that he supervised.[citation needed]
[edit] Family
Holland and his wife, the former Patricia Terry, have three grown children.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Don L. Searle, “Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” Liahona, Aug. 1995, 26.
- ^ a b Godfrey, Kenneth W. "Jeffrey R. Holland" in Garr, Arnold K., Donald Q. Cannon and Richard O. Cowan (eds.). Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 2000) p. 506.
- ^ Church Almanac. (2003). Deseret News: Salt Lake City.
- ^ Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Mission of the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies", 1983-11-17.
- ^ BYU Presidents: Jeffrey R. Holland.
- ^ Public Affairs Dept., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Biographical Information: Jeffrey R. Holland.
- ^ a b 2006 Deseret News Churrch Almanac, p. 26
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Dallin H. Oaks |
President of BYU 1980–1989 |
Succeeded by Rex E. Lee |
| Preceded by Robert D. Hales |
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles June 23, 1994– |
Succeeded by Henry B. Eyring |
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