Joe Junior Christensen (July 21, 1929 – May 18, 2021) was a

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Ricks College Ricks may refer to: People * Andre Ricks (born 1996), American basketball player * Bob Ricks (21st century), American police chief * Christopher Ricks (born 1933), British literary critic and scholar * Doug Ricks, American politician and member ...

(1985 to 1989) and a general authority in

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The ch ...

(LDS Church) from 1989 until his death. He was also

of the

San Diego California Temple __NOTOC__ The San Diego California Temple is the 47th constructed and 45th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located near the La Jolla community of San Diego, it was built with two main spires, but unique to this ...

from 1999 to 2002. Christensen served as an officer in the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

during the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

, from 1953 to 1955. He received a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

from

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-d ...

and a Ph.D. from

Washington State University Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant uni ...

. Christensen then became an

institute An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations ( research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body. In some countries, institutes ca ...

director for the Church Educational System (CES), including at the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

for a time. For a few months in 1970, Christensen served as

of the LDS Church's

mission Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to: Organised activities Religion *Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity *Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...

headquartered in

Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital city, capital and primate city, largest city of Mexico, and the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North Amer ...

. However, he was appointed to work under Neal A. Maxwell, who was the Commissioner of Church Education, in running the church's

seminaries A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...

and institutes and was replaced as mission president. Christensen was an associate commissioner in CES from 1970 to 1985, interrupted by a four-year term as president of the LDS Church's Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. As associate commissioner he led the expansion of the seminaries and institutes program, especially internationally in the 1970s. One major development he oversaw was recruiting local church members to lead the program in most countries. In 1975 he became the founding president of the Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP). Starting in 1977, under the leadership of Henry B. Eyring, Christensen continued to oversee seminaries and institutes, while adding responsibility for continuing education programs and primary and secondary schools the church had in eight countries in Polynesia and Latin America. In 1985, Christensen became president of Ricks College in

Rexburg, Idaho Rexburg is a city in Madison County, Idaho, United States. The population was 39,409 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Madison County and its largest city. Rexburg is the principal city of the Rexburg, ID Micropolitan Statist ...

. In 1989, Christensen was called as a general authority in the LDS Church where, among other assignments, he served in the

Presidency of the Seventy A presidency is an administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation. Although often the executive branch of government, and often personified by a ...

. He was designated as an emeritus general authority in 1999. Christensen died on May 18, 2021, in Salt Lake City.

Speeches

"Resolutions"

"Powerful Truths That Make a Difference in Our Lives"

"On Making Revelation a Personal Reality"

"The Responsibility of Our Heritage"

References

External links

Joe J. Christensen Official profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christensen, Joe J. 1929 births 2021 deaths 20th-century Mormon missionaries American general authorities (LDS Church) American Mormon missionaries in Mexico American Mormon missionaries in the United States Brigham Young University alumni Church Educational System instructors Counselors in the General Presidency of the Sunday School (LDS Church) Latter Day Saints from Idaho Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Military personnel from Idaho Mission presidents (LDS Church) People from Franklin County, Idaho Presidents of Brigham Young University–Idaho Presidents of the Seventy (LDS Church) Temple presidents and matrons (LDS Church) Washington State University alumni Religious leaders from Idaho