John Max Madsen (born April 24, 1939) is a general authority of

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 Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church). He has been a general authority since 1992. Madsen's father, Louis L. Madsen, was an employee of the US Department of Agriculture, at the time of his birth. When he was six his family moved to

Logan, Utah Logan is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The 2020 census recorded the population was 52,778. Logan is the county seat of Cache County and the principal city of the Logan metropolitan area, which includes Cache County and Franklin ...

where his father was a professor at and later president of

Utah State University Utah State University (USU or Utah State) is a public land-grant research university in Logan, Utah. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. With nearly 20,000 students living on or near campus, USU is Utah's ...

. Madsen was later raised in

Pullman, Washington Pullman () is the largest city in Whitman County, located in southeastern Washington within the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. The population was 29,799 at the 2010 census, and estimated to be 34,506 in 2019. Originally founded as Thr ...

. He served as a missionary in the North Central State Mission from 1959 to 1961. He earned his bachelor's degree at

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 unive ...

, majoring in zoology and minoring in chemistry. Madsen had planned to go to dental school but instead became a

seminary 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, ...

teacher and spent much of his career with the

Church Educational System The Church Educational System (CES) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non–Latter-day Saint elementary, sec ...

(CES). In 1968, Madsen was sent to England as the first seminary teacher to work there. For a time, Madsen served as a CES coordinator in England. He also served as an institute instructor and later as a religion professor at

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-day ...

(BYU). Madsen got both his

master's A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

and

Ed.D. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D. or D.Ed.; Latin ''Educationis Doctor'' or ''Doctor Educationis'') is (depending on region and university) a research or professional doctoral degree that focuses on the field of education. It prepares the holder for a ...

from BYU. Madsen was later an LDS Church employee, serving in the Melchizedek Priesthood Department and other administrative roles. He was among the contributors to the 1992 Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Prior to his call as a general authority, Madsen served in the LDS Church as a regional representative and as

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 ful ...

of the England Southwest Mission (1970 to 1973). He also served as a member of the Young Men General Board and as a stake mission president. In 1992, Madsen became a member of the

Second Quorum of the Seventy Seventy is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Traditionally, a church member holding this priesthood office is a "traveling minister" and an "especial witness" of Jes ...

. In 1997 he was transferred to the

First Quorum of the Seventy First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

. As a general authority, Madsen's assignments included serving as president of the church's

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

North

Area Area is the quantity that expresses the extent of a region on the plane or on a curved surface. The area of a plane region or ''plane area'' refers to the area of a shape A shape or figure is a graphics, graphical representation of an obje ...

, and in the presidency of the North America West, North America Northwest, Philippines, and Australia/New Zealand areas. He also served in the general presidency of the church's

Young Men organization The Young Men (often referred to as Young Men's) is a youth organization and official program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Its purpose is to assist the church's Aaronic priesthood-aged young men in their growt ...

, having also served as a member of the organization's general board earlier in his life. Madsen was designated as an

emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

general authority at the church's October 2009 general conference.

Notes

References

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External links

John M. Madsen: Latter-day Saint official profileJohn M. Madsen: BYU Religious Studies Center
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madsen, John M. 1939 births 20th-century Mormon missionaries American Mormon missionaries in the United States American expatriates in the United Kingdom American general authorities (LDS Church) Brigham Young University alumni Brigham Young University faculty Church Educational System instructors Counselors in the General Presidency of the Young Men (organization) Latter Day Saints from Utah Latter Day Saints from Washington (state) Latter Day Saints from Washington, D.C. Living people Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Mission presidents (LDS Church) People from Pullman, Washington People from Washington, D.C. Regional representatives of the Twelve Washington State University alumni