Kent Farnsworth Richards (born February 25, 1946) has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2009.[1][2]

Kent F. Richards
Second Quorum of the Seventy
April 4, 2009 (2009-04-04) – October 1, 2016 (2016-10-01)
Called byThomas S. Monson
End reasonDesignated an emeritus general authority
Emeritus General Authority
1 October 2016 (2016-10-01)
Called byThomas S. Monson
Personal details
BornKent Farnsworth Richards
(1946-02-25) February 25, 1946 (age 78)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Richards received a Bachelor of Science degree in medicine from the University of Utah in 1969, and a doctor of medicine degree from the same school in 1972.[3] He began work as a surgeon for Intermountain Health Care's (IHC) Bryner Clinic in 1977 and later served for four years as a Senior Vice President of IHC. Richards was also a clinical professor of surgery at the University of Utah, chairman of the department of surgery at LDS Hospital, and a member of the board and executive committee of the IHC board of trustees.[4][5]

LDS Church service

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Richards has served in the LDS Church as a full-time missionary in the Southern Mexican Mission, elders quorum president, scoutmaster, bishop, high councilor, and stake president. In 1998, he suspended his medical practice and he and his wife moved their family to San Antonio, Texas, to accept a three-year assignment as president of the San Antonio Mission.[6][7] In 2009, he retired from his medical practice[6] when he was called as a general authority and member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.[4][8] His assignments as a general authority included serving in the presidencies of the church's South America South,[9] Chile[10] and Europe areas.[11]

He served as an assistant executive director of the church's Temple Department[12][13][14] before being appointed in 2014 to succeed William R. Walker as the department's executive director.[15][16][17] While serving as Executive Director he was involved numerous temple dedications including the Phoenix Arizona Temple.[18] He served in this assignment until August 2016, when he was succeeded by Larry Y. Wilson.[19] In October 2016, he was released from active service and designated an emeritus general authority.[20]

Personal life

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Richards married Marsha Gurr in 1968 and they are the parents of eight children.[4][21] He is a descendant of early LDS Church leaders Willard Richards, George F. Richards and Franklin D. Richards.[3]

Books

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  • A Family of Faith: An Intimate View of Church History From Three Generations of Apostles, Deseret Book Company, (1609073940), 2013.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pugmire, Genelle (19 April 2015). "Elder Kent F. Richards directing temples for a convenant people". Provo Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  2. ^ "New General Authorities and Auxiliary Leaders Called". Meridian Magazine. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Manwaring, Kurt (13 August 2013). "'Journals of Apostles' shed light on creating lasting families of faith". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Devotional featuring Elder Kent F. Richards". Daily Herald. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Surgery Chief at LDS Hospital is named Senior V.P. for IHC". Deseret News. 10 October 1994. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Kent Farnsworth Richards". gapages.com. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ^ Johnson, Valerie (11 March 2015). "Elder Kent F. Richards shares lessons from the Savior's young adult life". Church News. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  8. ^ Wright, Becky (30 July 2014). "No cookies in tent for Ogden temple open house". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  9. ^ Area Leadership Assignments, 2010, Church News, 8 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  10. ^ Area Leadership Assignments, 2011, Church News, 29 April 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  11. ^ Area Leadership Assignments, 2012, Church News, 5 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2014
  12. ^ Temple Presidents, matrons are counseled in annual seminar, Church News, 19 October 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  13. ^ "Second temple dedicated in Florida", Deseret News, 4 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  14. ^ Bryce, Debbie (30 July 2014). "Renovated LDS temple in Ogden to be unveiled to public". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  15. ^ First Look inside newly renovated Ogden temple, KSL.com, published 29 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  16. ^ Pugmire, Genelle (17 November 2014). "Phoenix Temple dedicated". Daily Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  17. ^ Trotter, Rachel (5 March 2015). "Family time on the agenda for LDS temples". Standard-Examiner.
  18. ^ "Mormon leaders dedicate Phoenix temple", The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 November 2014. Retrieved on 23 March 2020.
  19. ^ O'Reilly, David (2 August 2016). "At new Mormon temple, 'the finest materials, the finest craftsmanship, to stand forever'". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  20. ^ "Changes in Leadership Announced at October 2016 General Conference", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2016-10-01
  21. ^ Jamshid Askar, "Clear priorities set the stage for spiritual growth", Church News, 2009-07-04.