Loren C. Dunn
Encyclopedia
Loren Charles Dunn was a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1968 until his death.
Dunn was born in Tooele
, Utah
. He served a mission for the LDS Church to Australia from 1954-1956. He married Sharon Longden, a daughter of John Longden
. Dunn earned a bachelor's degree
in journalism
and economics
from Brigham Young University
. While at BYU Dunn was also on the Basketball Team that won the National Invitation Tournament
in 1951. He later earned a master's degree
in public relations
from Boston University
. At the time of his call as a general authority he was living in Natick, Massachusetts
and working in Boston.
After Dunn became a member of the seven-man First Council of the Seventy in 1968, he served in several key church positions. He was the managing director of the church's Missionary
Department in 1974. In the early 1980s, he served as director of the Adult Curriculum Department of the church. Dunn was an inaugural member of the newly-created First Quorum of the Seventy in 1976 and he was also the president
of the church's Australia
Sydney
Mission
for three years.
Dunn served as president of several areas
of the church in North America
. In 1984, he was the president of the North America Northwest Area. Later while he was serving as president of the North America Central Area he also served as president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc.
In October 2000, Dunn was given general authority emeritus
status. He was called that same month as the first president
of the Boston Massachusetts Temple
. He served in this position until his death from cancer
in a Boston hospital.
Dunn wrote the words to the hymn "Testimony", which is #137 in the 1985 English
edition of the LDS Church hymnal
.
Among Dunn's published works is Prepare Now to Succeed on Your Mission (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft
, 1977).
Dunn and his wife Sharon were the parents of three children.
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1968 until his death.
Dunn was born in Tooele
Tooele, Utah
Tooele is a city in Tooele County in the U.S. state of Utah. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 22,502 at the 2000 census, and 30,708 as of the 2009 estimates. It is the county seat of Tooele County...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. He served a mission for the LDS Church to Australia from 1954-1956. He married Sharon Longden, a daughter of John Longden
John Longden (Mormon)
John Longden was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1951 until his death....
. Dunn earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. While at BYU Dunn was also on the Basketball Team that won the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
in 1951. He later earned a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. At the time of his call as a general authority he was living in Natick, Massachusetts
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
and working in Boston.
After Dunn became a member of the seven-man First Council of the Seventy in 1968, he served in several key church positions. He was the managing director of the church's Missionary
Mormon missionary
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...
Department in 1974. In the early 1980s, he served as director of the Adult Curriculum Department of the church. Dunn was an inaugural member of the newly-created First Quorum of the Seventy in 1976 and he was also the president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the church's Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
for three years.
Dunn served as president of several areas
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
of the church in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. In 1984, he was the president of the North America Northwest Area. Later while he was serving as president of the North America Central Area he also served as president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc.
In October 2000, Dunn was given general authority emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
status. He was called that same month as the first president
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
of the Boston Massachusetts Temple
Boston Massachusetts Temple
The Boston Massachusetts Temple is the 100th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The Boston Massachusetts Temple is located in the Boston suburb of Belmont, Massachusetts and was dedicated for use on 1 October 2000. When LDS Church President Gordon B...
. He served in this position until his death from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in a Boston hospital.
Dunn wrote the words to the hymn "Testimony", which is #137 in the 1985 English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
edition of the LDS Church hymnal
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 ....
.
Among Dunn's published works is Prepare Now to Succeed on Your Mission (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft
Bookcraft
Bookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-History:In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant asked the church's Improvement Era magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G...
, 1977).
Dunn and his wife Sharon were the parents of three children.