Robert L. Backman
Encyclopedia
Robert LeGrand Backman was a Utah
lawyer and politician and has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1978.
Backman was born in Salt Lake City, Utah
, but spent much his youth in South Africa
, where his father LeGrand Backman was president
of the South African Mission
of the LDS Church. After returning to Utah for his last year of high school
, Backman served as a LDS Church missionary
in the Northern States Mission of the church.
Backman served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines
during the Second World War. Following the war, he enrolled at the law school at the University of Utah
. He was a member of the Utah House of Representatives
for two terms.
Before his call as a general authority of the LDS Church, Backman served as the president of the Northwestern States Mission of the church, as a temple
sealer, and as a Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles. In 1972, he was briefly the second assistant to W. Jay Eldredge
, the general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. When the YMMIA was renamed the Aaronic Priesthood–MIA in 1972, Backman was called as its general president. He served in this calling until 1974, when the Aaronic Priesthood–MIA was placed under the direct supervision of the church's presiding bishopric
. In 1978, Backman became a member of the church's First Quorum of the Seventy. In 1979, he succeeded Neil D. Schaerrer
as the general president of the Young Men organization. Backman is the only man to serve two non-consecutive terms as the general president of the Young Men.
In 1985, Backman was released from the Young Men and became a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy, with Vaughn J. Featherstone succeeding him as president of the Young Men. Backman served in the presidency of the Seventy until August 1992; in October of that year, he was granted general authority emeritus
status.
In 1986, Backman was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award
from the Boy Scouts of America
for his efforts in incorporating Scouting
into the LDS Church's Young Men organization.
Since 2005, Backman has been the president
of the church's Jordan River Utah Temple
.
Backman was married to Virginia Pickett, who died in 1999. They were the parents of seven children.
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...
lawyer and politician and has been a general authority
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) since 1978.
Backman was born in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, but spent much his youth in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where his father LeGrand Backman was 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 South African 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...
of the LDS Church. After returning to Utah for his last year of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Backman served as a LDS Church 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...
in the Northern States Mission of the church.
Backman served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during the Second World War. Following the war, he enrolled at the law school at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. He was a member of the Utah House of Representatives
Utah House of Representatives
The Utah House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The House is composed of 75 representatives elected from single member constituent districts. Each district contains an average population of 35,000 people...
for two terms.
Before his call as a general authority of the LDS Church, Backman served as the president of the Northwestern States Mission of the church, as a temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
sealer, and as a Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles. In 1972, he was briefly the second assistant to W. Jay Eldredge
W. Jay Eldredge
Walter Joshua "Jay" Eldredge Jr. was the thirteenth general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1969 to 1972.-Biography:...
, the general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. When the YMMIA was renamed the Aaronic Priesthood–MIA in 1972, Backman was called as its general president. He served in this calling until 1974, when the Aaronic Priesthood–MIA was placed under the direct supervision of the church's presiding bishopric
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
. In 1978, Backman became a member of the church's First Quorum of the Seventy. In 1979, he succeeded Neil D. Schaerrer
Neil D. Schaerrer
Neil Dean Schaerrer was the fourteenth general president of the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977 to 1979....
as the general president of the Young Men organization. Backman is the only man to serve two non-consecutive terms as the general president of the Young Men.
In 1985, Backman was released from the Young Men and became a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy, with Vaughn J. Featherstone succeeding him as president of the Young Men. Backman served in the presidency of the Seventy until August 1992; in October of that year, he was granted 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.
In 1986, Backman was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
from the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
for his efforts in incorporating Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
into the LDS Church's Young Men organization.
Since 2005, Backman has been the 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 church's Jordan River Utah Temple
Jordan River Utah Temple
The Jordan River Utah Temple is the 20th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in South Jordan, Utah, it was built with a modern single-spire design....
.
Backman was married to Virginia Pickett, who died in 1999. They were the parents of seven children.
See also
- George I. CannonGeorge I. CannonGeorge Ivins Cannon was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a general authority of the church from 1986 to 1991....
: a fellow counselor of Eldredge's at the time of Backman's service