Franklin D. Richards (Mormon seventy)

Franklin Dewey Richards (17 November 1900 – 13 November 1987) was a national commissioner of the United States Federal Housing Administration and a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Richards was born in Ogden, Utah. His paternal grandfather, whom he was named after, was a member of the LDS Church Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1849 to 1899.

From 1920 to 1922, Richards was a LDS Church missionary in the church's Eastern States Mission. During his mission, he was the president of the New York, Boston, and Brooklyn Districts of the church.

In 1923, Richards received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Utah. He practiced law in Salt Lake City until being named as the first Utah director of the Federal Housing Administration. In 1947, he became the national commissioner of the FHA in Washington, D.C. Richards resigned this position in 1952 and pursued a career in mortgage banking.

Prior to his call as a general authority in the LDS Church, Richards was the president of the church's Northwestern States Mission. In 1960, he became an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served in this capacity until 1976, when the position was discontinued. At this time, he became a member of the newly-constituted First Quorum of the Seventy. He served as a seventy until his death. Richards was the president of the Washington D.C. Temple of the church from 1983 to 1986.

Richards died at home in Salt Lake City and his funeral was held in the Salt Lake Assembly Hall on his 87th birthday. The speakers at his funeral included LDS Church apostles Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, Marvin J. Ashton, and Richard G. Scott.

Richards was credited with creating the six-part LDS Church missionary discussions which were used by the church for many years.

Richards was married to Helen Kearnes and was the father of four children.

References

* [http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=ac2479356427b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Elder Franklin D. Richards Eulogized,”] "Ensign", Jan. 1988, 74

External links

* [http://www.gapages.com/richafd2.htm Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Franklin D. Richards]
* [http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0bff79356427b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Opportunities to Serve,”] "Ensign", Nov. 1987, 81 : Richards's last public sermon