John M. Madsen

John Max Madsen (born 24 April 1939) has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1992 and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the LDS Church since 1997.

Madsen was born in Washington, D.C. His family lived in Beltsville, Maryland until Madsen was six when his father took a position at Utah State University. From 1950 to 1953, Madsen's father, Louis L. Madsen, was president of Utah State. He then took a position as a a dean at Washington State University and the family moved to Pullman, Washington. John Madsen served as an LDS Church missionary from 1959 to 1961 in the North Central States Mission of the church.

In 1963, Madsen married Diane Dursteler. They have six children, five of whom are currently alive.

Madsen received a degree in zoology with a minor in chemistry from Washington State University. One of Madsen's associates at Washington State was Gary J. Coleman, who Madsen baptized into the LDS Church. Coleman also became a general authority of the LDS Church.

Madsen planned to go to dental school but instead became a seminary teacher, thus beginning a long career with the Church Educational System (CES). He was recruited into the system by Joe J. Christensen, who was then the institute director in Moscow, Idaho. For a time Madsen served as a CES coordinator in England. [Anne C. Bradshaw, [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=514cd370d5c9b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Taking Root,”] "New Era", Oct. 1988, p. 12.] He also served as an institute instructor and later as a religion professor at Brigham Young University (BYU). Madsen got both his master's and Ed.D. from BYU. Madsen has also for a time been an employee of the church's Melchizedek Priesthood Department and fulfilled other administrative roles in the church's central operations.

Prior to his call as a general authority, Madsen served as a regional representative of the Twelve and a mission president. He was president of the Southwest England Mission from 1970 to 1973. In 1992, Madsen became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. In 1997, he was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy. As a general authority, Madsen has also served in the general presidency of the church's Young Men organization. [ [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=a2388c6a47e0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “The Sustaining of Church Officers,”] "Ensign", Nov. 2001, p. 21.] Madsen had also served as member of the Young Men General Board prior to his call as a general authroity. ["Church News", August 22, 1992.]

Assignments that Madsen has had as a general authority have included serving as president of the Mexico North Area of the church. [ [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1389dbdcc370c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “New Area Presidencies,”] "Ensign", Aug. 1996, pp. 71–73.]

Notes

References

*"2005 Deseret Morning News Church Almanac" (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2004), p. 37
* [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=fea694bf3938b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Elder John M. Madsen Of the Seventy,”] "Ensign", Aug. 1992, p. 78

External links

* [http://gapages.com/madsejm1.htm Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: John M. Madsen]