L. Tom Perry
| L. Tom Perry | |
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| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 6, 1974 – incumbent | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Apostle | |
| April 11, 1974 – incumbent | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Reason | Death of Harold B. Lee and reorganization of First Presidency |
| Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 6, 1972 – April 6, 1974 | |
| Called by | Harold B. Lee |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Military career | |
| 1944–1946 | |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lowell Tom Perry August 5, 1922 Logan, Utah, United States |
| Alma mater | Utah State University (B.S.) |
| Spouse | Virginia Lee (1947–1974; deceased) Barbara Dayton (1976–present) |
| Children | 3 |
Lowell Tom Perry (born August 5, 1922 ) is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having become a member of that body in 1974. Currently, he is the third most senior and oldest living apostle in the church.
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Early life [edit]
Perry was born in Logan, Utah, to Leslie Thomas Perry and his wife, Elsie Nora Sonne. Perry, Utah is named for Perry's ancestor, Gustavus Adolphus Perry and his family, who were among the first settlers in that area.[1]
From the time of Perry's birth until he was eighteen, his father was bishop of their LDS ward in Logan. From 1942-1944, Perry served as an LDS missionary in the Northern States Mission, headquartered in Chicago. After returning from his mission he joined the United States Marine Corps and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division.[2] During the Second World War, Perry was part of the American forces that landed on Saipan, and remained there for about a year. While there he participated in the construction of an LDS chapel on the island.[3] He was among the United States troops sent to occupy Japan after the war. While in Nagasaki, Perry coordinated a group of Marines to help rebuild a local Protestant church.[4]
Education [edit]
Perry graduated from the Utah State Agricultural College (later Utah State University) in 1949 with a B.S. in finance.
Employment [edit]
Perry's first job out of college was with a retail business in Idaho. He was later involved in business jobs that took him to Washington, California, New York, and Massachusetts.
He was in the retail business during his time in Boston, Massachusetts. He became a fan of the Boston Red Sox and threw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game on May 8, 2004.
Early church service [edit]
In addition to his mission to the Northern States, Perry has served in the LDS Church as an early-morning seminary teacher, as a counselor in a bishopric, high councilor, counselor in a stake presidency, and as president of the church's Boston Massachusetts Stake.
General authority [edit]
Perry was called as a general authority and Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1972. The death of church president Harold B. Lee created a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve when Spencer W. Kimball, who had been serving as quorum president, became church president. Perry was sustained as a member of the Twelve on April 6, 1974 and was ordained an apostle on April 11, 1974.
Today, Perry ranks behind only church president Thomas S. Monson and quorum president Boyd K. Packer in apostolic seniority. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Perry is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
In 2004, Perry was asked by church president Gordon B. Hinckley to serve as president of the church's Europe Central Area, headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, a position normally held by a member of the seventy. This made Perry one of the most senior officials of the church ever to be stationed away from Salt Lake City. While serving in this capacity, Perry initiated a more proactive institute program that emphasized meeting the social and intellectual needs of young single adult church members.
Family [edit]
L. Tom Perry married Virginia Lee in the Logan Temple on 18 July 1947.[4] They had three children, including Lee Tom Perry. Virginia died in 1974. In 1976, L. Tom Perry married Barbara Dayton.[5]
Works [edit]
- Books
- Perry, L. Tom (2011), Family ties: a message for fathers, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-1-60908-768-5, OCLC 710044911
- —— (1996), Living with enthusiasm, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-1-57345-136-9, OCLC 34115910
See also [edit]
Notes [edit]
- ^ Perry, Lee (February 1975), "Elder L. Tom Perry of the Council of the Twelve", Ensign: 9
- ^ "Elder Perry creates first Kiribati stake, dedicates islands", Church News, 21 September 1996
- ^ "Constructing a chapel and testimonies", Church News, 15 January 2011
- ^ a b Dunn, Loren C. (August 1987), "Elder L. Tom Perry: Serving with Enthusiasm", Tambuli: 9
- ^ Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanc (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2007) p. 36.
References [edit]
- Elder L. Tom Perry, "Leader Biographies: Official Biographies for leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", Newsroom (LDS Church)
External links [edit]
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles | ||
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| Preceded by Bruce R. McConkie |
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles April 11, 1974–Present |
Succeeded by David B. Haight |
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- 1922 births
- 20th-century Mormon missionaries
- American military personnel of World War II
- American Latter Day Saints
- American Mormon missionaries
- Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
- Living people
- Mormon missionaries in the United States
- People from Logan, Utah
- Stake presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- United States Marines
- Utah State University alumni
