Howard W. Hunter - Leadership in The LDS Church

Leadership in The LDS Church

Prior to his call as an apostle Hunter held several leadership positions in the LDS Church. He was the first president of the Pasadena, California stake of the Church, where he had also served as a bishop.

Some of his major contributions include the creation of the church's 2000th stake and his negotiations to acquire land in Jerusalem to build the BYU Jerusalem Center, which he later dedicated. Other significant activities he was involved in include the drafting of the Proclamation on the Family. In 1985, Hunter was named Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, in recognition of the infirmity of Marion G. Romney, who had succeeded as President of the Twelve by seniority; Hunter became president of the Quorum of the Twelve on Romney's death in 1988.

Hunter encouraged and emphasized Christlike living and temple attendance, and dedicated two temples during his administration, the Orlando Florida Temple and later the Bountiful Utah Temple shortly before he died.