Biography
McMurray was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to parents who were members of the RLDS Church. He lived in Toronto until his teenage years, when his family moved to Independence, Missouri, United States where his mother accepted employment at the church headquarters of the RLDS Church. He attended Graceland College and St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, where he earned a master's degree in theology, making McMurray the first president of the RLDS Church who was trained at a seminary.
In 1973, McMurray began employment with the historical department of the RLDS Church. In 1982, he became the church's World Church Secretary, and in 1992, he became member of the First Presidency as a counselor to church president Wallace B. Smith. In 1995, Smith announced his retirement and named McMurray as his successor; it was the first time that a non-descendant of church-founder Joseph Smith had been named to head the church.
Read more about this topic: W. Grant McMurray
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