Cecil O. Samuelson

Cecil O. Samuelson, Jr.

Samuelson leading the April 2008 commencement exercises at BYU
First Quorum of the Seventy
October 1, 1994 (1994-10-01) – incumbent
Called by Howard W. Hunter
Presidency of the Seventy
August 15, 2001 (2001-08-15) – April 5, 2003 (2003-04-05)
Called by Gordon B. Hinckley
End reason Honorably released to become president of BYU
12th President of Brigham Young University
In office
May 1, 2003
Preceded by Merrill J. Bateman
Personal details
Born August 1, 1941 (1941-08-01) (age 70)
Salt Lake City, Utah
Alma mater University of Utah (B.S., M.Ed., M.D.)
Spouse Sharon Giauque Samuelson
Website Office of the President

Cecil Osborn Samuelson, Jr. is the 12th and current president of Brigham Young University (BYU) and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1994. Prior to holding these positions, Samuelson had worked as a professor of medicine and later dean of the school of medicine at the University of Utah, and senior vice president of Intermountain Health Care.[1][2]

Samuelson served as a full-time LDS Church missionary to Scotland as a youth[3] and has continued church service in his adulthood—being appointed to the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1994, and also serving as an Area President, as one of the seven presidents of the Seventy, and as the general president of the church's Sunday School organization.[3]

While serving in the LDS North America West Area Presidency, Samuelson was a signatory to a May 11, 1999 letter to all adult congregants in California in advance of voting on Proposition 22. The letter advised LDS members in California to "do all you can by donating your means and time to assure a successful vote." [4][5]

President Samuelson began his administration as President of BYU with a call for the faculty to "raise the bar" in their expectations of students. He also initiated a revamping of Student Housing to allow it to better augment the goals of the university. President Samuelson gave a talk in September 2007 to BYU students on the theme "The Year of the Constitution". In his talk he stated that the Constitution of the United States is not complete yet, and must be altered to adapt to a changing world. He also stated, in agreement with the doctrine of LDS Church, that the Constitution is a divinely inspired document.[6][7]

He holds a bachelors, a master's degree, and an M.D. from the University of Utah and completed his residency at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "News of the Church: Elder Cecil O. Samuelson, Jr. Of the Seventy". Ensign (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints): 103–112. November 1994. http://lds.org/ensign/1994/11/news-of-the-church?lang=eng. Retrieved May 4, 2009. 
  2. ^ BYU - Cecil O. Samuelson
  3. ^ a b Cecil O. Samuelson, Jr., General Authority
  4. ^ AP (5 July 1999). "LDS urged to back a ban on gay marriage". Deseret News. 
  5. ^ "Proposition 22 Dominates California Wards' Attention, Divides Members" (PDF). Sunstone (Sunstone Education Foundation): pp. 86–92. April 2001. http://www.sunstoneonline.com/magazine/issues/118/118-86-95.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-19. 
  6. ^ The Year of the Constitution
  7. ^ BYU News - Release

He is a Brother of Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by
Merrill J. Bateman		 President of BYU
2003– Present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Abrea • Backman • Banks • Bateman • Bradford • Brewerton • Busche • Carmack • Child • Christensen • Clarke • Coleman • Cook • Condie • Dellenbach • Didier • Featherstone • Groberg • Hafen • Hammond • Hansen • Hillam • Hinckley • Howard • Johnson • Kendrick • Kerr • Kikuchi • Kofford • Larsen • Madsen • Mickelsen • Morrison • Neuenschwander • Pace •Paramore • Peterson • Pinegar • Porter • Pratt • Rector • Samuelson • Smith2 • Sorensen • Tingey • Wells • Wickman

1. Emeritus general authorities are individuals who have been released from active duties as general authorities. However, they remain general authorities of the church until their death. Most living emeritus general authorities are former members of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
2. Patriarch emeritus and former Patriarch to the Church; Smith is the oldest living general authority and the only emeritus general authority who was not a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
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General presidents of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Cannon (1867–1901) • Snow (1901) • Smith (1901–1918) • D.O. McKay (1918–1934) • Pyper (1934–1943) • Bennion (1943–1949) • Hill (1949–1966) • D.L. McKay (1966–1971) • Nelson (1971–1979) • Pinnock (1979–1986) • Simpson (1986–1989) • Pinnock (1989–1992) • Lybbert (1992–1994) • Didier (1994–1995) • Hillam (1995–2000) • Jensen (2000–2001) • Samuelson (2001–2003) • Bateman (2003–2004) • Merrill (2004–2009) • Osguthorpe (2009–)