J. Richard Clarke
Birth nameJohn Richard Clarke
Birth dateApril 4, 1927
Birth placeRexburg, Idaho, United States
Death dateJune 29, 2022 (aged 95)
Death placeAlpine, Utah, United States
Position or quorum 1Emeritus General Authority
Called by 1Gordon B. Hinckley
Start date 1October 4, 1997
End date 1June 29, 2022
Position or quorum 2Presidency of the Seventy
Called by 2Ezra Taft Benson
Start date 2October 1, 1988
End date 2August 15, 1993
End reason 2Honorably released
Position or quorum 3First Quorum of the Seventy
Called by 3Spencer W. Kimball
Start date 3April 6, 1985
End date 3October 4, 1997
End reason 3Granted general authority emeritus status
Position or quorum 4Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
Called by 4Victor L. Brown
Start date 4October 1, 1976
End date 4April 6, 1985
End reason 4Honorable release of Victor L. Brown and his counselors
PortalsLDS

John Richard Clarke (April 4, 1927 – June 29, 2022) was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1976 until his death. He served both in the church's presiding bishopric and the Presidency of the Seventy.

Clarke was born in Rexburg, Idaho, to John R. and Nora Redford Clarke. Clarke graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1952. He worked in the insurance industry in his professional career.

LDS Church service

As a young man he served as an LDS Church missionary in South Africa. Prior to his call as a general authority, he served as a bishop, stake president, and regional representative in Idaho. He also returned to South Africa as the president of the church's South Africa Cape Town Mission.

In 1976, Clarke became the second counselor to presiding bishop Victor L. Brown. He served in this capacity until Brown was released in 1985. Clarke was retained as a general authority and became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He became a member of the Presidency of the Seventy in 1988. [1] He served in that capacity until 1997 when he was released and given general authority emeritus status.[2] In 2012, Clarke addressed the BYU student body at the weekly devotional.[3]

From 1998 to 2001, Clarke was president of the LDS Church's Laie Hawaii Temple.[4]

Personal life

Clarke married Barbara Jean Reed and became the parents of eight children.

References

  1. ^ "New apostle called to fill vacancy", Deseret News, Utah, 8 October 1988. Retrieved on 22 February 2020.
  2. ^ Palmer, Douglas D.. "LDS sustain new Young Women's presidency", Deseret News, Utah, 5 October 1997. Retrieved on 22 February 2020.
  3. ^ Last, First. "Valley Digest" Archived 2020-02-22 at the Wayback Machine, Provo Herald, 28 July 2003. Retrieved on 22 February 2020.
  4. ^ Satterfield, Rick. "Presidents of the Laie Hawaii Temple", Church of Jesus Christ Temples. Retrieved on 22 February 2020.