Mark E. Petersen

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Mark E. Petersen
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 20, 1944 (1944-04-20) – January 11, 1984 (1984-01-11)
LDS Church Apostle
April 20, 1944 (1944-04-20) – January 11, 1984 (1984-01-11)
ReasonExcommunication of Richard R. Lyman
Reorganization
at end of term		Russell M. Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks were ordained after the deaths of Petersen and LeGrand Richards
Personal details
BornMark Edward Petersen
(1900-11-07)November 7, 1900
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
DiedJanuary 11, 1984(1984-01-11) (aged 83)
Murray, Utah, United States
Resting placeSalt Lake City Cemetery
40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W / 40.7772000; -111.858000
Spouse(s)Emma Marr McDonald[1]
Children2 daughters[2]

Mark Edward Petersen (November 7, 1900 – January 11, 1984) was an American news editor and religious leader. He was born in

Salt Lake City, Utah. He served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1944 until his death. He became managing editor of the church-owned Deseret News in 1935 and then editor in 1941. He filled the vacancy in the Quorum caused by the excommunication of Richard R. Lyman
.

Early life

As a young boy, Petersen was a newspaper carrier, and he also helped in his father’s construction business. Later, he attended the University of Utah and served a mission for the LDS Church in Nova Scotia. In pursuing a career, he became a reporter for the Deseret News and continued working for the paper for sixty years, advancing to the position of president and chairman of the board. Petersen wrote numerous editorials and published more than forty books and many pamphlets used in the church's missionary effort.[3]

LDS Church service

In April 1944, while serving as general manager of the Deseret News, Petersen was called to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

curing gays within the church.[6][7]

Controversial teachings

At Brigham Young University on 27 August 1954, at the Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level, Petersen delivered the speech, "Race Problems—As They Affect the Church".[8][9] The speech outlined the religious underpinnings of racial segregation and supported its continued practice as it related to intermarriage between blacks and whites. Particularly, he reaffirmed the LDS Church's teaching at that time that those with dark skin had been less valiant in their lives before coming to earth.[10][11] He also reiterated the idea that blacks were to be servants to righteous white people after the resurrection, as was the case with Jane Manning James who was sealed to Joseph Smith to be his servant in the next life.[12] Petersen said:

In spite of all he did in the

celestial kingdom
. He will go there as a servant, but he will get a celestial resurrection. He will get a place in the celestial glory.

In the 1940s, Petersen coined the term "

plural marriage.[13]

Death

Petersen died from longstanding complications of cancer after entering Cottonwood Hospital in Murray, Utah, and undergoing surgery.[14][5] He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.[15]

  • Grave marker of Mark E. Petersen
    Grave marker of Mark E. Petersen
  • Grave markers of Mark E. Petersen and Emma Marr Petersen
    Grave markers of Mark E. Petersen and Emma Marr Petersen

Publications

References

  1. ^ a b "Tabernacle Funeral Services Planned For LDS Church Elder Mark Petersen". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1984-01-13. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-03-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Monson, Thomas S. (March 1984). "In Memoriam:By His Words—Elder Mark E. Petersen - new-era". New Era. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Mark E. Petersen Named Visiting Authority". Washington County News. Saint George, Utah. 1962-02-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-03-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ProQuest 294232213
    . Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b "This week in Church History". Church News. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. ISBN 1-56085-050-7
    . Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  7. ISBN 9780884943303
    .
  8. archive.org
    . Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  9. Utah Lighthouse Ministry
    .
  10. ISBN 0252069595
    . Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  11. ISBN 0-941214-22-2
    .
  12. ISBN 1560850442. Sourced from the George A. Smith family papers, 1731-1969' (box 78, folder 7) on the 'Quorum of the Twelve Apostles— Excerpts from the weekly council meetings dealing with the rights of African Americans in the church (1849-1940') {{cite book}}: External link in |quote= (help
    )
  13. JSTOR 23920013
    .
  14. ^ "LDS Apostle Mark Petersen Dies of Cancer". The Daily Herald. Provo, Utah. 1984-01-12. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-03-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Religious Leaders Euglogize Elder Mark E. Peterson". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1984-01-13. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-03-18 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading

  • Barton, Peggy Petersen (1985). Mark E. Petersen: A Biography. Salt Lake City, Utah:
    ISBN 0-87747-642-X
    .

External links
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 20, 1944 – January 11, 1984 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_E._Petersen&oldid=1209626924"