Howard W. Hunter

Howard W. Hunter was the fourteenth President of the LDS Church, serving the shortest presidency in modern history—just nine months from June 1994 to March 1995. Born in Boise, Idaho, Hunter was a skilled musician who played in dance bands to pay for his education at law school. He worked as a corporate lawyer in Los Angeles before his call to the apostleship in 1959.

Hunter’s long wait for the presidency—35 years as an apostle—was marked by personal tragedy and health challenges. His first wife suffered a debilitating stroke, and he himself endured serious health problems. In 1993, a man with a briefcase claiming to contain a bomb interrupted his BYU speech, an incident Hunter handled with remarkable calm.

Though brief, his presidency emphasized temple worship. He urged all members to be worthy of a temple recommend, even if they didn’t live near a temple, and called on members to establish the temple as the great symbol of their membership. He announced nine new temples during his short tenure.

Hunter was known for his gentle, scholarly demeanor and emphasis on following Jesus Christ. He stated his desire for the church to be known as a “Christ-centered” church. His death from prostate cancer came after less than a year in office, making him one of the briefest-serving presidents.