Joseph L. Wirthlin

Who was Joseph L. Wirthlin?

Joseph Leopold Wirthlin was the eighth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wirthlin was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. He served as a missionary in the Swiss–German Mission of the church in 1913 and 1914. He served as bishop of the Salt Lake 33rd Ward in the Liberty Stake from 1928 to 1935. On October 27, 1935 the Liberty Stake was split and the Bonneville Stake was organized with Wirthlin as its first president. He was set apart by Joseph Fielding Smith.

Wirthlin became a general authority in 1938 when he was called as a counselor to LeGrand Richards in the presiding bishopric. In 1952, LDS Church president David O. McKay called Wirthlin to be the church's eighth presiding bishop. Wirthlin called Thorpe B. Isaacson and Carl W. Buehner as his counselors. Wirthlin and his counselors served until they were released in 1961.

Wirthlin died at St. George, Utah and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Wirthlin and his wife, Madeline Bitner, were the parents of five children, including Joseph B. Wirthlin, who served as a member of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.