H. David Burton

Who is H. David Burton?

Harold David Burton was the thirteenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 to 2012. He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Latter-day Saint parents, Burton graduated from South High School in 1956 and then served as a missionary for the LDS Church in southern Australia in the late 1950s. He graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor's degree in economics and completed an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Early in his career, Burton worked for the Utah Tax Commission and for Kennecott Copper. In 1977, Burton was hired by the LDS Church as the assistant budget officer. A year and a half later, he accepted a position as the executive secretary to the church's presiding bishopric.

In October 1992, Burton was called by Robert D. Hales as first counselor in the presiding bishopric. In 1994, he was again called as first counselor to the new presiding bishop, Merrill J. Bateman. In 1995, when Bateman became the president of Brigham Young University, Burton was elevated to the position of Presiding Bishop. He formally began his tenure on 27 December 1995. Burton called Richard C. Edgley as his first counselor and Keith B. McMullin as his second counselor. Burton and his counselors were released on 31 March 2012 and given general authority emeritus status.