Mark E. Petersen

Mark Edward Petersen (November 7, 1900 – January 11, 1984) was an American news editor and religious leader who 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. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he filled the vacancy in the Quorum caused by the excommunication of Richard R. Lyman. Petersen had become managing editor of the church-owned Deseret News in 1935 and editor in 1941.

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
Spouse(s)Emma Marr McDonald
Children2 daughters[1]

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.

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. In his calling as an apostle, he directed the church’s public information programs and served on the Military Relations Committee. He was an adviser to the church's Relief Society, Indian Affairs Committee, and Music Committee. He served as president of the West European Mission[2] for more than six years. Petersen was also involved in many community affairs. He was closely associated with the Boy Scouts of America and was a recipient of the Silver Antelope Award. In 1959, in response to a rash of arrests of gay men in Utah and Idaho, church president David O. McKay assigned apostles Spencer W. Kimball and Petersen to work on curing gays within the church.[3][4]

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".[5][6] 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 unofficial but prevalent teaching at that time that those with dark skin had been less valiant in their lives before coming to earth.[7][8] 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.[9] Petersen said:

In spite of all he did in the pre-existent life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter 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 "Mormon fundamentalist" to describe people who had left the LDS Church to practice plural marriage.[10]

Death

Petersen died from longstanding complications of cancer after entering Cottonwood Hospital in Murray, Utah, and undergoing surgery.[2] He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

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

Publications
  • ------ (1953). Your Faith and You. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.
  • ------ (1953). An apostle speaks to youth about... The Sacredness of Sex - Chastity in Its Holy Mission. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University.
  • —— (1954). For Time or Eternity. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1959). A Faith to Live By. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • ------ (1959). Teen Dating and Marriage. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book
  • —— (1960). Toward a Better Life. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1962). Patterns for Living. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1962). One Lord ... One Faith!. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1963). Faith Works!. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1964). Guide to a Happy Marriage. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1965). Our Moral Challenge. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1966). Why the Religious Life. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1966). As Translated Correctly. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1969). The Way to Peace. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1969). Drugs, Drinks & Morals. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. LCCN 79-109605. OCLC 123940.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1971). Live it Up!. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-450-8.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1972). Marriage and Common Sense. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • ——; Petersen, Emma Marr (1973). Virtue Makes Sense!. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-500-8.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1974). The Way of the Master. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-271-6.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1975). The Great Prologue. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-557-1.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1976). Adam, Who is He?. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-592-X.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1976). The Salt and the Savor. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-306-2.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1977). Moses: Man of Miracles. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-651-9.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1977). Marriage: Covenants and Conflicts. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1978). Joshua, Man of Faith. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-720-5.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1978). The Unknown God. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-337-2.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1979). Those Gold Plates!. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-364-X.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1979). Abraham, Friend of God. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-780-9.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1979). The Forerunners. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-376-3.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1980). Three Kings of Israel. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0-87747-829-5.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1981). Isaiah for Today. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-882-1.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1981). Children of Promise: The Lamanites: Yesterday & Today. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-431-X.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1981). Family Power!. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1981). Joseph of Egypt. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-861-9.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1982). Noah and the Flood. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-935-6.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1982). This Is Life Eternal. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-474-3.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1983). Malachi and the Great and Dreadful Day. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-962-3.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1983). Alma and Abinadi. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-959-3.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1984). The Jaredites. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-998-4.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1984). The Teachings of Paul. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-843-0.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • —— (1984). The Sons of Mosiah. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-297-1.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

General conference talks

As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Petersen spoke at each of the church's general conferences. Those addresses from 1971 until his death are shown below.

DateTitleTopics
April 1971Warnings from the PastMorality; Prophecy
October 1971Honesty, a Principle of SalvationHonesty
April 1972A People of Sound JudgmentProphets; Restoration
October 1972Another Prophet Now Has Come!Prophets; Restoration; Spirituality
April 1973Salvation Comes through the ChurchPlan of Salvation; Apostasy
October 1973“What Will a Man Give?”Obedience; Commandments; Agency
April 1974The People Say “Amen”Church Leaders; Prophets
October 1974Eternal TogethernessMarriage; Plan of Salvation
April 1975The Sabbath DayObedience; Sabbath
October 1975“Hear Ye Him!”Church Growth; Restoration
April 1976The Message of ElijahFamily History; Temple Work
October 1976The Savor of MenGovernment; Obedience; Heroes
April 1977Do Unto Others…Brotherhood; Kindness
October 1977It Was a Miracle!Book of Mormon
April 1978“Evidence of Things Not Seen”Prophets; Book of Mormon; Restoration
October 1978The Last Words of MoroniBook of Mormon
April 1979Signs of the True ChurchApostasy; Restoration
October 1979O America, AmericaObedience; Repentance; Honesty
April 1980Where Do We Stand?Obedience; Spirituality
October 1980Adam, the ArchangelAdam and Eve
April 1981Blessings in Self-RelianceObedience; Morality
October 1981Follow the ProphetsProphets
April 1982“Even As I Am”Jesus Christ; Women
April 1982“We Believe in Being Honest”Obedience; Honesty
October 1982Believers and DoersPlan of Salvation
April 1983Creator and SaviorJesus Christ; Resurrection; Atonement
October 1983The Angel Moroni Came!Angels

References
  1. Monson, Thomas S. (March 1984). "In Memoriam:By His Words—Elder Mark E. Petersen - new-era". New Era. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  2. "This week in Church History". Church News. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. O'Donovan, Rocky (1994). Multiply and Replenish: Mormon Essays on Sex and Family. Salt Lake City: Signature Books. p. 147. ISBN 1-56085-050-7. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. Kimball, Edward L.; Kimball, Andrew E. (1977). Spencer W. Kimball: Twelfth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft. p. 381. ISBN 9780884943303.
  5. Petersen, Elder Mark E. (27 August 1954). "Race Problems— As They Affect The Church". archive.org. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (2004). "Appendix B: Race Problems—As They Affect The Church". Curse of Cain?: Racism in the Mormon Church. Utah Lighthouse Ministry.
  7. McNamara, Mary Lou (24 January 2001). Contemporary Mormonism: Social Science Perspectives (Reprint ed.). Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press. p. 318. ISBN 0252069595. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. Bush, Lester E., Jr.; Mauss, Armand L., eds. (1984). "Appendix: Authoritative Statements on the Status of Blacks". Neither White nor Black: Mormon Scholars Confront the Race Issue in a Universal Church. Midvale, Utah: Signature Books. ISBN 0-941214-22-2.
  9. Embry, Jessie L. (1994). "Chapter 3: Impact of the LDS "Negro Policy"". Black Saints in a White Church: Contemporary African American Mormons. Signature Books. pp. 40–41. 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')
  10. Driggs, Ken (2001). "'This Will Someday Be the Head and Not the Tail of the Church': A History of the Mormon Fundamentalists at Short Creek". Journal of Church and State. 43 (1): 49–80. doi:10.1093/jcs/43.1.49. JSTOR 23920013.

Further reading
  • Barton, Peggy Petersen (1985). Mark E. Petersen: A Biography. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. ISBN 0-87747-642-X.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by
Ezra Taft Benson		 Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 20, 1944 – January 11, 1984		 Succeeded by
Matthew Cowley
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