The Life of Henry B. Eyring

Henry B. Eyring was set apart as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency on January 14, 2018, after the First Presidency was dissolved upon the death of Thomas S. Monson and the calling of Russell M. Nelson as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was sustained in a Solemn Assembly on March 31, 2018. Eyring served as first counselor in the First Presidency of the Church from February 3, 2008, until January 2, 2018, with Thomas S. Monson as the prophet and president of the Church. Eyring served as the second counselor in the First Presidency with Gordon B. Hinckley as president.

Henry Bennion Eyring was born on May 31, 1933, in New Jersey. He grew up in a small branch of the Church that often met in a hotel room or in the Eyring home. Both of his parents were highly educated. His father, Henry Eyring, Sr., was a professor of chemistry at Princeton and earned numerous awards in his field. His mother, Mildred, was a graduate of the University of Utah and had pursued a doctoral degree. President Eyring’s father was also a brother to Camilla Eyring Kimball, wife of former Church president Spencer W. Kimball, thus making President Eyring a nephew of President Spencer W. Kimball.

Eyring graduated with a degree in Physics from the University of Utah before entering the United States Air Force. The Air Force sent him to New Mexico. When he arrived he was called as a district missionary in the area and served almost exactly two full years. He then completed a master’s degree and a PhD in Business Administration at Harvard Graduate School of Business. From there he decided to teach and found a position at Stanford Graduate School of Business. He met Kathleen Johnson in 1961 and they were married in July 1962 in the Logan Utah Temple. She passed away on October 15, 2023. They are the parents of four sons and two daughters.

In the following years, Eyring continued to teach, served as an officer and director of Finnigan Instrument Corporation, founded and directed System Industries Incorporated (a computer manufacturing company), was on the faculty at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, taught early morning seminary, and served twice as a bishop.

To read more about him: MormonWiki