Elder Loren C. Dunn, president of the Boston Massachusetts Temple and an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died May 17, 2001, of complications incident to surgery. He was 70 years of age. Funeral arrangements were pending at press time.
The one-time business executive and newspaper editor had served in full-time Church callings for more than 32 years. He was called on April 6, 1968, as one of only seven members of the First Council of the Seventy. Members of the Seventy are senior leaders in the Church who serve as executive directors of Church departments; they provide ecclesiastical supervision and training for leaders of stakes located in their geographic areas.
In the October 2000 general conference of the Church, after receiving emeritus status, Elder Dunn shared his testimony with Church members worldwide one final time:
"I know God lives. I know He lives. I know He lives, and I know that He is the Father of all of us. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer and that He has purchased us by the shedding of His blood and by the anguish which He suffered in Gethsemane. . . . This, my brothers and sisters, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This work is true. May the Lord bless us to live by it."
Loren Charles Dunn was born June 12, 1930, in Tooele, Utah, to Alex F. and Carol Horsfall Dunn. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1953 with degrees in journalism and economics. He then served a Church mission to Australia for two years, followed by a two-year tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Germany. While stationed in Germany, he was group leader in a Latter-day Saint Serviceman's Group. He later received a master's degree in public relations from Boston University and worked as a newspaper editor.
He married the former Sharon Longden, the daughter of John Longden, former Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Prior to his call as a Church leader, Loren Dunn was recognized for his work in regional economic planning and development and was the director of communications for the New England Council for Economic Development in Boston, Mass. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Boston Rotary Club and was connected with Rotary for many years. He served on the Industrial Board of the State of Utah as well.
Elder Dunn was called as a member of the First Council of the Seventy on April 6, 1968, in which capacity he served until being called to the First Quorum of the Seventy on October 1, 1976.
Elder Dunn served as president of the North America East Area, Executive Director of the Church Historical Department and Assistant Executive Director of the Correlation Department. He also served on the Church's Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He served as Executive Director of the Missionary Department of the Church and president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc.
Elder Dunn served as an executive administrator or member of an area presidency for the Church throughout the United States and Canada and other areas of the world, living in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and the Philippines. He served in the Church's Family History and Curriculum departments as well. He also served as mission president of the Australia Sydney Mission and as a mission president's counselor.
In June 2000, Elder Dunn and his wife were called to serve as president and matron of the Boston Massachusetts Temple. Elder and Sister Dunn had five children.
