William Rawsel Bradford (October 25, 1933 - January 24, 2019) was an American general authority of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

(LDS Church) from 1975 until his death. Bradford was born in

Springville, Utah Springville is a city in Utah County, Utah, Utah County, Utah, United States, that is part of the Provo–Orem metropolitan area. The population was 35,268 in 2020, according to the United States Census. Springville is a bedroom community for co ...

, to Rawsel W. Bradford and Mary Waddoups. During the 1940s Bradford went to Hawaii as his parents served as

missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Miss ...

in the

Laie Hawaii Temple Laie Hawaii Temple is a Temple (LDS Church), temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located on the North Shore (Oahu), northeast shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Oahu. The temple sits on a small hill, half a mile from th ...

Visitors Center. He graduated from Springville High School and then began studies at

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

. From 1953 to 1955, Bradford was a missionary for the LDS Church in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. He then married Mary Ann Bird, a native of

Mapleton, Utah Mapleton is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,365 at the 2020 census. History The area was first settled in 1850, and for a time was known as ...

, in the

Salt Lake Temple The Salt Lake Temple is a Temple (LDS Church), temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. At , it is the Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sa ...

. Bradford then served in the United States military. After this he moved to

McAllen, Texas McAllen is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Hidalgo County. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley, on the Mexican border. The city limits extend south to the Rio Grande, acros ...

, and began a fruit-growing operation called International Fruit Growers and Shippers, Inc. The company's operations extended into Mexico and Central America. Bradford was heavily involved in LDS Church outreach to Mexican Americans in the McAllen area. In the McAllen area, he served as

branch president A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, th ...

, a counselor in the district presidency, and as district mission president. Bradford later served as a

mission president Mission president is a Priesthood (LDS Church), priesthood leadership position in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A mission president presides over a geographic area known as a Mission (LDS Church), mission and the M ...

Santiago, Chile Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...

. Craig C. Christensen, who would also later become a general authority, was among the missionaries who served under his direction. In 1975, he became a general authority as a member of the

First Quorum of the Seventy Seventy is a Priesthood (LDS Church), priesthood office in the Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints), Melchizedek priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Traditionally, a church member holding this priesth ...

. He was a member of this quorum until 2003, when he was designated as an

emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". In some c ...

general authority. Bradford and his wife are the parents of six children. Their daughter Marcia married Brent H. Nielson, who later became a general authority.Faith and focus forged testimony, character
''Archives'', '' The Church News'', 2 May 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2020. From 2006 to 2009, Bradford served as

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

of the Houston Texas Temple. Bradford died on January 24, 2019.

References

"Elder William R. Bradford of the First Quorum of the Seventy"
''

Ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

'', November 1975
"New temple presidents"
''

Church News The ''Church News'' (formerly ''LDS Church News'') is a multi-platform supplement and subdivision of the ''Deseret News'', a Salt Lake City, Utah newspaper owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (informally, the LDS Church). ...

'' July 1, 2006

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bradford, William R. 1933 births 2019 deaths American general authorities (LDS Church) People from Springville, Utah Brigham Young University alumni Mission presidents (LDS Church) Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Temple presidents and matrons (LDS Church) American Mormon missionaries in Japan American Mormon missionaries in Chile 20th-century Mormon missionaries People from McAllen, Texas Latter Day Saints from Texas Latter Day Saints from Hawaii Latter Day Saints from Utah