Neal A. Maxwell

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Image:NealAMaxwell.jpg Neal Ash Maxwell (July 6, 1926–July 21, 2004) was ordained an apostle by N. Eldon Tanner on July 23 1981, following the calling of Gordon B. Hinckley as a third counselor in the First Presidency, and was sustained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 3 1981. He served as a General Authority of the Church since 1974. He died in his native Salt Lake City, Utah, from leukemia that was diagnosed in 1996.

Before serving full time in the Church, Elder Maxwell taught at the University of Utah and also served as a legislative assistant to United States Senator Wallace F. Bennett of Utah.

Elder Maxwell wrote approximately thirty books concerning religion and authored numerous articles on politics and government for local, professional and national publications. He is well known for his extensive vocabulary and elegant writing style. His highly alliterative talks have always presented a large challenge to translators. During one General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the translators had categorized each of the talks to be given into five levels of difficulty. All of the talks were assigned to levels one through four, except Elder Maxwell’s. His talk was alone at level five 5. Of his writing style Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church, has described it as completely unique commenting that the Church will probably never see another with the intellectual power of Elder Maxwell.

Elder Maxwell earned a bachelors and masters in political science from the University of Utah and also recieved an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Utah; an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Westminster College, Salt Lake City; an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Utah State University, Logan, Utah; an Honorary Degree from Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho; and an Honorary Degree from Salt Lake Community College.

The University of Utah established the Neal A. Maxwell Presidential Endowed Chair in Political Theory, Public Policy and Public Service in the fall of 1998.

As a young man, Elder Maxwell served a two year mission in eastern Canada and later served in the Church in myriad positions, including bishop of Salt Lake City’s University Sixth Ward; a member of the General Board of the Y.M.M.I.A., the Church’s youth organization; a member of the Adult Correlation Committee; one of the first regional representatives of the Twelve; and director of the Church’s worldwide education system.

Elder Maxwell's business career included serving as a director of several business firms, including Questar Corporation, Questar Pipeline, and Deseret News Publishing Company. He also was active in public service, such as his service as chairman of the Utah Constitutional Revision Commission.

Elder Maxwell received the Liberty Bell award from the Utah State Bar in 1967 for public service. In 1973, the Institute of Government Service at Brigham Young University named him Public Administrator of the Year.

Elder Maxwell was survived by his wife, the former Colleen Hinckley, four children, 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.