| abstract | - Joe Junior Christensen (born 21 July 1929 in Banida, Idaho) was the president of Ricks College from 1985 to 1989 and has been a general authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1989. He was also president of the San Diego California Temple from 1999 to 2002. Elder Christensen served as an officer in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, from 1953 to 1955. He received a bachelors degree from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. from Washington State University. After this he worked for several years as a seminary and institute instructor and supervisor. From 1962-1970 Elder Christensen was the head of the Institute of Religion adjacent to the University of Utah. For a few months in 1970 Christensen served as president of the LDS mission headquartered in Mexico City. He was however appointed to work under Neal A. Maxwell in running seminaries and institutes, and therefore replaced as mission president. He was associate commissioner of the Church Educational System from 1970 to 1985, interrupted by a four-year term as president of the LDS Church's Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. In 1985, Christensen became president of Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. In 1989, Christensen was called as a general authority in LDS Church, where he served in the Presidency of the Seventy. He was given general authority emeritus status in 1999.
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