Matthew L. Carpenter was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 21, 1959. He married Michelle (Shelly) Kay Brown in 1982. They are the parents of five children.
He received a bachelor of science degree in business management from Brigham Young University in 1983. In 1987 he received a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.
He has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Switzerland Geneva Mission, ward missionary, Scoutmaster, stake Young Men president, counselor in a bishopric, counselor in a stake mission presidency, ward mission leader, high councilor, bishop and stake president.
At the time of his call, Elder Matthew L. Carpenter had been serving as a member of the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America Central Area. He has served as an Assistant to the Utah Area Presidency, as a Counselor in the North America Central Area Presidency, and on various committees at Church Headquarters. He is currently serving as First Counselor in the Africa Central Area Presidency.
During his professional career, he has worked as chief financial officer, president, and chief executive officer of various commercial financial institutions.