Elder Rulon G. Craven

Of the Seventy

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“I enjoy leadership and administrative work,” says Elder Rulon G. Craven, one of two new members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. “I can remember as a young man praying that I might qualify myself to serve the Lord.”

Now, after a lifetime of Church service, Elder Craven is still grateful for his opportunities to serve the Lord.

Elder Craven is the oldest of Gerald and Susie Schultz Craven’s four children. Though born in Murray, Utah, on 11 November 1924, he grew up in Boise, Idaho. When the United States became involved in World War II, young Rulon, not able to get into the regular services because he was twenty-two pounds below the minimum weight, joined the Merchant Marines.

“While I was in the service, I read the Book of Mormon and fell in love with its truth,” says Elder Craven of the beginnings of his testimony of the gospel. His testimony continued to grow during his two years of military service, which included participation in the invasion of the Philippine Islands, as he saw his life preserved just as he had been promised in his patriarchal blessing.

Upon his return to Boise, Rulon talked with his bishop about serving a mission. He experienced spiritual growth again as he served in New Zealand among the Maori people, learning the Maori language by reading the Book of Mormon continually.

After his mission, Rulon attended Brigham Young University, where he met and married Donna Lunt, daughter of Heaton and Chloe Haws Lunt of Duncan, Arizona, on 23 March 1953 in the Arizona Temple. Currently residents of Centerville, Utah, Elder and Sister Craven are the parents of six children: four boys—Gerald, Ronald, Brent, and Dallen; and two girls—RaDawn (Mehr), and Terie Lee, who died at seven weeks of age.

Upon his graduation from BYU, Brother Craven began a twenty-year career at Brigham Young University as director of the Off-Campus Housing Program. He eventually became administrative assistant for business.

His Church leadership service also began during his years at BYU, where, as a student, Rulon served first in the BYU Branch, then as the bishop of the BYU married ward, and later as a member of the BYU Sixth Stake presidency. From 1967 to 1970, the Cravens took their young family to New Zealand, where Elder Craven served as president of the New Zealand North Mission (now the New Zealand Auckland Mission). He has also served for many years as a regional representative. In June 1974, the Presiding Bishopric extended a call to Brother Craven to serve as the director of the Aaronic Priesthood programs.

In April 1977, President Ezra Taft Benson, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve, asked Brother Craven to serve as secretary to the Quorum of the Twelve.

“Working with the Twelve has been a marvelous experience for me,” says Elder Craven. “It has increased my testimony considerably, not only of the gospel of Jesus Christ but of living prophets.”

Organized and methodical, Elder Craven, who considers writing his hobby, is the author of four books on missionary work, leadership, and gospel principles. He also writes a monthly letter to his children entitled Eternal Perspective.

Family togetherness is important to the Cravens, who have always enjoyed discussing the gospel as they gather around the dining-room table with their children, and now with their children’s spouses and their fourteen grandchildren. Family home evening has always been a big part of their lives as they learn, play, and grow together.

General conference weekends are a time of gathering for the Cravens, who, after the last session, share a potluck supper, discuss conference, and set goals based on the direction given by the Brethren.

“Once you’ve made the decision that you’re going to live the gospel,” says Donna, “you don’t make that decision again on a daily basis—you just do it every day.”

Elder Craven speaks for his family when he says, “We love each other, and we love to serve the Lord.”