Elder Loren C. Dunn, 70, president of the Boston Massachusetts Temple and an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Thursday, May 17, 2001, in Boston of complications due to surgery.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
The one-time business executive and newspaper editor had served in full-time church callings for more than 32 years. He was called on April 6, 1968, as one of only seven members of the First Council of the Seventy, senior leaders in the church who serve as executive directors of church departments.
He was granted emeritus status from the First Quorum of the Seventy on Oct. 7, 2000, during General Conference. He and his wife had been called to serve as president and matron of the Boston Massachusetts Temple in June 2000.
Elder Dunn was born June 12, 1930, in Tooele to Alex F. Dunn and Carol Horsfall. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1953 with degrees in journalism and economics.
He then served a church mission to Australia for two years, followed by a two-year tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Germany. While stationed in Germany, he was group leader in a Latter-day Saint Servicemen's Group. He later received a master's degree in public relations from Boston University and worked as a newspaper editor.
Elder Dunn married the former Sharon Longden, the daughter of John Longden, former assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, on Dec. 15, 1959, in the Salt Lake Temple.
Prior to his call as a church leader, Loren Dunn was recognized for his work in regional economic planning and development and was the director of communications for the New England Council for Economic Development in Boston, Mass. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Boston Rotary Club.
Elder Dunn served more than eight years on the First Council of the Seventy before being called to the First Quorum of the Seventy on Oct. 1, 1976. He was president of the North America East Area, executive director of the Historical Department and assistant executive director of the Correlation Department.
He had also served as executive director of the Missionary Department and as president of Nauvoo Restoration Inc. Elder Dunn had also been an executive administrator or member of an area presidency of the church. He had served as mission president of the Australia Sydney Mission.
Elder Dunn and his wife have five children and six grandchildren.