Robert L. Backman

Robert L. Backman was an emeritus General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the First Quorum of the Seventy from April 1, 1978, until he was given emeritus status on October 3, 1992. During this time he served in the Presidency of the Seventy from October 6, 1985, until August 15, 1992, and the Young Men general president from 1979 to 1985. He was briefly president of the joint Aaronic Priesthood-MIA from 1972 to 1974. The Boy Scouts of America awarded him the Silver Buffalo in 1986 for his work to incorporate Scouting into the Young Men organization. He served as vice president of the Great Salt Lake Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Backman was born on March 22, 1922, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He spent part of his teen years in South Africa where his father was serving as mission president. They returned to the United States for his senior year. He graduated from high school in Salt Lake City. After high school he served as a full-time missionary in the Northern States Mission. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan. He studied law at the University of Utah and was a lawyer. He also served two terms as a member of the Utah House of Representatives.

He was also president of the Utah Land Title Association and of the Salt Lake Executive Association.

Backman’s wife, Virginia Pickett Backman, passed away in 1999. They had seven daughters. From 1966 to 1969, he presided over the Northwestern States Mission with her. After her death, he married Janet Woodbury. He served as president of the Jordan River Utah Temple from 2005 to 2008. He was a temple sealer and a regional representative.

Backman passed away on June 3, 2022, at the age of 100.

General Conference Talks of Robert L. Backman

• "The Golden Years," October 1992
• "Jesus the Christ," October 1991
• "Chastity: The Source of True Manhood," October 1989
• "'Called to Serve,'" October 1987
• "'As I Have Loved You,'" October 1985
• "Revitalizing Aaronic Priesthood Quorums," October 1982
• "To the Young Men of the Church," October 1980
• "Everything Dear," April 1978
• "Youth's Opportunity to Serve," April 1973