Arnold K. Garr

Arnold K. Garr is an emeritus professor of Church History and Doctrine. After twenty years with Brigham Young University, he retired in 2011. He had worked in the Church Educational System for twenty-one years, as seminary teacher, CES coordinator, and institute director. He holds a PhD in American history from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree in history from Utah State University, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Weber State where he also received a teacher’s certificate.

While at BYU, Garr spent almost four years as chair of the Department of Church History and Doctrine and one year at the Jerusalem Center. He is the author of Christopher Columbus: A Latter-day Saint Perspective (Provo: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992); and Joseph Smith: Candidate for President of the United States (Orem: Millennial Press, 2007); and editor of Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History (with Donald Q. Cannon and Richard O. Cowan; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2000); and Mormon Thoroughfare: A History of the Church in Illinois, 1830–1839 (with Marlene C. Kettley and Craig K. Manscill; Provo: Religious Studies Center, 2006). He has authored numerous articles.

He was born on June 14, 1944, and raised in Ogden, Utah. He and his wife, Cherie, are the parents of five children. He has served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a missionary to Finland, a bishop, branch president, high councilor, stake presidency member, and served as a member of the Church Correlation Committee from 2001 to 2009. He served an education mission at BYU–Hawaii for two years.