| Theodore M. Burton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Emeritus General Authority | |
| September 30, 1989 (1989-09-30) – December 22, 1989 (1989-12-22) | |
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| October 1, 1976 (1976-10-01) – September 30, 1989 (1989-09-30) | |
| End reason | Granted general authorityemeritus status |
| Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 8, 1960 (1960-10-08) – October 1, 1976 (1976-10-01) | |
| End reason | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Theodore Moyle Burton (1907-03-27)March 27, 1907 Salt Lake City,Utah, United States |
| Died | December 22, 1989(1989-12-22) (aged 82) Salt Lake City,Utah, United States |
| Alma mater | University of Utah |
| Spouse(s) | Minnie Susan Preece |
Theodore Moyle Burton (March 27, 1907 – December 22, 1989) was ageneral authority ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and one of the main leaders of theGenealogical Department of the church in the 1960s. Under his direction the department expanded its operations, largely through the opening of many moreFamily History Centers.
Burton was born inSalt Lake City,Utah. From 1927 to 1930 he served as amissionary in the Swiss-GermanMission of the LDS Church. As a youth, Burton became the firstEagle Scout in the PioneerStake of the LDS Church.
In 1933 he married Minnie Susan Preece. In 1934, Burton received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from theUniversity of Utah, where he became aSigma Chi.[1] He worked for the treasury attache at the U.S. embassies in bothVienna andBerlin. He later taught atCarbon College andUtah State Agricultural College. He returned toPurdue University where he earned aPh.D. inchemistry in 1951. He returned to Utah State, but in 1957 was called aspresident of the West German Mission of the church.
In 1960, Burton was called as anAssistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served in this position until it was disbanded in 1976; he and the other Assistants were subsumed by theFirst Quorum of the Seventy. During the 1950s, Burton had served asbishop of theLogan 4thWard prior to becoming a mission president.[2]
Burton served as president of the European Mission of the church and later as theArea Supervisor inEurope.
As director of the Genealogical Department, Burton initiated the translation of materials into languages other than English. He held the title of executive director of the Genealogical Department from 1972 to 1978. He also negotiated the contracting out ofmicrofilming work to a private company in 1967 and then its later resumption as a function of the church department.
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