Elder Richard P. Lindsay of the Second Quorum of the Seventy

Elder Richard P. Lindsay

When asked about himself, Elder Richard P. Lindsay will talk about his wife, Marian, and their children. “One of the great joys of my life,” he says, “is to see the love my children have for each other.” When asked about herself, Marian Bangerter Lindsay will talk about her husband and their children. “Our family has been our crowning jewel,” she says. “And the blessings of our eternal family relationships become richer and more satisfying with each year.”

The Lindsays are wholeheartedly family oriented. Their home stands, for instance, on the ground that Grandfather Lindsay homesteaded in the 1870s. Even in this modern age of scattered families, Richard and Marian Lindsay hold annual family mountain retreats for the children and grandchildren who can make it. There are six children—Richard Bruce, Gordon, Susan (Gong), Sharon (Lyons), John, and Miriam (Warnick)—and seventeen grandchildren.

With this kind of family orientation, it’s not surprising that Elder Lindsay’s favorite Church callings have been those that have involved his wife. “I have the privilege of home teaching with my wife,” he reports. “The Taylorsville Utah Central Stake organized a branch at the Golden Living Center, and Marian and I were assigned to visit the senior members there. I have never enjoyed anything more.” He is also an instructor for the high priests group, and Marian teaches the Gospel Doctrine class. “We really enjoy studying the gospel together,” Elder Lindsay says.

Richard Powell Lindsay was born on 18 March 1926 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Samuel J. and Mary Alice Powell Lindsay. His father died when Richard was five, and his mother reared five children through the Great Depression, sending the sons on missions and the daughters to college.

Richard served in the Swiss Austrian Mission just after World War II. One week after his mission ended, in March 1949, his younger sister introduced him to her friend Marian. Richard and Marian were subsequently married 17 November 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple.

During the next ten years, Brother Lindsay worked for several national firms. As a result, the Lindsays moved often. At various times, they lived in Salt Lake City, Denver, and San Francisco. Meanwhile, Brother Lindsay took night courses whenever he could, and in 1953, he received a B.S. in political science.

In 1959, he began a long career in public service. He became Utah State Commissioner of Finance and, a year later, executive director of the Utah State Employees Association. In 1965, he moved to the state judicial system, working as the administrator of the Utah Juvenile Court System and as director of the Utah Council on Criminal Justice Administration. In 1969, he became director of the Utah State Department of Social Services. He also served two terms in the Utah State House of Representatives, from 1972 through 1977.

Along the way, he continued to take classes at night, earning an M.S. in 1965 in political science and a Ph.D. in 1976 in political science/management. During his years as a legislator, he concurrently directed the Bureau of Community Development at the University of Utah and taught at Brigham Young University as a visiting professor.

Then in January 1978, he accepted the position as director of Special Affairs for the Church. In July 1983, he became managing director of Church Public Communications/Special Affairs. During this period, Elder Lindsay also served as a bishop and a stake president.

When he was called in April 1989 to the Second Quorum of the Seventy, Elder Lindsay was astonished: “I feel humbled. I believe that without the Lord’s help we can do nothing. With his help, though, I view this calling as an increased opportunity to bless those outside and inside the Church.”