About Elder Bruce C. Hafen
Bruce Hafen grew up in St. George, Utah. After serving a mission to Germany, he met Marie Kartchner from Bountiful, Utah, at Brigham Young University. They were married in 1964.
Elder Hafen received a bachelor’s degree from BYU and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah. After practicing law in Salt Lake City, he joined BYU in 1971 as a member of the original faculty of BYU’s new Law School. He taught and published research on family law and constitutional law.
He served as the President of BYU–Idaho from 1978 to 1985. Elder Hafen then became Dean of the BYU Law School and later served as provost—the second in command––at BYU. He was called as a full-time General Authority in 1996, serving in area presidencies in Australia, North America, and Europe. He also served at Church headquarters as an adviser to the Priesthood Department, the general auxiliary presidencies, Church History, and the Temple Department. Elder Hafen became an Emeritus General Authority in 2010 and then served as president of the St. George Temple. More recently, he served as Chairman of the Utah LDS Corrections Committee, overseeing the Church branches in Utah’s state prisons and county jails. He is the author of several books on gospel topics, including a biography of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, and books on marriage, the temple, and the Atonement, including The Broken Heart and Covenant Hearts.
About Sister Marie K. Hafen
Marie K. Hafen is a homemaker and teacher. She has a master’s degree in English from BYU and has taught Shakespeare, freshman writing, and Book of Mormon at BYU–Idaho, the University of Utah, and BYU. She was also on the Young Women General Board, the Board of Directors of the Deseret News, and was matron of the St. George Temple. She has edited and co-authored books with her husband, including The Contrite Spirit and, most recently, Faith Is Not Blind.
The Hafens have seven children and 46 grandchildren.
The Hafen's remarks will be broadcast live on BYU-Idaho Weekly Devotionals and BYU-Idaho Radio.