This biographical sketch is adapted from the "News
of the Church: Elder Bruce D. Porter of the Seventy" published in the Ensign
for May 1995 on the occasion of Elder Porter being called to the Second
Quorum of the Seventy.
“When I was a young man,” says Elder Bruce D. Porter,
“I often went home teaching with my father. We sometimes had to travel
quite a distance, so we had a lot of time to talk. Our conversations about
the gospel had a big impact on me.” Elder Porter, who was born 18 September
1952 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, credits his parents for instilling in
him the beginnings of his testimony.
He saw his testimony deepen as a missionary in the
Germany Duesseldorf Mission. “Both of my mission presidents served in the
German army during World War II,” explains Elder Porter. “One was a prisoner
of war in Russia. I was so impressed by
their experiences that I decided to study Russian affairs when I returned
home.”
Home at that time was Brigham Young University, where
he attended as a presidential scholar. There, in a religion class, he met
Susan Elizabeth Holland. The two were married in the Washington Temple
2 February 1977.
“From the day we were married,” says Sister Porter,
“I was his first priority in life, after the Lord, and because of that
we enjoy a close companionship and friendship.”
His commitment to the Lord became clear during his
years of Church service as a branch president in Germany, a bishop in Virginia,
and, until recently, as a counselor in a stake presidency at BYU.
After spending a summer living in Russia as an exchange
student, Brother Porter attended Harvard University, where he received
a doctoral degree in political science emphasizing Russian affairs. He
has worked for the federal government on the United States Senate Armed
Services Committee and as executive director of the Board for International
Broadcasting.
He and his wife recently moved with their four children
to Provo, Utah, where he accepted a position at BYU as an associate professor
specializing in Russian politics.
Reflecting on his call to bear record of the Lord’s
name in all the world, Elder Porter says, “The very heart of my testimony
is the knowledge I have that Jesus Christ lives and is our Savior.”
In April of 2003, Elder Porter was released from the Second Quorum of the Seventy, and called into the First Quorum. This indicates that he is likely to serve until he reaches the age of seventy. At this writing, he continues to serve in the First Quorum.
