Gary Jerome Coleman (born September 18, 1941) has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1992. Coleman was born in Wenatchee, Washington. He was raised a Roman Catholic in the Diocese of Spokane. As a student at Washington State University (WSU), Coleman was introduced to the LDS Church by John M. Madsen and Judith Renee England. At age 21, Coleman was baptized into the LDS Church by Madsen, and then married England. After graduating from WSU, Coleman went on the receive master's and doctorate degrees from Brigham Young University (BYU). LDS Church service Prior to his call as a general authority, Coleman was an instructor in the Church Educational System. At the time of his call as a general authority he was the assistant director of the Institute of Religion in Ogden, Utah, adjacent to Weber State University. Coleman has served in the church as a bishop and as a counselor to both stake and mission presidents. He also served as president of the California Arcadia Mission. Coleman was called as a general authority and member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy in 1992. He was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1997. On October 1, 2011, Coleman was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and designated as an emeritus general authority at the church's general conference. In 2012, Coleman was the keynote speaker at Brigham Young University's 41st Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium on the Scriptures. Bibliography The Journey of Conversion: A Renewed Invitation to Come Unto Christ Gary J. Coleman (Deseret Book Co, September 1, 2003, ) Yes, Mormons Are Christians Gary J. Coleman (Legends Library, 2017, ) See also List of general authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2008 Deseret Morning News Church Almanac (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2007) p. 43 References External links General Authorities and General Officers: Elder Gary J. Coleman Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Gary J. Coleman 1941 births 20th-century Mormon missionaries American Mormon missionaries in the United States Brigham Young University alumni Church Educational System instructors Converts to Mormonism from Roman Catholicism Living people Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Mission presidents (LDS Church) Washington State University alumni American general authorities (LDS Church) People from Wenatchee, Washington