Mormon Church leader Christensen dies at 73

Afsha Bawany and Malia Spencer

Friday, July 25, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.

When Will Stoddard was first appointed a stake president in the Las Vegas area Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was inspired by the keynote speaker who spoke at the conferences where new leaders were trained.

Dr. Don Christensen, as a regional representative, "was one of the first authorities to preside at our conference," Stoddard, a friend of 11 years said, and he was impressive.

But Stoddard was even more impressed when he saw the surgeon, a chief of staff at Sunrise Hospital, reach out to others.

"He just had a special, gentle way of talking to people, giving them encouragement, giving them hope, showing them light at the end of the tunnel, encouraging them to keep going and don't give up," Stoddard said.

Christensen, president of the Las Vegas Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Wednesday. He was 73.

Church officials said Christensen suffered a massive heart attack while on a San Diego beach with his family. He was revived but later died at Tri-City Hospital. He never regained consciousness.

First Counselor to the President Frank Dixon will be fulfilling the duties of Las Vegas Temple President until a permanent replacement is called upon by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Christensen was a well respected doctor, starting at Sunrise in 1964 and serving as chief of surgery as well as chief of staff before retiring in 1996, Stoddard. But the status didn't go to his head, Stoddard said.

"Here's a guy who's very successful in his profession and very responsible in his community, yet would take time to go visit with people who were down and out and had problems and difficulties," he said.

"That's always touched me -- I've always respected him for doing that."

Prior to his calling in 2001 to the Las Vegas Temple Presidency Christensen was a regional representative for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was mission president in Arkansas for three years, bishop of the Francisco Park Ward in Las Vegas and stake president of the Paradise Stake, according to a church statement.

" It seems like he always had time to take care of his responsibilities in his occupation and take care of his family. He was known as a great father and a great church leader," Stoddard said.

Dixon, said Christensen was a devoted family man.

"He was very committed to his family," Dixon said. "That's why they were in San Diego on the beach, with the whole family."

Services for Christensen had not been planned this morning but they will be held once the family returns from California, Dixon said.

Christensen is survived by his wife Lora Dee Nelson and his six daughters: Paula Wood, Michele Hastings, Tammy Wood, Karla Busby, Terri Latimer and Connie Boman.