Clark & Laurel Christian
Clark Christian was born in St. George, Utah. he served a 2 ½ year mission to Germany from 1962 to 1965 and married Laurel Webb in 1965. He and his wife are the parents of 6 children, 30 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. Following Clark’s mission, he attended BYU and received his bachelor’s degree in history. In 1965 he began teaching Seminary in the CES program. The last 11 years were in Boston, MA, where Clark served as the Institute Director. All total he taught Seminary and Institute of Religion for 40 years. He retired from the CES program in 2005. He and his wife served two missions to Germany from 2006-2011.
In 1972 Clark received his Master’s degree from BYU in history and German. In 1974 he received his PhD degree from BYU in American History, western US History, and LDS Chruch history. Clark taught at the BYU Jerusalem Center in 1991, 1994, 1997, and 1999. He taught at the Joseph Smith Academy in Nauvoo for BYU in 2005 and 2006. Beginning in 1994, and over the next 30 years he and his wife have directed tours to Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Greece, and Rome.
The Clark Christian family began with the marriage of Clark and Laurel Webb on June 23, 1965. They met in the library while both were attending Dixie College. When he left on his mission to Bavaria, Germany, Laurel went to BYU where she waited and dated and managed to get a degree in Elementary Education and begin teaching by the time Clark got home. Clark attended BYU, eventually getting his PhD in Early American History and Church History.
Everyone is welcome at their home. They have three girls and three boys: Jan, who graduated from BYU, went on a mission to Minnesota, and got married last summer: Leslie, who graduated from Southern Utah University, got married two summers ago, and just presented them with their first granddaughter, born on Clark’s birthday: Michael, who just returned from the Chile Santiago North Mission and married Jeneal in March, is here with them. As are Steven, who just graduated from high school, played football, and took state in the javelin; Mark, who is a football player and favorite McDonald’s worker, and will be a senior this fall; and Kimberly, who is 13 and into track and gymnastics. They have also had three Indian placement students and one Japanese student.
The Christians love camping, fishing, hiking, and jumping in their camper and driving back East, exploring American and Church history sites, and driving to Mexico City.