{{Short description|Canadian leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}} {{Infobox LDS biography | name = Merlin R. Lybbert | image = Merlin R. Lybbert.jpg | image_size = 150px | alt = Photograph of Merlin R. Lybbert | birth_name = Merlin Rex Lybbert | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1926|01|31}} | birth_place = Cardston, Alberta, Canada | death_date = {{death date and age|2001|07|06|1926|01|31}} | death_place = Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | position_or_quorum1 = Second Quorum of the Seventy | called_by1 = Ezra Taft Benson | start_date1 = {{start date|df=yes|1989|04|01}} | end_date1 = {{end date|df=yes|1994|10|01}} | end_reason1 = Honorably released}}
'''Merlin Rex Lybbert''' (31 January 1926 – 6 July 2001) was a Canadian church leader and lawyer who served as a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1989 to 1994. From 1992 to 1994, Lybbert was the thirteenth general president of the LDS Church's Sunday School.
Lybbert was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada to Charles Lester and Delvia Reed Lybbert.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-07-08 |title=Obituary: Merlin Rex Lybbert |url=https://www.deseret.com/2001/7/8/19625012/obituary-merlin-rex-lybbert/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref> His parents homesteaded in Cherry Grove, Alberta where their nearest neighbor was three miles away.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Elder Merlin R. Lybbert of the Second Quorum of the Seventy |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/eng/ensign/1989/05/news-of-the-church/elder-merlin-r-lybbert-of-the-second-quorum-of-the-seventy |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |language=en}}</ref>
In 1943, Lybbert met his future wife, Nola, at a party. During this time, he was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force. After completing his military service, Lybbert served as a missionary in the LDS Church's Eastern States Mission. Following his mission, he married Nola in the Cardston Alberta Temple in 1949.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-20 |title=Sister Nola C. Lybbert, wife of the late Elder Merlin R. Lybbert, dies at age 94 |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/11/19/23265633/nola-lybbert-merlin-obituary-canada-temple-cardston/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Church News |language=en}}</ref>
After marrying, the couple moved to Salt Lake City, where Lybbert attended the University of Utah. He received a bachelor's degree in law in 1953, and a Juris Doctor in 1955.<ref name=":3" />
== Legal career == Lybbert was an attorney for nearly 35 years before retiring to focus on church service. During his legal career, he served as counsel for the University of Utah Hospital for many years. He was an active member of the Utah State Bar Association and was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers. In 1981–82, he was honored as Utah Trial Lawyer of the Year. He also chaired the Advisory Committee to the Utah Supreme Court on the Rules of Professional Practice.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2001-07-08 |title=Elder Merlin R. Lybbert dies at 75 |url=https://www.deseret.com/2001/7/8/19595366/elder-merlin-r-lybbert-dies-at-75/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>
== LDS Church service == While in the Eastern States Mission as a young man, Lybbert served as a mission secretary for 16 months before being called as a counselor in the mission presidency. He later held various leadership roles in the LDS Church, including high councilor, bishop, stake president and regional representative.<ref name=":0" />
Lybbert served as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy from 1 April 1989 to 1 October 1994. During his tenure as a general authority, Lybbert spoke in the April 1990 and April 1994 general conferences and held several assignments, including president and second counselor in the Asia Area presidency.<ref name=":0" />
In May 1992, Lybbert and Monte Brough traveled to Mongolia to evaluate the possibility of the LDS Church providing humanitarian assistance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-01-29 |title=Country information: Mongolia |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2010/1/29/23229037/country-information-mongolia/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Church News |language=en}}</ref> During their visit, they made diplomatic visits to government and educational officials.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hyer |first=Paul |date=2007 |title=The Development in Mongolia of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43193433 |journal=Mongolian Studies |volume=29 |pages=82 |issn=0190-3667}}</ref>
Lybbert served as president of the Cardston Alberta Temple from 1994 to 1997.<ref name=":0" />
== Personal life == Lybbert and his wife, Nola, had six children,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2001-07-14 |title=Elder Lybbert's life a 'model of diligence' |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2001/7/14/23243986/elder-lybberts-life-a-model-of-diligence/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Church News |language=en}}</ref> including a daughter, Ruth, who married Dale G. Renlund, who later became a member of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.<ref name=":1" />
== Death == Lybbert died in Salt Lake City, Utah on 6 July 2001,<ref name=":0" /> following a brief illness.<ref name=":2" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links==
{{LDSsundayschool}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lybbert, Merlin R.}} Category:1926 births Category:2001 deaths Category:Canadian general authorities (LDS Church) Category:Canadian Mormon missionaries in the United States Category:Members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Category:General presidents of the Sunday School (LDS Church) Category:People from Cardston Category:Temple presidents and matrons (LDS Church) Category:Regional representatives of the Twelve Category:20th-century Mormon missionaries Category:Canadian lawyers Category:University of Utah alumni