Man of Music and Faith Called to Bless Others

For one Forney resident, a Church responsibility will change his life forever. Newly called Patriarch David B. Larsen is now serving in the Forney Stake for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The calling of a patriarch is to give special patriarchal blessings to members of the Church. Patriarchs usually serve in this position for the rest of their lives.

Patriarch Larsen’s journey to this sacred calling has been filled with personal experiences that reflect his spirituality, his love for his family, and his commitment to service.

Roots in Utah and the Joy of Service 

Patriarch Larsen was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. After attending Granite High School, he went on to study at the University of Utah, where he earned degrees in psychology and sociology. He served a mission in Munich, Germany, which left a lasting impact on his faith.

After returning from his mission, he met his wife Judy, who was working for the Church in the finance department. Their connection was immediate, and after a year of dating, they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Together, they embarked on a beautiful journey of faith and family.

A Blessed Family 

Patriarch Larsen and Sister Larsen’s path to parenthood wasn’t without challenges. 

“We waited eight long years before we were blessed with our first child. It was a time of patience and prayer, but when our daughter arrived, it felt like a miracle,” he reflects.

Their family continued to grow, and today, they are the proud parents of five children and eleven grandchildren, with another grandchild on the way. They moved to the Dallas area over 40 years ago and have made it their home.

A Passion for Art and Collecting

The Larsens have a great passion for collecting books and art. Patriarch Larsen’s interest began during his mission when he started collecting rare LDS books, and it has grown ever since. When he married Sister Larsen, they saw a painting they loved while they were visiting Liberty Jail. They contacted the artist, Gary Kapp, and ended up commissioning him to paint many religious paintings for them over the years, some of which even included depictions of the Larsen family. In fact, one of these paintings was featured as the cover of the 2024 Come, Follow Me manual, and several of the Larsen family members are represented in it.

Songs of the Heart

Patriarch Larsen and the artist Gary Kapp became friends through their love of art. Brother Kapp once mentioned that his sister would be visiting the Dallas area and asked if she could stay with the Larsens.

They agreed, and Patriarch Larsen recalls, “I asked ‘what’s her name?’ and Brother Kapp said ‘Well, you may have heard of her. It’s Janice Kapp Perry.’”

Janice Kapp Perry is a renowned composer and songwriter, best known for her contributions to sacred music in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Patriarch Larsen and Sister Perry began working together to write hymns for the Church, with Patriarch Larsen as the lyricist and Sister Perry as the composer. Together, they have co-authored hundreds of hymns for the Church and their collaborations have greatly enhanced the Church’s musical and spiritual heritage.

Patriarch Larsen and Sister Perry enjoy writing hymns based on General Conference talks, which serve as another beautiful witness to the messages shared by prophets, apostles, and leaders of the Church.

They have continued this labor of love, and for President Russell M. Nelson’s 100th birthday, they even gifted him with a compilation of hymns they wrote from all of his General Conference addresses since becoming President of the Church.

When asked what advice he would give to youth who are trying to discover or nurture their own talents, Patriarch Larsen says, “Don’t limit yourself. Sister Perry didn’t start writing music until she was 40. I didn’t start writing lyrics until I was 40.”

A Lifetime Calling 

Although he has been in Church leadership for many years, Patriarch Larsen recognizes that being called as a stake patriarch is a unique experience.

“It’s a sobering thought that a patriarch is meant to offer prophetic utterances of what can be in a person’s life,” he says. “This is the blessing they’re going to be reading for the rest of their life.”

It is clear that Patriarch Larsen takes that responsibility seriously and he has spent his life honing his ability to receive and recognize revelation from the Lord. And while most callings in the Church last no more than a few years, this is a lifetime calling for Patriarch Larsen. The Forney Stake is blessed to have him.

A Legacy of Faith

Patriarch Larsen has experienced the hand of the Lord in his life and we are grateful for his example. We look forward to the many blessings he will bring into our lives in his new role as Forney Stake Patriarch.

To learn more about the role of a patriarch, please click here.