President Henry B. Eyring was born in Princeton, New Jersey, on 31 May 1933. He has served the Church as a regional representative, a member of the general Sunday School board, and a bishop. He was named First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 3 February 2008. Previously, he had served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to President Gordon B. Hinckley since 6 October 2007. He was named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church on 1 April 1995, having previously served as a member of the Seventy since 3 October 1992.

President Eyring previously served as First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from April 1985 to September 1992 and as Commissioner of the Church Educational System from September 1980 to April 1985 and also September 1992 to January 2005.

President Eyring was president of Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, from 1971 to 1977. He was on the faculty at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University from 1962 to 1971.

He holds a BS in physics from the University of Utah and master of business administration and doctor of business administration degrees from Harvard University.

President Eyring is married to the former Kathleen Johnson, and they are the parents of four sons and two daughters.