Bishop H. David Burton was called to be the Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 27 December 1995, and was sustained at General Conference on 6 April 1996. He previously served for three years as the first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, having been sustained 3 October 1992. He had also served for 14 years as secretary to the Presiding Bishopric and as assistant Church budget officer for a year. Prior to Church employment he worked for Kennecott Copper Corporation and the Utah State Tax Commission.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Utah, and a master of business administration degree from the University of Michigan.
Bishop Burton has served in the Church as a missionary in Australia, bishop, bishop's counselor, stake high councilor, stake president and temple sealer. A native of Salt Lake City, he and his wife, Barbara Matheson Burton, are the parents of five children.