Richard N. Holzapfel

Richard Charles Neitzel Holzapfel (born 1954) is an American professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University (BYU) and an author on topics related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Western and Utah History, and the New Testament.

Holzapfel was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, and moved regularly as a child, due to his father's naval career. In addition to his native state, his family resided in California, Hawaii, and Maine. He attended Castle Park High School (Chula Vista, California) and graduated from York High School (York, Maine) in 1972. Holzapfel served from 1973 to 1975 as a missionary for the LDS Church in Italy and Switzerland.

Holzapfel attended BYU, Hebrew Union College, and the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine), receiving B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees respectively, with an emphases in Middle Eastern Studies, Jewish History, Ancient History, American History, and Nineteenth Century American Religious History.

Holzapfel met Jeni Carol Broberg at BYU, and they were married in 1978. A year later their first child, Nate, was born and Holzapfel moved the family to California to pursue graduates studies, completing his doctorate at UC Irvine. While at UC Irvine, he simultaneously worked for the LDS Church's seminary and institute program. His first book, Old Mormon Nauvoo 1839-1846 was released in 1990. He is the author of the state history textbook used in Utah public schools, Utah: A Journey of Discovery.

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