The son of Orson and Janice Rawson, Glenn Jay Rawson joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of eighteen. He later served as a missionary in the Iowa Des Moines Mission. Upon returning, he enrolled at Brigham Young University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in wildlife and range science.He began working for the Church Educational System as a seminary and institute teacher. Along the way, he earned a master's degree in educational administration from Idaho State University. He is currently working on a PhD in political science and constitutional law.
Glenn was a frequent speaker at various Especially For Youth sessions. He is best known for being a radio and television personality and as:
- the voice of the inspirational stories on the Sounds of Sunday program, after being recruited by a fellow ward member Carl Watkins in 1995 to share stories on a KLCE radio program (syndication of this program began in 2005 on various radio stations),
- the writer, producer, and host of television's The Joseph Smith Papers, a weekly television documentary on the life of Joseph Smith, and
- the writer, producer, and host of television's History of the Saints, a TV series featuring interviews with some of the most informed scholars presenting the latest in cutting-edge research.
Glenn was born and raised in Idaho and grew up on a ranch; his love of the outdoors carries to this day. It isn't unusual to find him outside in his free time, running, bird watching, hiking, or just taking a deep breath. Professionally, he has been a teacher for nearly thirty years, a career that brought him to telling stories. He borrowed his philosophy for telling stories from Abraham Lincoln, who said, “They say I tell a great many stories. I reckon I do, but I have learned from long experience that plain people . . . are more easily influenced through the medium of a broad and humorous illustration than in any other way.”
Glenn loves people, especially his family. Glenn and his wife, the former Debra Hemsley, have seven children and two grandchildren. They live in Idaho.