Garr was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. As a young man, Garr served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Finland. Garr married Cherie Burns in the Salt Lake Temple on November 20, 1967. They would have five children.

In the LDS Church, Garr has served as a bishop, counselor to a stake president, member of a stake high council and branch president among other callings. He is currently a member of the Church Correlation Committee.

Late in his life Garr took up running and he has completed five marathons since turning sixty.

Education

Garr received a bachelors degree in history from Weber State University, a master's degree in history from Utah State University, and a Ph.D. in American history, minoring in LDS Church history, from BYU in 1986.

Career

Garr began his career with the Church Educational System (CES) as a seminary teacher at Roy High School in Roy, Utah. He later served as director of the Institutes of Religion in Rochester, New York, Boulder, Colorado and Tallahassee, Florida. After 21 years with CES, Garr joined the BYU faculty in 1991. He taught at the BYU Jerusalem Center in Israel during 1996—97 and has been chair of the Department of Church History and Doctrine.