John Max Madsen (born April 24, 1939) is a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has been a general authority since 1992. Madsen's father, Louis L. Madsen, was an employee of the US Department of Agriculture, at the time of his birth. When he was six his family moved to Logan, Utah where his father was a professor at and later present of Utah State University. Madsen was later raised in Pullman, Washington. He served as a missionary in the North Central State Mission from 1959-1961. He earned his bachelor's degree at Washington State University, majoring in zoology and minoring in chemistry.