He served as Presiding Bishop longer than any other person in the history of the LDS Church.

[2] Hunter converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1840, served as bishop of the Nauvoo 5th Ward from 1844 to 1846, and made significant financial contributions to the early church.

Hunter was elected to the Utah Territorial Assembly on November 15, 1851, and served one term.

Young and Heber C. Kimball served as Hunter's informal counselors for more than five years until Hunter formally called Leonard W. Hardy and Jesse Carter Little to these positions.

As ex officio president of the church's Aaronic priesthood, Hunter laid the southwest cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 1853.