Christensen then became an institute director for the Church Educational System (CES), including at the University of Utah for a time.

[3] For a few months in 1970, Christensen served as president of the LDS Church's mission headquartered in Mexico City.

[4] Christensen was an associate commissioner in CES from 1970 to 1985, interrupted by a four-year term as president of the LDS Church's Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.

One major development he oversaw was recruiting local church members to lead the program in most countries.

In 1989, Christensen was called as a general authority in the LDS Church where, among other assignments, he served in the Presidency of the Seventy.