[citation needed] At one point, Madsen was an instructor at the LDS Institute of Religion in Berkeley, California.

This—as well as the home where Madsen had lived previously—were in the Avenues area of Salt Lake City.

After his marriage and the start of his academic career, he was called in 1961 to serve as president of the New England Mission.

While at BYU, Madsen held the Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding for over 20 years.

[11] Madsen most recently served in the LDS Church as the patriarch of the Provo, Utah, Sharon East Stake.