Durrant was born and raised in American Fork, Utah. He was educated at Brigham Young University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in art, his master’s degree in educational administration, and his EdD degree in educational administration.

He taught Seminary in Brigham City and helped write curriculum in Navajo. He taught religion at BYU and worked in several capacities for the Church Educational System, including teacher at the Orem, Utah Institute of Religion and religion professor at BYU. He also served as director of Priesthood Genealogy for the Church and worked on the Family Home Evening improvement program. He was also a senior consultant at the Covey Leadership Center.

He never considered himself scholarly or able to excel in teaching Church doctrine, but his gift for inspiring and encouraging others with his humor is beloved. He was named professor of the year at BYU and students voted him as one of the fifteen most influential people at the university. He is the author or co-author of more than fifty books and is a sought-after speaker. His titles include Love at Home, Starring Father; The Art of Raising Parents: A Young Person’s Guide; My Best Day So Far; Family History for the Clueless; Don’t Forget the Star; and 100 Character Traits of the Whole-Hearted Missionary.

Although he majored in art in college, he never had time for it until he was retired and his children were raised. He began working on watercolors and sent out prints of his “Houses of the Lord” with his Christmas cards.

Durrant presided over the Kentucky Tennessee Mission from 1972 to 1975 and over the Provo Missionary Training Center. He served a mission in the Nauvoo Temple. He also served a Church Educational System mission to Toronto, Canada.

He married Marilyn Burnham in 1956 and they had eight children, including Devin G. Durrant, a former professional basketball player who served in the Sunday School general presidency. She died in 2011. He married Susan Easton Black in 2013