M.J. Christensen was born in Milford, Utah around 1896. He started out as a railroad watch inspector, out of Milford, before relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada and opening his own jewelry business and store. He considers himself a conservative Democrat and states that he led an active political life in Nevada, where he was head of the Merchant’s Bureau in Las Vegas. From there, he went on to become president of the Chamber of Commerce and later, the president of the Better Business Bureau. He also was an assemblyman for eight years and serving for four years as a senator in the state of Nevada.