President James E. Faust Passes Away [LDS]

KSL.com ^ | 08/10/07 | AP/Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[Reaganesque]

(KSL News) President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died earlier today.

President Faust passed away at 12:20 this morning surrounded by family at his house. The cause is age-related. He was 87 years old.

"I have always had a deep respect for President Faust and his tremendous example of selfless service and caring for his community and the world," Gov. Jon Huntsman said. "He left a legacy of public service and thoughtfulness to which we can all aspire."

President Faust was set apart as second counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1995 after being an apostle for 16 years.

He was an attorney by profession. In 1948 he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor's and Juris Doctor degree. He began the practice of law in Salt Lake City and continued until his appointment as a general authority of the Church in 1972. He was an advisor to the American Bar Journal, and president of the Utah Bar Association from 1962 to 1963.

President Faust was a representative in the Utah Legislature, where he served as chairman of the House liquor investigation committee. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

President John F. Kennedy appointed him to the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights in 1962.

He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil.

In 1998 President Faust received a Brazilian national citizenship award. That honor is given only to a select few world leaders. He was awarded honorary citizenship of the city of Sao Paulo. That is something he was very proud of, because he loved the people of Brazil, had fond memories of his time there and traveled there often.

He was born July 31, 1920 in Delta, Utah.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, five children, 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. President Faust would often mention his wife in his addresses to the church at large and to women of the church.

Known as a kind, gracious man, his colleagues say he never rushed to judgment and always thought before he spoke. They remember that he was always nice to be around and had a charming sense of humor.

"I had the great honor of knowing President Faust fairly well and I have lost a dear friend," said Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah.

Bruce Olsen, managing director of Church Public Affairs, said this morning that President Faust's "gentle manner and depth of knowledge, which was an important part of his ministry for nearly 35 years, will be missed."

"He was a true Christian who spoke and wrote with wit and wisdom," Olsen said. "Many members of the Church loved his unique way of teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ at General Conference."

Olsen said that Church members around the world are calling to extend to President Faust's family their heartfelt condolences.

People who talked with KSL Newsradio this morning at Temple Square say they were stunned to hear the news.

"Even though I new President Faust was ill, I wasn't prepared for him passing away."

"It's just a great shock. Those people just are not replaceable."

President Faust had been ailing for a couple of weeks.

His passing leaves a vacancy in the church's First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that will need to be filled at some point in time.

His most recent church assignments include vice chairman of the Church Board of Education; the board of trustees of Brigham Young University; the Welfare Services Executive Committee; and Deseret Management Corporation.

(The Associated Press and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contributed to this story)

[Reaganesque]

I met Elder Faust many years ago. He was an impressive man then as he was for the majority of his life. He will be missed.

[Reaganesque]

Ping!

[wideawake]

Hinckley is the longest-lived President of the LDS to date, I believe.

Monson and not Faust was the presumed successor, correct?

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Dan(9698)]

Monson and not Faust was the presumed successor, correct?

President Monson is the president of the Twelve Apostles, and so probably will be the successor to President Hinkley.

Another will be called to be the Second Councilor. They may be from the Twelve Apostles, but may not be.

[asparagus]

I couldn’t agree more. He was a wonderful man who provided much-needed optimism and cheer to our General Conferences. He has been so frail recently.

[TChris]

Wow. I knew he was having increasing health problems, but I didn't think he'd go quite that fast.

His recent address in General Conference about compassion was one of the most moving sermons on the subject I have ever heard.

I also had the pleasure of being literally at his feet for the dedication of the Rock Creek pioneer history site on South Pass, Wyoming.

I will miss Elder Faust.

[hunter112]

My condolences to my Mormon FReeper friends here. I recall being in Utah when Pope John Paul II died, and even though I was no longer Catholic, I appreciated the outpouring of respect for him from the LDS church and its’ members.

[sevenbak]

It was expected. He’s been on oxygen since last Thursday, and the family expected him to pass last weekend. He will be sorely missed!

[JCEccles]

Another will be called to be the Second Councilor. They may be from the Twelve Apostles, but may not be.

It might not even be a current general authority--although that is highly unlikely.

When J. Reuben Clark was called into the First Presidency he was serving as a ward gospel doctrine teacher in Salt Lake City.

But then Clark was a highly accomplished attorney and diplomat, having served as Coolidge's Undersecretary of State (where he authored the landmark Clark Memorandum which more precisely and narrowly defined the Monroe Doctrine) and ambassador to Mexico.

Faust was a good, down-to-earth, gracious, and eminently decent man. He will be missed.

[JCEccles]

Thank you, hunter112, for your gracious note.

[VegasBaby]

I was sad to hear this news this morning. President Faust was one of those men who spoke softly, but was a spiritual giant in my eyes. I will miss him so much, but I know that he is continuing to do the Lord’s work.

[Grig]

Prayers for his family.

[Rameumptom]

Funeral services from lds.org newsrooom

SALT LAKE CITY 10 August 2007 Funeral services for President James E. Faust of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square on Tuesday, 14 August 2007, at 12:00 noon. The funeral will be open to the public.

Tabernacle doors will open at 11:00 a.m. Those wishing to attend should be in their seats by 11:30 a.m. Overflow seating will be available in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square and in the Conference Center.

A private burial service will take place at a local Salt Lake City cemetery following the funeral. The funeral services will be broadcast live on BYUTV and will be available on the Church satellite system.

There will be no public viewing, but expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to condolences@ldschurch.org or mailed to Church headquarters at 47 East South Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150.

The Faust family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church Missionary Fund or to the Perpetual Education Fund. Donations can be made at www.lds.org/Faust.

[Rameumptom]

Pres. Faust's talks from April 2007 General Conference

Salt Lake Tabernacle Rededication

Message to My Grandsons

The Healing Power of Forgiveness