President James E. Faust passed away yesterday morning, totally surrounded by his family. I'm sure you all know this already, but I thought I'd say a few things about the man. He's one of my favorite general authorities and every time he'd speak, I'd get this warm fuzzy feeling come over me, kind of like the feeling you get when you're around a sweet grandpa.
He was 87 years old when he died, and he lived quite a life. Those of you familiar with Utah, he was born in Delta, and then moved to Salt Lake City before high school where he attended Granite High. He went to the University of Utah and his education there was interrupted twice, once for a mission to Brazil, and the other time for WWII. On my birthday in 1943 (exactly 30 years before I was born) he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth, and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.
He was a lawyer, and when I hear him speak, I can totally tell. He's eloquent and pointed, and his words always sink to a deep place in my soul.
He was elected President of the Utah Bar Association, and served there for 1 year where they after awarded him the Distinguished Lawyer Emeritus Award in 1996. He also served in the House of Representatives for the 28th Utah State Legislature as a Democrat for Utah's eight district...which we will forgive him for ;)
President Faust was appointed by JFK later, to the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights and Racial Unrest, and was an adviser for the American Bar Journal, as well.
At the early age of 28, he was made a bishop, and he later went on to serve on a stake high council, as stake president, and as a Regional Rep of the 12 Apostles. He was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in 1972, and was there til 1976 when he was placed in the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. He was the one who dedicated the Sao Paulo Brazil temple, where he was also made an honorary citizen of Brazil, and was given a national Brazilian citizenship award for his work and interest in Brazil as well as his deep proficiency in the Portuguese language.
President Faust was accepted as a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in 1978, after the death of Delbert L. Stapley, and he was set apart as the 2nd Counselor of the First Presidency on March 12th, 1995.
He and his wife raised 5 kids and at the time of his death, they had 25 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
President Faust had such a commanding way about him, and everytime he'd get up to speak at General Conference, the spirit would permeate my soul and I'd almost be frozen while he spoke. One of the things I repeat in my mind to myself on nearly a daily basis sometimes is something I read about 3 years ago when I was online preparing a talk about adversity. It was said by President Faust in 1979 I believe:
"There is divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless."
What strength he offers in that phrase. If I consider myself in the refining phase of life, it doesn't seem like such a burden to have adversity in my life. One day, because of everything I/we/you've gone through, we will be like a diamond; clear, pure and sparkling with only tiny scars because of our journey.
What a cool guy...I'm sad he's gone, but I'm sure the Lord is happy to have him on the other side. He will be missed!
31 comments:
What a cute man! I was able to have him speak to us at our stake conference when we were living up at the UofU. He was in our stake and he just popped in to speak to us without us even knowing. He said some of the sweetest things about children. He could hear all the babies crying and the children talking in there not church voices and he said something like.... "Ah...the sounds of those sweet children are music to my ears".
He'll be missed.
You can blame his being a Democrat on being a Lawyer ;). Also remember that Utah Mormon Democrats and are technically Republicans. You should have heard the debate between our Gov's. Both LDS and every question asked was agreed on both sides. REAL interesting debate :)
Does anyone remember when he came and spoke to us (our stake I guess?) and it took place in the Cheyenne High School gym? I just remember the air being so still and reverent when he walked in. It was before I was in high school so maybe the early 90's.
Thanks for the recap on his life. It was good to read.
I remember you telling me about that Eliza! I was wondering who said that, I love him! Oh and about the Mormon Dem's being Republicans...I know. It makes me laugh to hear LDS Democrats argue with LDS Repubs because there are really no real differences if you go by the values we have in our faith combined with the issues of the day. I would like to watch one of your debates up there, what's the point anyway?
Stacey, I think I remember that! I think Cheyenne was brand new. Weird! Oh and there was so much more I could have said about him in this lil bio, but I didn't wanna practice my essay writing skills on y'all! ;)
Also, I was at the Distribution Center today getting new g's and bought a picture of the prophet and Monson and Faust as I'm sure they won't be around much longer.
It was a Senior Year Stacey!!! or is this someone younger accidently writing under Stacey's name.
He is so sweet! I feel the same way about him!
Oh yea. I made a comment on your anniversary post. Maybe it will inspire you guys.
No way it was our senior year. But when I compare my pregnant memory to the "All Mighty Oblad Memory"..... fine it was our senior year.
Wow,I didn't know that about Pres. Faust. I am so grateful that we have the Gospel in our lives that's for sure. What a sweet man with an amazing life. As wonderful as he IS and WAS I have a connection to Pres. Monson. I could listen to him talk FOREVER!!! He IS and will be my forever favorite! My dream is to get a hug from him.I love that man and so wish I could meet him!
It had to have been our senior year because I took a picture with him and of him with my, then new technology, ADVANTIX photograph machine. I got that for my early graduation present. I remember because I used the nifty panorama setting to take a picture around the whole gym so when I taped them together I could re-create the experience, save the spirt. That means it was the end of our Senior Year. Plus I faintly remember sitting with you. There is no way you would have sat with me when Cheyenne was new...Dale, Brian, lil' James, and Capitan Lego Stamp (CLS) strongly disliked my guts.
I wish my name was Capt. Lego Stamp...
...oh and Tiff, I ADORE Monson!
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
You make me laugh.
(To make you feel better, Little James didn't like ANY male around me. She was very protective).
If you come down to Vegas for the reunion remind me to tell you something about Jamie. I don't want to put it out there in the public eye.
Awesome memory Tay! Wow,you'll be a good lawyer!
Hey Tay-do you remember the time you put your phone# up on a sign in the gym and Pat Hayden made you take in down? That was our senior yr too.
????? I never get anything on Jamie....
1-it's not bad
2-it's really not about Jamie, it's more about me and something I remembered about Jamie from back in the day
Plus some might have wonderd... Why, in a previous blog was Kyle was not mentioned? That is because Kyle had a heart of gold, glasses that could see through my rough edges, and what I could become. Kyle always loved me, eventhough I almost killed him and Bri Bri while taking them to FAO Schwartz in the "Silver Bullet" and was sideswiped. Plus I think I said Hell and startled them both. Oh the innocence of the youth.
Yes tiff that was the senior year. It was during the Chet-Town v. Craparron basketball game to raise money for Coach Levin's son. I wonder how he is doing? I believe Levin works at Centennial
Ahh, the Oblad memory. I thought it was our senior year too.
Talking about old memeories makes me a little grateful Terry isn't comin to the Reunion....he would not have fun! I will miss him but I bet he's glad he won't have to suffer :)
Ooooh, Kevin is so happy. When we have family get togethers he just sits in a corner cause all we do is 'remember whens'. He loves that we have Mike now. They can sit together and talk about how stupid we are. Mike is Kevin's friend.
Kevin makes it so Mike isn't so scared of the noisy girls. They secretly love it though...they just can't get a word in edgewise to admit it, I figure!
so are you guys saying that Curtis is one of the noisy girls?
I think Curtis is definately more social than Kevin. We haven't hung out with the three guys for...have they ever???
Wait, did they at E and B's wedding last summer?
We weren't there for the wedding. Does Kevin need a shot vodka or something to relax him next time? It hides well in the guac I make....can't taste a thing.
oh...I hate that I posted that in this post. I was kidding about the vodka...I'll use coke!
Too bad Kev hates guac! Where the heck did he come from, right? More for me! See, I don't think all three of them have ever been together. Also, Kev just saves it for totally random moments. I think your mom sees it alot, but it is never when a lot of people are around. He got tagged with the nickname "quiet boy" when I met him. It definately still applies at times.
k...we must go out and us girlies (including curtis) must say nothing. k nevermind that will never happen.
It will if things keep going the way they are going...
*insert hint of future events*
Well said.
Post a Comment