James E. Faust

James E. Faust
Second Counselor in the First Presidency
March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12)  August 10, 2007 (2007-08-10)
Predecessor Thomas S. Monson
Successor Henry B. Eyring
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
September 30, 1978 (1978-09-30)  March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12)
End reason Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency
LDS Church Apostle
October 1, 1978 (1978-10-01)  August 10, 2007 (2007-08-10)
Reason Death of Delbert L. Stapley
Reorganization
at end of term
Quentin L. Cook ordained; Henry B. Eyring added to First Presidency
Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
October 1, 1976 (1976-10-01)  September 30, 1978 (1978-09-30)
End reason Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
First Quorum of the Seventy
October 1, 1976 (1976-10-01)  September 30, 1978 (1978-09-30)
End reason Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 6, 1972 (1972-10-06)  October 1, 1976 (1976-10-01)
End reason Position abolished
Personal details
Born James Esdras Faust
(1920-07-31)July 31, 1920
Delta, Utah, United States
Died August 10, 2007(2007-08-10) (aged 87)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting place Holladay Memorial Park
40°39′44″N 111°49′51″W / 40.6622°N 111.8308°W / 40.6622; -111.8308 (Holladay Memorial Park)
Spouse(s) Ruth Wright
Children James H. Faust
Janna R. Coombs
Marcus G. Faust
Lisa A. Smith
Robert P. Faust
Parents George A. Faust
Amy Finlinson
Signature  
Signature of James E. Faust

James Esdras Faust (July 31, 1920 August 10, 2007) was an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician. Faust was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1995 until his death, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35 years.

Early life

Faust was born to George A. Faust and Amy Finlinson in Delta, Utah.[1] As a child, he lived in this rural area. His family moved to the southern part of the Salt Lake Valley before he reached high school age. He attended Granite High School in Salt Lake City,[1] where he won awards for track and a letter for football. He later attended the University of Utah, where he ran the 440-yard and mile relay. His college education was delayed twice. First, when he served as a missionary for the LDS Church in southern Brazil from 1939 to 1942.[1] Then later when he served during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps where he was a First Lieutenant at the time of discharge.[1]

On April 22, 1943, Faust married Ruth Wright, whom he had met at Granite High School. The wedding took place during a short leave during his military service, and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.[1]

Career

Faust graduated from the University of Utah in 1948 with a B.A. and Juris Doctor. After graduation, he worked in a law firm in Salt Lake City.

In 1962, he was elected president of the Utah Bar Association, where he served for one year. The same association awarded him its Distinguished Lawyer Emeritus Award in 1996. During the 1960s, he was named to the Utah Legislative Study Committee and later to the Utah Constitutional Revision Commission.[2]

Faust served in the House of Representatives for the 28th Utah State Legislature (1949) as a Democrat for Utah's eighth district. He also served as chairman of the Utah State Democratic Party and helped manage a campaign for Senator Frank Moss.[3] In 1996, Faust was awarded with the Minuteman Award by the Utah National Guard.[4]

Faust was appointed by U.S. President John F. Kennedy to the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights.[5] He was also an advisor to the American Bar Journal.[5]

He was made an honorary citizen of São Paulo, Brazil and received a national Brazilian citizenship award.[5]

Church service

In 1949, at the age of 28, Faust became a bishop in the LDS Church.[1] He later served on a stake high council, as stake president, and a regional representative.[1]

Faust was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 6, 1972 and served in that capacity until October 1, 1976.[1] At that time, the position was eliminated and he entered the First Quorum of the Seventy. In 1975, he presided over the Brazil area of the church. During his tenure, the São Paulo Brazil Temple was announced.

Before the 1978 revelation reversing the priesthood ban for men of African descent, Faust was head of the church's International Mission, with jurisdiction for Africa. Spencer W. Kimball privately consulted with Faust several times leading up to the change in policy.[6]

Faust was accepted by common consent as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on September 30, 1978,[1] and ordained an apostle on October 1, filling the vacancy created by the death of Delbert L. Stapley. He served in the Quorum until being set apart as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to church president Gordon B. Hinckley on March 12, 1995.[1] He remained in that position until his death on August 10, 2007.[7] Faust, together with Hinckley and First Counselor Thomas S. Monson, constituted the longest continuous serving First Presidency in the history of the LDS Church.

Family and death

Faust and his wife, Ruth, raised five children: James Hamilton Faust, Janna R. Coombs, Marcus G. Faust, Lisa A. Smith, and Robert P. Faust. At the time of his death, they had 25 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.[5] He died on August 10, 2007, at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, of causes incident to age. Following a funeral service in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, he was buried in the Holladay Memorial Park in Holladay, Utah. Ruth Wright Faust died February 10, 2008, at the age of 86.

Published works

Hymns

James E. Faust co-wrote the words to the LDS hymn "This is the Christ".[8][9]

James E. Faust also authored a book; "In the Strength of the Lord: The Life and Teachings of James E. Faust" Hardcover – October, 1999

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "President James E. Faust timeline". Deseret Morning News. 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  2. Neal A. Maxwell (August 1995). "President James E. Faust: 'Pure Gold'". Ensign. p. 12.
  3. Stack, Peggy Fletcher (2007-08-12), "Faust pulled for Democrats", Salt Lake Tribune, retrieved 2011-09-22
  4. "Pres. Faust receives Minuteman Award". The Desert News. July 6, 1996. Retrieved April 18, 2016 via Google News.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "President James E. Faust Remembered". LDS Church press release. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  6. Kimball, Edward (2008). "Spencer W. Kimball and the Revelation on Priesthood": 48. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  7. "President James E. Faust dies at age 87". Deseret Morning News. 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  8. The Official Site of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
  9. LDSMusicNews.com - Music reviews, latest releases and just great people Archived October 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.

References

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by
Thomas S. Monson
Second Counselor in the First Presidency
March 12, 1995 August 10, 2007
Succeeded by
Henry B. Eyring
Preceded by
David B. Haight
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 1, 1978 March 12, 1995
Succeeded by
Neal A. Maxwell
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