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 from 1995 until his death, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35 years.
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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. Before Faust reached high school age, his family moved to the southern part of the Salt Lake Valley. In Granite High School,[1] he won awards for track and a letter for football. Faust attended the University of Utah, where he ran the 440-yard and mile relay. His college education was delayed twice. First, Faust went to serve as a missionary for the LDS Church in a mission in southern Brazil from 1939 to 1942.[1] Second, during World War II, Faust served in the United States Army Air Corps and was discharged as a First Lieutenant.[1] On April 22, 1943, Faust married Ruth Wright, whom he had met at Granite High School, in Salt Lake City. The wedding took place on a short leave during his military service, and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.[1]
Public service
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, in which office he served for one year. The same association awarded him its Distinguished Lawyer Emeritus Award in 1996. During the 1960s, Faust was named to the Utah Legislative Study Committee and later to the Utah Constitutional Revision Commission. Faust served in the House of Representatives for the 28th Utah State Legislature (1949) as a Democrat for Utah's eighth district. Faust also served as chairperson of the Utah State Democratic Party and helped manage a campaign for Senator Frank Moss.[2] In 1996, he was awarded with the Minuteman Award by the Utah National Guard. Faust was appointed by U.S. President John F. Kennedy to the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights.[3] He was also an advisor to the American Bar Journal.[3] Faust was made an honorary citizen of São Paulo, Brazil. He also received a national Brazilian citizenship award.[3]
Church service
In 1949, at the age of 28, Faust was made a bishop in the LDS Church.[1] He later served on a stake high council, as a stake president, and as a regional representative of the Twelve.[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, there was a reorganization of the church's general authorities and he was placed into the First Quorum of the Seventy. In 1975, Faust presided over all of South America for the church. He was there during the construction and dedication of the São Paulo Brazil Temple. Faust was accepted as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on September 30, 1978,[1] and was ordained an apostle on October 1, following the death of Quorum-member Delbert L. Stapley. Faust 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.[4] Faust, together with Hinckley and First Counselor Thomas S. Monson, constituted the longest continuous First Presidency without a personnel change in the history of the LDS Church.
Family
Faust and his wife Ruth raised five children: James H. Faust, Janna R. Coombs, Marcus G. Faust, Lisa A. Smith, and Robert P. Faust. At his death, they had 25 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.[3]
Published works
- Faust, James E. (2004). Finding Light in a Dark World. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 1-57345-100-2.
- —— (2002). True Gifts of Christmas. Eagle Gate Publishers. ISBN 1-57008-729-6.
- —— (2001). Stories from my Life. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 1-57345-968-2.
- —— (1990). Reach up for the Light. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-418-1.
- —— (1980). To Reach Even unto You. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87747-807-4.
Hymns
Faust co-wrote the words to the LDS hymn "This is the Christ".[5][6][7]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "President James E. Faust timeline", Deseret Morning News, 2007-08-10.
- ^ Faust pulled for Democrats. Salt Lake Tribune (2007-08-12). Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- ^ a b c d "President James E. Faust Remembered", LDS Church press release, 2007-08-14.
- ^ "President James E. Faust dies at age 87", Deseret Morning News, 2007-08-11.
- ^ http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/products/product?product_id=16
- ^ http://www.defordmusic.com/easterprograms.htm
- ^ http://www.ldsmusicnews.com/reviews/byu_echoes.php
References
- Wm. Grant Bangerter, "Elder James E. Faust: Sharing His Love for the Lord", Ensign, Oct. 1986, 6.
- Bell, James P. (1999). In the Strength of the Lord: The Life and Teachings of James E. Faust. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 1-57345-580-6.
- Eleanor Knowles, "Elder James E. Faust: Assistant to the Council of the Twelve", Ensign, Jan. 1973, 14.
- Neal A. Maxwell, "“President James E. Faust: ‘Pure Gold’”, Ensign, Aug. 1995, 12.
External links
- Official Biography
- Family Forever Biography
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: James E. Faust
- President James E. Faust dies at 87
| 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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| Romney • McKay • Young • Sonne • Smith • Morris • S. Richards • Christiansen • Longden • Brown • Sill • Hinckley • Taylor • Critchlow • Dyer • Tanner • F.D. Richards • Burton • Isaacson • Packer • Brockbank • Cullimore • Hanks • Ashton • Anderson • Haight • Bennett • Vandenburg • Simpson • Stone • Faust • Perry • Fyans • Maxwell • Bangerter • Hales • Komatsu • Wirthlin |
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| Gause • Rigdon • Williams • Cowdery • H. Smith • John Smith • Joseph Smith • Law • Bennett • Lyman • Kimball • W. Richards • Grant • Wells • J.F. Smith, Sr. • G.A. Smith • J.W. Young • Cannon • B. Young • Snow • Carrington • Clawson • Winder • Lund • J.H. Smith • Penrose • Ivins • Nibley • Clark • McKay • S.L. Richards • Moyle • Brown • Tanner • Isaacson • J.F. Smith, Jr. • Dyer • Lee • Romney • Hinckley • Monson • Faust • Eyring |
