James E. Faust

LDSApostleshipinfo
English name = James E. Faust


birth_name=James Esdras Faust
birth_date=birth date|1920|07|31
birthplace=Delta, Utah
death_date=death date and age|2007|08|10|1920|07|31
deathplace=Salt Lake City, Utah
president_who_called=Spencer W. Kimball
apostledate=death date and age|1978|10|01|1920|07|31
ordination_reason=Death of Delbert L. Stapley
end_date=death date and age|2007|08|10|1920|07|31
end_reason=Death
reorganization=Quentin L. Cook ordained; Henry B. Eyring added to First Presidency

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.cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695199592,00.html |title=President James E. Faust timeline |date=2007-08-10 |publisher=Deseret Morning News |accessdate=2007-08-10 ] 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, 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. Second, during World War II, Faust served in the United States Army Air Corps and was discharged as a First Lieutenant.

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.

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. Fact|date=August 2007

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. Fact|date=August 2007

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. [cite web | url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6605032 | title=Faust pulled for Democrats | |date=2007-08-12 |publisher=Salt Lake Tribune |accessdate=2007-08-12] In 1996, he was awarded with the Minuteman Award by the Utah National Guard. Fact|date=August 2007

Faust was appointed by U.S. President John F. Kennedy to the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights.cite news |url=http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5b46c41d93164110VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD |title=President James E. Faust Remembered |date=2007-08-14 |publisher=LDS Church press release |accessdate=2007-08-14] He was also an advisor to the "American Bar Journal". Faust was made an honorary citizen of São Paulo, Brazil. He also received a national Brazilian citizenship award.

Church service

In 1949, at the age of 28, Faust was made a bishop in the LDS Church. He later served on a stake high council, as a stake president, and as a regional representative of the Twelve.

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. 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.Fact|date=August 2007

Faust was accepted as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on September 30, 1978, 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. He remained in that position until his death on August 10, 2007. [cite news|title=President James E. Faust dies at age 87 |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695199591,00.html |date=2007-08-11 |publisher=Deseret Morning News |accessdate=2007-08-10] 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.Fact|date=February 2008

Family

Faust and his wife Ruth Wright 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. 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, Faust was buried in the Holladay Memorial Park in Holladay, Utah. Ruth Wright Faust died February 10, 2008, age 86.

Published works

*cite book
author=Faust, James E.
year=2004
title=Finding Light in a Dark World
publisher=Deseret Book Company
id=ISBN 1-57345-100-2
*cite book
author=——
year=2002
title=True Gifts of Christmas
publisher=Eagle Gate Publishers
id=ISBN 1-57008-729-6
*cite book
author=——
year=2001
title=Stories from my Life
publisher=Deseret Book Company
id=ISBN 1-57345-968-2
*cite book
author=——
year=1990
title=Reach up for the Light
publisher=Deseret Book Company
id=ISBN 0-87579-418-1

*cite book
author=——
year=1980
title=To Reach Even unto You
publisher=Deseret Book Company
id=ISBN 0-87747-807-4

Hymns

Faust co-wrote the words to the LDS hymn "This is the Christ". [ [http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/products/product?product_id=16 The Official Site of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir ] ] [ [http://www.defordmusic.com/easterprograms.htm Sally DeFord Music: Alphabetical List ] ] [ [http://www.ldsmusicnews.com/reviews/byu_echoes.php LDSMusicNews.com - Music reviews, latest releases and just great people ] ]

Notes

References

*Wm. Grant Bangerter, [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=19f3ef960417b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 "Elder James E. Faust: Sharing His Love for the Lord"] , "Ensign", October 1986, 6.
*cite book
author=Bell, James P.
year=1999
title=In the Strength of the Lord: The Life and Teachings of James E. Faust
publisher=Deseret Book Company
id=ISBN 1-57345-580-6
*Eleanor Knowles, [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=739e438d9b76b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 "Elder James E. Faust: Assistant to the Council of the Twelve"] , "Ensign", January 1973, 14.
*Neal A. Maxwell, [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=f8e4dbfdf5b1c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 "“President James E. Faust: ‘Pure Gold’”] , "Ensign", August 1995, 12.

External links

* [http://www.lds.org/newsroom/biography/0,15609,3959-1----39,00.html Official Biography]
* [http://www.familyforever.com/temples/prophets/jefaust.htm Family Forever Biography]
* [http://gapages.com/faustje1.htm Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: James E. Faust]
* [http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695199591,00.html President James E. Faust dies at 87]