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James E. Faust

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James E. Faust
Second Counselor in the First Presidency
March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12) – August 10, 2007 (2007-08-10)
Called byGordon B. Hinckley
PredecessorThomas S. Monson
SuccessorHenry B. Eyring
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
September 30, 1978 (1978-09-30) – March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12)
Called bySpencer W. Kimball
End reasonCalled as Second Counselor in the First Presidency
LDS Church Apostle
October 1, 1978 (1978-10-01) – August 10, 2007 (2007-08-10)
Called bySpencer W. Kimball
ReasonDeath 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)
Called bySpencer W. Kimball
End reasonCalled to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
First Quorum of the Seventy
October 1, 1976 (1976-10-01) – September 30, 1978 (1978-09-30)
Called bySpencer W. Kimball
End reasonCalled 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)
Called byHarold B. Lee
End reasonPosition abolished
Personal details
BornJames Esdras Faust
(1920-07-31)July 31, 1920
Delta, Utah, United States
DiedAugust 10, 2007(2007-08-10) (aged 87)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting placeHolladay 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
ChildrenJames H. Faust
Janna R. Coombs
Marcus G. Faust
Lisa A. Smith
Robert P. Faust
ParentsGeorge 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.[1] 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

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Faust was born to George A. Faust and Amy Finlinson in Delta, Utah.[2] As a child, he lived in this 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,[2] 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.[2] 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 decommissioning.[2]

On April 21, 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.[2]

Career

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Faust graduated from the University of Utah in 1948 with a B.A. and Juris Doctor.[3] After graduation, he worked in a law firm in Salt Lake City. [citation needed]

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.[4]

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.[5] In 1996, Faust 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.[6] He was also an advisor to the American Bar Journal.[6]

In 1997, by legislative decree, Faust was made an honorary citizen of São Paulo, Brazil[7] and received a national Brazilian citizenship award.[6] "James Esdras Faust Street" in Campinas, Brazil was named in his honor by the city mayor in 2007.[8]

Church service

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In 1949, at the age of 28, Faust became a bishop in the LDS Church.[2] He later served on a stake high council, as stake president, and a regional representative.[2]

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.[2] 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.[9]

Faust was accepted by common consent as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on September 30, 1978,[2] and ordained an apostle on October 1, filling the vacancy created by the death of Delbert L. Stapley. Faust continued as president of the International Mission after his call as an apostle. In early 1979, Faust became the first LDS apostle to travel to Nigeria. He and his wife traveled with missionaries Rendell M. and Rachel Mabey and Edwin Q. and Janath R. Cannon to meet with LDS Church members in Aboh, not far from Enugu, and give them guidance in the formation of the church. During this visit, Faust baptized five Nigerian men in the same spot where Anthony Obinna and 18 others had been baptized near the end of 1978.[10]

He served in the Quorum of the Twelve until being set apart as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to church president Gordon B. Hinckley on March 12, 1995.[2] He remained in that position until his death on August 10, 2007.[11] Faust, together with Hinckley and First Counselor Thomas S. Monson, constituted the longest continuous serving First Presidency in the history of the LDS Church.[12]

Family and death

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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.[1][6] 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

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  • 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.

Faust also authored; "In the Strength of the Lord: The Life and Teachings of James E. Faust" Hardcover – October, 1999[13]

Hymns

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Faust co-wrote the words to the LDS hymn "This is the Christ".[14][15]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "President James E. Faust, Beloved Shepherd". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "President James E. Faust timeline". Deseret Morning News. 2007-08-10. Archived from the original on 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  3. ^ "President James E. Faust dies at age 87". Deseret. 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  4. ^ Neal A. Maxwell (August 1995). "President James E. Faust: 'Pure Gold'". Ensign. p. 12.
  5. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (2007-08-12), "Faust pulled for Democrats", Salt Lake Tribune, archived from the original on 2011-06-29, retrieved 2011-09-22
  6. ^ a b c d "President James E. Faust Remembered". LDS Church press release. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  7. ^ "James Esdras Faust receives Paulistano citizenship". Radar Municipal. June 10, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2017 – via Google News.[dead link]
  8. ^ "Lei 13182/07 - Lei nº 13182 de 14 de dezembro de 2007, Câmara Municipal de Campinas". Jusbrasil.
  9. ^ Kimball, Edward (2008). "Spencer W. Kimball and the Revelation on Priesthood": 48. Retrieved 19 April 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ Rendell N. Mabey and Gordon T. Allred. Brother to Brother: The Story of the Latter-day Saints missionaries who took the gosepl to Black Africa. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1984. p. 82-86.
  11. ^ "President James E. Faust dies at age 87". Deseret Morning News. 2007-08-11. Archived from the original on 2007-08-18. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  12. ^ Taylor, Michael D. "Lengths of Service for the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve". rsc.byu.edu. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  13. ^ Avant, Gerry (23 July 2005). "President Faust recounts fulfilling 85 years". thechurchnews.com. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  14. ^ "The Official Site of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir". Archived from the original on 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  15. ^ LDSMusicNews.com - Music reviews, latest releases and just great people Archived October 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

References

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[edit]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by Second Counselor in the First Presidency
March 12, 1995 – August 10, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 1, 1978 – March 12, 1995 		Succeeded by
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