On "a day of sorrow," President Gordon B. Hinckley paid tribute to President James E. Faust, his "close friend and wise and able counselor."
"This is a time of deep emotion," he said. "This is a difficult assignment for me."
Speaking during a funeral service Aug. 14 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, President Hinckley said his association with President Faust goes back perhaps 50 years when each served as counselors in different stake presidencies and attended regional welfare meetings.
"As we worked together, we became increasingly better acquainted. His incisive mind, his compassion of feeling for those in distress quickly became apparent. I watched him as he progressed up the ladder of Church administration. And in 1995, when I was called as President of the Church, I knew I wanted him for a counselor."
President Hinckley said President Faust was well in those early days. "Then illness hit him. He had trouble with his back. One thing led to another. He had difficulty walking." Then, with a smile, President Hinckley said, "He maneuvered that Jazzy (power chair) like a...taxi driver."
Though his body was crippled, President Faust's mind was bright, said President Hinckley. "His wisdom was deep and profound. It came of long experience in many fields. He brought with him the mind of a lawyer, and the compassion of a Church leader."
Born in Delta, Utah, President Faust learned the meaning of hard work. Later his family moved to Salt Lake City, where he competed in track, and won, at Granite High School and the University of Utah.
"He served a mission in Brazil and never got over his love for the people of that great nation," said President Hinckley. "He was granted a Brazilian National Citizenship award and an honorary Sao Paulo Citizenship award, awards that are given to very, very few people."
After serving in World War II and earning a juris doctor degree, President Faust received numerous awards as a lawyer, including the Order of the Coif at BYU.
President Hinckley said he and President Faust planned to participate in the Curitiba Brazil Temple dedication early next year.
"Now none of that is possible," he said. "For him it simply will not be.
"The rapid decline in his health was a shock to all of us. His death was a terrible surprise. We miss him terribly."
President Hinckley said during various Church meetings he still expects to see President Faust, but looks only to discover he is not there. "His faith in the truth of the restored gospel was unflagging," he said. "There was no doubt in his mind concerning the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. He had no doubt about the validity of the Book of Mormon. His talk on forgiveness at the April general conference was a masterpiece, which will be long remembered. His posterity, whom he loved, was his greatest treasure. They are a credit to his name and to that of their mother, Ruth. She is now left alone and will be deserving of our concern and help.
"There was no doubt in Jim's mind of the immortality of the human soul. He understood the plan of salvation. He knew the meaning of mortality and also the reality of immortality. He has gone to prepare a place for those who will follow."
President Hinckley called the day a day of sorrow.
"Of course, it is. The Lord Himself has said, 'Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die.... (But) those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them (Doctrine and Covenants 42:45).
"I am confident, brothers and sisters, that this has been his experience. His passing has been one of peace and love and light.
