President Thomas S. Monson called Elder LeGrand R. Curtis a peacemaker, and a man who he could send anywhere to solve problems during a funeral held for the former general authority.
Elder Curtis, who served in the Second Quorum of the Seventy from April 1, 1990 to Aug. 15, 1995, died Dec. 19. He was 86.
President Monson was among those who honored Elder Curtis' life during a funeral on Dec. 27 in the Valley View 8th Ward, Salt Lake Holladay North Stake. Elder Russell M. Nelson and Elder M. Russell Ballard, both of the Quorum of the Twelve, were among participants in the service, as well as many family members.
"He was my troubleshooter," President Thomas S. Monson said during the funeral. "I knew I could send him anywhere and he could solve problems. ... Anything you wanted him to do, he would do it and he would do it well."
President Monson spoke of Elder Curtis' hard work in everything he did — in his profession as well as in his Church service.
"He was skillful in his profession, but he was equally skillful at dealing with people," President Monson said. "He set the example for everyone else. When he was called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy, he performed ably everything he was asked to do and more. He was a trainer of other members of the Seventy. He taught them by his example as well as by his teachings."
President Monson shared a letter from the First Presidency with Elder Curtis' wife and family, and thanked them for Elder Curtis' life of service.
"Live as he lived, serve as he served, love as he loved," he said.
Elder Nelson shared some thoughts of Elder Curtis and his testimony of the plan of salvation. He spoke of the family of Elder Curtis and what their faithfulness represents.
"What has been said has been marvelous," Elder Nelson said. "What's been sung has been marvelous, but what you are, is the eulogy for LeGrand R. Curtis. What a wonderful thing to pay tribute to your father, grandfather, your great-grandfather, your eternal companion — all centered in the love that this family has for the Lord, Jesus Christ."
Remembering a friendship that has spanned almost six decades, Elder Ballard spoke of when he and Elder Curtis were both serving as young bishops. It was then, that he was introduced to Elder Curtis' great love of serving in the Church.
"We served as bishops at the same time, and one thing you may not know about your grandfather is that he was very competitive," Elder Ballard said. "In those days we had a comparative report and he and I used to try to see who could be number one in the Church."
It was about more than just numbers for Elder Curtis as he continuously served throughout his life, including as president of the Florida Tallahassee Mission from 1978-81, president of the Jordan River Utah Temple from 1996-99, and as stake patriarch.
"Dad's life was a life of devotion and service," said Elder LeGrand Curtis, Jr., an Area Seventy. "It was revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith that the Lord requires a heart and a willing mind and boy was my dad willing. He ran to do any assignment that the Church wanted him to do. And that included whether it was the First Presidency or the Twelve ... But it also included running where his High Priest group leader or bishop wanted him to go. Time after time I would find him delighted in having been asked to teach a class."
Whatever he was asked to do, he willingly accepted, all of the speakers said. But it is more than just his Church service that his children remember most. It was in his everyday example of living his testimony.
"He taught me the importance of doing it the Lord's way," said his son Brent Curtis. "He knew how to teach. He would go and study the scriptures and the words of the prophets and then he would listen to the Spirit."
Oftentimes it was around the kitchen table, during a car ride or even time spent in the driveway of their home that Elder Curtis would spend time with his children and teach them great lessons of the gospel.
"He would always turn down the radio during our drives," Brent said. "He was in tune, and always had time for me."
It was during these times, Brent said, that Elder Curtis was able to teach his children to pray, read their scriptures daily, to choose to not be offended or find fault in others. It was these times that Elder Curtis encouraged people to do better — oftentimes saying hard things — and still made them feel good about it.
"As a young girl and through my adult life I watched dad as he served a loving Heavenly Father, followed the example of Jesus Christ and incorporated teachings of the living prophets and apostles into his everyday life," said Rebecca Timmins, a daughter. "Because of it, his life was enriched and therefore each of our lives were enriched by him."
Elder Curtis was born May 22, 1924, as the youngest of 10 children to Alexander and Genevieve Raine Curtis. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sister Patricia Glade Curtis, whom he married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 1, 1944. They have eight children, 36 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren.
