| James E. Faust | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Second Counselor in theFirst Presidency | |
| March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12) – August 10, 2007 (2007-08-10) | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Predecessor | Thomas S. Monson |
| Successor | Henry B. Eyring |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| September 30, 1978 (1978-09-30) – March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12) | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| End reason | Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency |
| LDS ChurchApostle | |
| October 1, 1978 (1978-10-01) – August 10, 2007 (2007-08-10) | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Reason | Death ofDelbert 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 by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| End reason | Called 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 by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| End reason | Called 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 by | Harold B. Lee |
| End reason | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Esdras Faust (1920-07-31)July 31, 1920 Delta,Utah, United States |
| Died | August 10, 2007(2007-08-10) (aged 87) Salt Lake City,Utah, United States |
| Resting place | Holladay Memorial Park 40°39′44″N111°49′51″W / 40.6622°N 111.8308°W /40.6622; -111.8308 (Holladay Memorial Park) |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth Wright |
| Children | James H. Faust Janna R. Coombs Marcus G. Faust Lisa A. Smith Robert P. Faust |
| Parents | George A. Faust Amy Finlinson |
| Signature | |
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James Esdras Faust (July 31, 1920 – August 10, 2007) was an American religious leader,lawyer, andpolitician.[1] Faust was Second Counselor in theFirst Presidency ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1995 until his death, anLDS Church apostle for 29 years, and ageneral authority of the church for 35 years.
Faust was born to George A. Faust and Amy Finlinson inDelta, Utah.[2] As a child, he lived in this area. His family moved to the southern part of theSalt Lake Valley before he reached high school age. He attendedGranite High School inSalt Lake City,[2] where he won awards for track and aletter for football. He later attended theUniversity of Utah, where he ran the 440-yard and mile relay. His college education was delayed twice. First, when he served as amissionary for the LDS Church in southernBrazil from 1939 to 1942.[2] Then later when he served duringWorld War II in theUnited States Army Air Corps where he was aFirst 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 weresealed in theSalt Lake Temple.[2]
Faust graduated from theUniversity of Utah in 1948 with aB.A. andJuris 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 theHouse of Representatives for the 28th Utah State Legislature (1949) as aDemocrat for Utah's eighth district. He also served as chairman of the Utah StateDemocratic Party and helped manage a campaign for SenatorFrank Moss.[5] In 1996, Faust was awarded with the Minuteman Award by the UtahNational Guard.
Faust was appointed byU.S. PresidentJohn F. Kennedy to the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights.[6] He was also an advisor to theAmerican Bar Journal.[6]
In 1997, by legislative decree, Faust was made an honorary citizen ofSão Paulo,Brazil[7] and received a national Brazilian citizenship award.[6] "James Esdras Faust Street" inCampinas, Brazil was named in his honor by the city mayor in 2007.[8]
In 1949, at the age of 28, Faust became abishop in the LDS Church.[2] He later served on astakehigh council, asstake president, and aregional representative.[2]
Faust was called as anAssistant 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 theFirst Quorum of the Seventy. In 1975, he presided over the Brazilarea of the church. During his tenure, theSão Paulo Brazil Temple was announced.
Before the1978 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 wasaccepted by common consent as a member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles on September 30, 1978,[2] and ordained anapostle on October 1, filling the vacancy created by the death ofDelbert 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 toNigeria. He and his wife traveled with missionaries Rendell M. and Rachel Mabey andEdwin Q. andJanath 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 whereAnthony Obinna and 18 others had been baptized near the end of 1978.[10]
He served in the Quorum of the Twelve until beingset apart as Second Counselor in theFirst Presidency tochurch presidentGordon 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 CounselorThomas S. Monson, constituted the longest continuous serving First Presidency in the history of the LDS Church.[12]
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 inSalt Lake City, Utah, of causes incident to age. Following a funeral service in theSalt Lake Tabernacle, he was buried in the Holladay Memorial Park inHolladay, Utah. Ruth Wright Faust died February 10, 2008, at the age of 86.
Faust also authored; "In the Strength of the Lord: The Life and Teachings of James E. Faust" Hardcover – October, 1999[13]
Faust co-wrote the words to the LDS hymn "This is the Christ".[14][15]
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Second Counselor in theFirst 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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| National | |
| Other | |
